NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
383 reports85,000 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
97,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
THE MOTORS ON THE WINDOWS GO OUT AROUND 97K MILES. MY DRIVERS WINDOW WENT OUT A MONTH AGO. MY RIGHT, FRONT WINDOW IS ABOUT TO GO OUT, AND MY BACK RIGHT WINDOW WENT OUT TODAY. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FAULTY WINDOW MOTORS WITH THIS MODEL. THE TOTAL COST OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THIS INCIDENT IS ABOUT $1000 INCLUDED WITH…
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THE MOTORS ON THE WINDOWS GO OUT AROUND 97K MILES. MY DRIVERS WINDOW WENT OUT A MONTH AGO. MY RIGHT, FRONT WINDOW IS ABOUT TO GO OUT, AND MY BACK RIGHT WINDOW WENT OUT TODAY. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FAULTY WINDOW MOTORS WITH THIS MODEL. THE TOTAL COST OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THIS INCIDENT IS ABOUT $1000 INCLUDED WITH A LOT OF FRUSTRATION!
NHTSA ODI #10069089
58,250 miles · Jan 2, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILED.HIS CAR HAS 58250 MILES. MY DAUGHTER CALLED ME AT WORK TO INFORM ME THAT SOMETHING IS MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, BUT IT GOES AWAY ONCE YOU EXCEED 20MPH. AFTER DINNER I PUP THE HOOD OPEN AND TRY TO START THE CAR. I DISCOVER THAT NOISE DURING STARTUP WAS NOT NORMAL, AND CAR HAS GREAT DIFFICULTIES TO START.…
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ENGINE FAILED.HIS CAR HAS 58250 MILES. MY DAUGHTER CALLED ME AT WORK TO INFORM ME THAT SOMETHING IS MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, BUT IT GOES AWAY ONCE YOU EXCEED 20MPH. AFTER DINNER I PUP THE HOOD OPEN AND TRY TO START THE CAR. I DISCOVER THAT NOISE DURING STARTUP WAS NOT NORMAL, AND CAR HAS GREAT DIFFICULTIES TO START. WHEN IT FINALLY STARS, I HEAR KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE NOISE WAS CONCENTRATED ON THE CYLINDER NEXT TO TIMING CHAIN. I STOPPED THE ENGINE AND CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, IT WAS OK. I CONTACTED LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO THE SHOP, BUT TO DRIVE SLOWLY AND TRY NOT TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. WHEN I GOT THERE AND PARKED THE CAR I ALSO NOTED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON DURING IDLE. MY MECHANIC DETERMINES IMMEDIATELY THAT MY ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. HE ALSO MAKE SAYS THAT HE IS NOT SURPRISED AT ALL ONCE HE SAW THAT THIS IS 4 CYLINDER 2.4L ENGINE. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WILL BE OVER $3000.00. THIS IS ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS THEN THE BLUE BOOK VALUE. IM DRIVING MY FRIENDS SPARE CAR 1988 MAZDA MX6 AND MY DAUGHTER DRIVES MY OTHER PONTIAC 1996 BONNEVILLE SSE, (WHICH BY THE WAY JUST HAVE WATER PUMP FAILURE AFTER 48000MI) I SEARCH MANY BULLETIN BOARDS ON THE NET AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT ISOLATED INCIDENT. MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SOME PROBLEM BETWEEN 50000 AND 80000 MI. HAVING ENGINE FAILURE @ LESS THEN 60000MI SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. BASED ON MY RESEARCH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY CPA FOR RECALL. BY THE WAY I PURCHASED MY FIRST CAR IN 1974 IT WAS THE BUICK ELECTRA, SINCE THEN MY FAMILY OWNED 9 DIFFERENT CARS (ALL GM) BUT IM 100% POSITIVE THAT THIS GRAND AM WAS MY LAST GM CAR. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE JAPANESE. MY FRIEND JUST CLOCK 250000MI ON HIS HONDA ACCORD, THE ONLY MAJOR COMPONENT THAT FAILED WAS THE ALTERNATOR @ 165000MI. SORRY GM, BUT THERE IS NO MORE GAS IN YOUR THANK FOR ME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10051525
47,113 miles · Dec 21, 2003
Air BagsInjury
BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES APART. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ANY WARNING OF POSSIBLE CAR PROBLEMS BEFORE OR AFTER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED AROUND 7:30 WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOYED AROUND 7:40 WHILE PULLING OUT OF A BUSINESS PARKING LOT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10050882
56,000 miles · Dec 12, 2003
Structure
CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, WAXED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. WHEN WAXING FOUND PAINT WAS PEELING ON ENGINE HOOD ALONG THE SIDE THAT GOES DOWN INTO THE ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10049622
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2003
Tires
PROBLEMS WITH GOODYEAR TIRE EQUIPMENT ON 1997 A PONTIAC GRAND AM.*MR THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, ONE OF THE TIRES EXPERIENCED A FLAT AND THE LOCAL TIRE SHOP RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES, GOODYEAR INTEGRITY XNW9608B TIRES WERE CHOSEN, AFTER ABOUT 100 MILES OF DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A STRAN…
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PROBLEMS WITH GOODYEAR TIRE EQUIPMENT ON 1997 A PONTIAC GRAND AM.*MR THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, ONE OF THE TIRES EXPERIENCED A FLAT AND THE LOCAL TIRE SHOP RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES, GOODYEAR INTEGRITY XNW9608B TIRES WERE CHOSEN, AFTER ABOUT 100 MILES OF DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A STRANGE NOISE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TIRE SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION, 200 MILES LATER THE NOISE CAME BACK. *JB *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10048184
82,500 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Power Train
I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION DUE TO SEVERE SLIPPAGE 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. 82000 MILES ON IT. DRIVERS POWER WINDOW SYSTEM NEEDED REPAIRED. PASS FRONT INOP. RADIO KNOW IS SCREWED UP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10043903
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
SERPENTINE BELT WAS OFF PULLEYS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING.*MR THE VEHICLE STEAMED OVER AND DEX COOL BOILED OUT. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10044527
49,183 miles · Oct 20, 2003
Air BagsInjury
WHILE DRIVING 25-35 MPH THE CONSUMER'S SON DROVE THROUGH WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A PUDDLE, BUT WAS ACTUALLY A POT HOLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING ABRASIONS ON THE DRIVER'S ARMS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE INFORMED. THE DEALER FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK *TS *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10039799
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10044112
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.