1997 Pontiac Grand Am

COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO RACK AND PINION, DETERIORATING THE RACK AND PINION, AND MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE WHEN MAKING A TURN. ALSO, THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOISE WHEN TURNING. POWER STEERING HOSE HAS GONE BAD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK POWERE STEERING HOSE AND WATER PUMP LEAKED CAUSING RACK AND PINION DAMAGE. FRONT BRAKE SHOES FAILED. *YH

WHEN TRAVELING IN WET WEATHER, WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, IT IS LIKE A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE BRAKES TO BEGIN GRIPPING...IT IS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE SATURATED WITH WATER.NO BRAKING ACTION FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS AN UNSAFE PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN. IT IS AS IF THE DISCS ARE COMPLETELY EXOSED TO WATER. MECHANIC SAYS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES. *AK

TH NEXT YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR, I BEGAN TO LOSE COMPRESSION. THE CAR WOULD ALSO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, I NOTICED THAT MY "CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ON." I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERS AND THEY GAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF "USING THE WRONG GAS". I AM A WOMEN, AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS, THEREFORE, AT THE TIME, I DID NOT DISPUTE THIS RIDICULOUS DIAGNOSIS. A YEAR LATER, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES/DISC PADS TWICE. THERE WAS LOUD SQUELCHING NOISES. I ALSO BOUGHT NEW TIRES AFTER ONE YEAR. MAJOR PROBLEMS HAVE DEVELOPED SINCE 1999, WHICH ARE: I HAD TO HAVE THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED (AIR CONDITION AND HEAT STOPPED WORKING), I HAD TO HAVE A NEW WATERPUMP INSTALLED (CAR WAS POURING ANTI-FREEZE AND SMOKING), AND AS OF FEBRUARY 6, 2000, THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. I RECEIVED TWO QOUTES FROM AREA REPAIR SHOPS ESTIMATING BETWEEN $3K TO $4,500 TO REBUILD AND ENGINE! I HAVE EXHAUSTED MYSELF CONTACTING FRED JONES (SPOKE TO HIM PERSONALLY) OF FRED JONES PONTIAC, AND THEIR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. PLEASE HELP ME! ALSO, I READ ON YOUR SITE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR UNDERHOOD FIRES - I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AND MY CAR WAS NEVER TAKEN IN! I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT BESIDES THIS MAKE OF CAR BEING A LEMON, THIS MAY HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO MY PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP ME!!! *AK

HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR ROTORS. FIFTH SET NOW WARPING AFTER 6K MILES. HAVE HEARD ALL REASONS WHY IT COULD HAPPEN (MY FAULT) AND ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS (SUPPOSEDLY) CHECK OUT AS O.K. SERVICE MANAGER SAYS HE HAS REPLACED THEM "OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF HIS HEART" AND WILL NOT REPLACE THEM AGAIN. FACTORY REP SAYS THE LUG NUTS ON THE 4TH SET WERE OVER TORQUED (BY GOODYEAR) AND CAUSED WARPING. HE HAD NEW ROTORS PUT ON WHEN IT WAS PROVED TO HIM THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID IT. I PAID TO HAVE NEW PADS INSTALLED TO HAVE EVERYTHING NEW. OLD PADS WERE NOT EXCESSIVELY WORN. FEELING THE SAME SURGING, LURCHING IN THE FRONT END AT LOW SPEEDS - NOT THE PEDAL - FOR 2K MILES. IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN - JUST DON'T HAVE IT IN ME TO FIGHT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. PAID FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAVE HAD TO BATTLE TO GET REPAIRS COVERED. ORIGINAL SET WARPED AT 5-6K, BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS ABS. CAR WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, MANAGER SAID THEY WERE WARPED & I'D HAVE TO RESURFACE THEM - AT MY EXPENSE, NOT! REPLACED ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY AT 30K - OUT OF SPECS, AGAIN AT39K, AGAIN AT 42K, AGAIN AT 48K. COUNTING THE ORIGINAL SET I'M ON THE 5TH SET AND HAVE ONLY 5K MORE MILES ON THE WARRANTY. HAVE NEVER SMELLED HOT FLUIDS OR METAL, OR FELT EXCESSIVE HEAT, WHEELS DO NOT SHOW DISCOLORATION FROM HEAT. PLEASE HELP. *AK

REAR BRAKES BIND DURING NORMAL STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. UPON ACCELLERATION THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SQUEALS AND 1 OR 2 LOUD BANGS ARE HEARD AS THE BRAKES RELEASE. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND UNABLE TO DETECT ANY BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLES ALTERNATOR FAILED WITHOUT ANY TELTALE WARNING SIGNS, STRANDING THE CONSUMER. 60 DAYS LATER THE BATTERY DIES. ENGINE USED TO REV TO ABOUT 1500 RPM WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND IN GEAR. REPLACEMENT OF 02 SENSOR CURED PROBLEM. OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS INCLUDE POWER DOOR LOCK BUMPER FAILURE (REPAIRED) AND POOR DESIGN OF THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR. (IT MOVES THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR) WHEN MOVING VISOR FROM WINDSHIELD TO SIDE WINDOW. CONSUMER HAS ALREADY REPLACED VISOR ONCE DUE TO CRACKS AT MOUNTING SCREWS. *AK