CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN UNLESS MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT SIDEWAYS A COUPLE INCHES BEFORE IT HITS AND THEN STARTS TURNING THE WHEEL, MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE UPPER STUD INTO THE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE CALMP HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS BENDING ON…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN UNLESS MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT SIDEWAYS A COUPLE INCHES BEFORE IT HITS AND THEN STARTS TURNING THE WHEEL, MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE UPPER STUD INTO THE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE CALMP HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS BENDING ON THE LOWER STUD UNTIL IT FINALLY BROKE OFF. *ET
NHTSA ODI #785802
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2001
SteeringCrash
I COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE ABOUT PONTIAC, AND THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM GOING OUT FIVE TIMES STANDING MY WIFE, CHILDREN, GRADNDCHILDREN AND MYSELF. THIS TIME WE ALL WERE ON VBACATION AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP. PONTIAC REFUSED TO PAY THE RE[LACEMENT COST OF $5,500.00. THE STUPID CAR SHOULD HAVE BEE RECALLED AND YOU DID NOT…
Read full complaint
I COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE ABOUT PONTIAC, AND THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM GOING OUT FIVE TIMES STANDING MY WIFE, CHILDREN, GRADNDCHILDREN AND MYSELF. THIS TIME WE ALL WERE ON VBACATION AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP. PONTIAC REFUSED TO PAY THE RE[LACEMENT COST OF $5,500.00. THE STUPID CAR SHOULD HAVE BEE RECALLED AND YOU DID NOTHING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #749447
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2001
Steering
CAR HAS 2 PIN HOLE LEAKS (SO FAR) IN HOSE OF POWER STEERING PUMP THAT IS CAUSING FLUID ON THE RACK AND PINION.
NHTSA ODI #742483
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Steering
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN STEERING DID THE SAME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD TO CHECK WITH MANUFACTURER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #873876
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
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…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #868370
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2000
SteeringUnknown Or Other
THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT THEN COMES ON AND THE CLOCK WILL NOT SHOW THE TIME. THE DEALER HAS SERVICED THE CAR 3 TIMES FOR THIS AND SAY IT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT EACH TIME, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR DOES THE EXACT SAME THING EVERY TIME. THE WARRANTY IS ALMOST OUT AND WE FEEL THIS…
Read full complaint
THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT THEN COMES ON AND THE CLOCK WILL NOT SHOW THE TIME. THE DEALER HAS SERVICED THE CAR 3 TIMES FOR THIS AND SAY IT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT EACH TIME, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR DOES THE EXACT SAME THING EVERY TIME. THE WARRANTY IS ALMOST OUT AND WE FEEL THIS IS REDICULOUS! *AK
NHTSA ODI #721262
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS FROM THIS CAR AND, GM DOES NOT WANT TO HELP. I WAS SENT OUT OF THE DEALER SHIP WITH NO HORN FOR THREE DAYS. DEALERS ARE NOW SMART ENOUGH TO WORK AROUND THE LEMON LAW IN WORDING REPAIR ORDERS. I THINK WITH ALL THE MOTOR PROBLEMS AND, SAFETY ISSUES MAYBE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE A CAR STA…
Read full complaint
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS FROM THIS CAR AND, GM DOES NOT WANT TO HELP. I WAS SENT OUT OF THE DEALER SHIP WITH NO HORN FOR THREE DAYS. DEALERS ARE NOW SMART ENOUGH TO WORK AROUND THE LEMON LAW IN WORDING REPAIR ORDERS. I THINK WITH ALL THE MOTOR PROBLEMS AND, SAFETY ISSUES MAYBE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE A CAR STALLS AND SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720331
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 1999
Steering
HOSE HAS DEVELOPED PINHOLE LEAKS ALL ALONG THE HOSE
NHTSA ODI #709485
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingParking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic
CAR TRIES TO DIE AS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF IN A INTERSECTION OR FROM A STOP. I'VE HAD IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES AND NEVER HAS BEEN FIXED. PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T ENGAGE UNLESS PULLED TO LAST CLICK. ALL OF THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. POWER STEERING PUMP. AND OIL PUMP REPACED. SERVICE PERSON AT BOB HOWARD TOLD ME MY…
Read full complaint
CAR TRIES TO DIE AS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF IN A INTERSECTION OR FROM A STOP. I'VE HAD IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES AND NEVER HAS BEEN FIXED. PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T ENGAGE UNLESS PULLED TO LAST CLICK. ALL OF THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. POWER STEERING PUMP. AND OIL PUMP REPACED. SERVICE PERSON AT BOB HOWARD TOLD ME MY CAR WOU.IS CAR SINCE PURCHASE. I'M PLANNING ON TAKING IT BACK FOR ITS 4TH TIME. PLEASE HELP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707148
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering
ALARM SYSTEM FAILED ( TWICE ), ALARM WAS INSTALLED AT DEARLER WHEN PURCHASED. *YC
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