NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
13 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Apr 26, 2016
SteeringUnknown Or Other
WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH FOR IT TO CATCH AND FINALLY WILL START LIKE IT KEEPS LOCKING UP. MY SON BOUGHT THIS CAR AS HIS FIRST CAR SO NO SURE HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS DOING THIS AS WE PURCHASED FROM A FRIEND AND HE DID SAY THAT SOMETHING WAS U…
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WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH FOR IT TO CATCH AND FINALLY WILL START LIKE IT KEEPS LOCKING UP. MY SON BOUGHT THIS CAR AS HIS FIRST CAR SO NO SURE HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS DOING THIS AS WE PURCHASED FROM A FRIEND AND HE DID SAY THAT SOMETHING WAS UP WITH THE STEERING WHEN TRYING TO START.
NHTSA ODI #10861427
2,000 miles · Sep 25, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
PURCHASED CAR NEW AT END OF 97 MODEL YEAR. WITHIN FIRST SIX MONTHS RETURNED CAR SIX TIMES DUE TO DEFECTIVE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN CORRECTED. CAR CLUNKS AS IT IS EITHER TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT OR TRAVELS (SLOWLY) OVER SPEED BUMPS. ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED PAINT PEELING FROM OUTSIDE MIRRORS, RADIO VOLUME CONTRO…
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PURCHASED CAR NEW AT END OF 97 MODEL YEAR. WITHIN FIRST SIX MONTHS RETURNED CAR SIX TIMES DUE TO DEFECTIVE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN CORRECTED. CAR CLUNKS AS IT IS EITHER TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT OR TRAVELS (SLOWLY) OVER SPEED BUMPS. ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED PAINT PEELING FROM OUTSIDE MIRRORS, RADIO VOLUME CONTROL PROBLEMS, RADIO/CLOCK DISPLAY WORKS ONLY PART OF THE TIME, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTING BROKE AND SLID PASSENGER INTO DASHBOARD, 2 DOOR SPORT COUPE-BOTH POWER WINDOWS MOTORS HAVE BROKEN AND BEEN REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW JUST BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS. PASSENGER WINDOW HAS ALSO STARTED TO ACT SLUGGISH. DISCOVERED LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR. RAIN LEAKS INTO CAR AROUND WINDOW GASKETS WHICH ALSO MAKE A HISSING SOUND AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN WITH CARE FOR NINE YEARS(ODOMETER=80,000 MILES) AND HAS HAD OIL CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS, ETC. COMPLETED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. OWNER CANNOT AFFORD ADDITIONAL COSTLY REPAIRS ESPECIALLY SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE GOING DOWNHILL FROM HERE. DISGUSTED WITH PROBLEMS AS WELL AS WITH LACK OF SERVICE FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PONTIAC DEALERS. OWNER CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A [DECENT] NEW CAR AND WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE SOMETHING USED. MAKE NO MISTAKE- IT WON'T BE A GM PRODUCT! *NM
NHTSA ODI #10169247
85,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline
WHEN YOU RUN THE AIR, THE CAR STALLS AND WON'T START ANYWHERE FROM ONE HOUR TO THREE OR FOUR POSSIBLY THE NEXT DAY. THE HORN WORKS SOMETIMES, THE RAIDIO WORKS SOMETIMES AS DOES THE DISPAY, THE VOLUME GOES UP AND DOWN. THE FUEL SYSTEMS SHUTS DOWN ALONG WITH THE CAR WHEN THE AIR IS RUNNING. THE POWER WINDOW QUIT WORKING IN APR…
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WHEN YOU RUN THE AIR, THE CAR STALLS AND WON'T START ANYWHERE FROM ONE HOUR TO THREE OR FOUR POSSIBLY THE NEXT DAY. THE HORN WORKS SOMETIMES, THE RAIDIO WORKS SOMETIMES AS DOES THE DISPAY, THE VOLUME GOES UP AND DOWN. THE FUEL SYSTEMS SHUTS DOWN ALONG WITH THE CAR WHEN THE AIR IS RUNNING. THE POWER WINDOW QUIT WORKING IN APRIL, I REPLACED THE ONE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY TO HAVE THE ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE TO STOP WORKING. THE BRAKES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. ANYTIME THE CAR HAS ANY PROBLEMS NO LIGHTS COME ON TO WARN YOU IT WILL JUST STOP WORKING. THE SHOP THAT PUT THE USED ENGINE IN STILL CAN'T TELL ME WHY IT STARED KNOCKING. THE ETS SYSTEM COMES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME WITHOUT PRESSING THE BUTTON, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE 1997 PONITAC GRAND AM GT.
NHTSA ODI #10070666
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING 80MPH DRIVER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END. THEN, OIL LIGHT CAME ON ,AND BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM TAILPIPE. FUEL ENTERED THE ENGINE AND BEARINGS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE OIL TO BECOME BLACK AND THE BEARING TO GRIND.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8009225
Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2001
Electrical SystemEquipmentUnknown Or Other
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 17 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HORN WOULD STOP WORKING, ETS AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. RADIO WAS VERY HOT TO TOUCH. DEALER HAS REPLACED RADIO 6 TIMES, AND MOTOR OF DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER POWER WINDOWS 6 TIMES. CONSUMER FELT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #892024
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001
Electrical SystemSuspensionUnknown Or Other
WHILE UNDER WARRANTY SWAYBAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE REAR WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRUNK WHICH CAUSED MOLDY CARPET THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RATTLES AS WELL AS THE PLASTIC COVER WHERE THE RADIO AND CLIMATE C…
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WHILE UNDER WARRANTY SWAYBAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE REAR WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRUNK WHICH CAUSED MOLDY CARPET THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RATTLES AS WELL AS THE PLASTIC COVER WHERE THE RADIO AND CLIMATE CONTROL KNOBS ARE LOCATED. DEALER HAS SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THE SIDEWALLS ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A PATCH IN IT BEFORE I EVEN RECEIVED THE CAR. THE FUSE FOR THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL KEEPS BLOWING AND WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THIS THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING. IT HAS NOW BLOWN 15 TIMES. THE WATER PUMP "SHREDDED" AT 37,000 MILES. THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TAKEN OUT OF PARK AND PUT IN DRIVE. THE BRAKES "PULSE" AT 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE RADIO CONTROLS WORK OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO (IE TURN UP AND IT DOES NOTHING, TURN DOWN AND IT GETS LOUDER). BATTERY WENT DEAD AT 40,000 MILES. REARVIEW MIRROR LEVER "FELL OFF" INSIDE DOOR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SEVERE PAINT CHIPPING ON FRONT OF CAR.
NHTSA ODI #739251
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…
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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 · Jan 16, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
CARD RUNS ROUGH, STUMBLES AND HESITATES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. DEALER REPLACED CATALITIC CONVERTER, O2 CENSORS, EGR VALVE, SPARK PLUGS TO NO AVAIL. PLEASE E-MAIL ME IF YOU ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AT ALIEN@CASTLES.COM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #717403
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC A VAN CAME UP BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND REAR ENDED IT. CONSUMERS HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES, PASSENGERS HAD TO RESTRAIN THEMSELVES BY PLACING HANDS ON THE DASHBOARD. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME, BUT THEY DIDIN'T CATCH. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED PASSENGER TO GO THROUGH THE WINDOW. TOOK TO…
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WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC A VAN CAME UP BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND REAR ENDED IT. CONSUMERS HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES, PASSENGERS HAD TO RESTRAIN THEMSELVES BY PLACING HANDS ON THE DASHBOARD. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME, BUT THEY DIDIN'T CATCH. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED PASSENGER TO GO THROUGH THE WINDOW. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY ARE DID NOTHING ABOUT PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #852241
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1999
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705267
NHTSA investigations
2RQ03001 · 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.
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