TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND ON THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP AND DOWN PROPERLY UNLESS CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL SWTICH. THE FOG LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AS WELL AND THE FUSES ARE CHARRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO TH…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND ON THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP AND DOWN PROPERLY UNLESS CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL SWTICH. THE FOG LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AS WELL AND THE FUSES ARE CHARRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,728.
NHTSA ODI #10217821
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2000
Exterior Lighting
OWNER WASHING VEHICLE WHEN FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF WHILE PARKED. THIS CAUSED THE LIGHT BULB TO BE EXPOSED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #865632
Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2000
Exterior Lighting
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CONDENSATION GETTING INTO THE HEADLIGHT LENS, CAUSING DISCOLORATION AND POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WOULD ONLY BE DONE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK
NHTSA ODI #863123
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Exterior Lighting
ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH DAY RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS GOING OUT. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL GOES UNRESOLVED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #854535
Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1999
Exterior LightingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
HAD THE SUNROOF MOTOR REPLACED 2 TIMES, LEFT FRONT WHEEL NOISE, DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM ALWAYS MAKES GRINDING NOISE LEFT FRONT AFTER CAR SITS ALL NIGHT , WHEN YOU FIRST PUT CAR IN REVERSE THE NOISE IS NOTICEABLE, HAD TOO HAVE LEFT REAR TAILLGHT REPLACED WHEN NEW,CAR TRUNCK GETS DUST INTO AT RIGHT SIDE OF REAR SEAT WHERE …
Read full complaint
HAD THE SUNROOF MOTOR REPLACED 2 TIMES, LEFT FRONT WHEEL NOISE, DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM ALWAYS MAKES GRINDING NOISE LEFT FRONT AFTER CAR SITS ALL NIGHT , WHEN YOU FIRST PUT CAR IN REVERSE THE NOISE IS NOTICEABLE, HAD TOO HAVE LEFT REAR TAILLGHT REPLACED WHEN NEW,CAR TRUNCK GETS DUST INTO AT RIGHT SIDE OF REAR SEAT WHERE IT FOLDS DOWN , DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLE, STILL NOT REPAIRED ,CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.HAS COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ,HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR APROX 15,000 MILES AGAIN OUT OF WARRANTY THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GENERAL MOTORS CAR AGAIN, AND I WORK FOR GENERALMOTORS. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I HAD A SALVAGE BUICK CENTRY I SOLD TOO PURCHASE THIS NEW ONE AND IT WAS A VERY NICE CAR NEVER HAD THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT CAR AND IT WAS WRECKED. NO MORE GENERAL MOTORS FOR ME . *AK
NHTSA ODI #716332
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN. ALSO THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE FAULT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #843659
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1999
Exterior Lighting
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #708902
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 1999
Exterior Lighting
WHEN DECELERATING HEADLIGHTS BEGIN TO FLICKER ON/OFF. DEALER SAYS THAT IT'S NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #841835
Mileage unknown · May 30, 1999
Exterior LightingVisibility
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE POWER SUNROOF HAS FAILED, EACH TIME IT FAILS IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER, THE WINDOW IS OPENED SLIGHTLY TO VENT AND THEN THE UNIT FAILS, AND IT WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK, THEN I HAD TO WAIT A MONTH FOR A PART TO COME IN. IN THE MEANWHILE, I COULD NOT U…
Read full complaint
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE POWER SUNROOF HAS FAILED, EACH TIME IT FAILS IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER, THE WINDOW IS OPENED SLIGHTLY TO VENT AND THEN THE UNIT FAILS, AND IT WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK, THEN I HAD TO WAIT A MONTH FOR A PART TO COME IN. IN THE MEANWHILE, I COULD NOT USE THE SUNROOF EITHER. THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE CAR IS ON. THE SENSOR SEEMS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ON BRIGHT, SUNNY DAYS, THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON. ON CLOUDY, RAINY DAYS, WHEN THE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ON, THEY DON'T COME ON. THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.
NHTSA ODI #707013
Mileage unknown · May 27, 1998
Exterior Lighting
HAZARD SWITCH HALF WAY BETWEEN ON AND OFF POSITION CAUSING TURN SIGNAL NOT TO WORK.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
RQ98013 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Aug 26, 1998 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1997 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration