The contact owns a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am. While driving approximately 35 mph the security light on the instrument panel illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the entire security system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure continued to occur. In addition, the vehicle would not start without turning the ignition into the on position and allowing it to remain in the on position for approximately 10 minutes. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 118,000.

- Les Cruces, NM, USA

My 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT will, sometimes, not start and when this happens, my security light flashes. After about 10 minutes, the light will stop flashing and then I can start the car. At times, while driving, the car automatically shuts off. I have to pull over and then restart the car. So far I have not had an accident because of this. I have replaced all that has been suggested, battery, ignition switch, and battery cables. I continue to have this problem and have searched other sources on internet. Hundreds of other customers have reported having this same problem and one found out it is a security passlock system problem. Pontiac dealer in my area said they no longer bypass the security system which is suppose to fix this problem.

- Waco, TX, USA

The passlock system in the car is failing for the third time since we've owned it. The security light comes on and won't allow the car to start for 10 minutes. It was about $400 to fix the last time and is starting to fail again after about one year.

- Omaha, NE, USA

The security passlock is malfunctioning again, I have spent $1,500 trying to get it fixed which was 4 times in the shop and each time they said they thought they got it fixed. The passlock cuts off the gas to the engine I can be anywhere shut off the engine come back and try to start the car and it will not start and the security light is on.

- Ballwin, MO, USA

Passlock is preventing car from starting at different times. I feel this is a safety hazard for myself and people that are riding with me. I have paid in Aug over total of $600 to have this problem correct ed by 2 different shops an low and behold it is happening again. I cannot afford to keep this up and should not have to other cars are having the same issue there should be a recall and I should be refunded what I have paid out. This is a risk to my health and safety I have medical problems and I need my car to start when I need to go someplace and I have a 77 year old father that also depends on me.

- Ballwin, MO, USA

My 2000 Grand Am will not start sometime, the security light will be on, if I wait 20 minutes sometimes the security light will go out and vehicle will start, sometimes it will not, I understand that this is a problem with the passlock on this vehicle. It has happened many, many times since I have owned the car. Tonight it would not start 3 times with a 20 minute wait between each try. If there should ever be an emergency where I had to hurry and start the car, and this happened, I would be out of luck. Something needs to be done about this. It is a common problem with several GM cars.

- Irving, TX, USA

Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft controller about 6 mos. Ago I got into my car and it would not start. I was in the parking lot at work, and luckily a man stopped to ask if my security light was lit on the dashboard. (I thought it may be ignition/fuel pump/etc.) sure enough, the security light was flashing. He explained to me that he also drives a GM, and this had been occurring with his car. He said that after researching with the GM dealer, he learned that if a person waited 10 minutes the car would most likely start, which it did. (the anti-theft device actually cuts off the fuel pump, and due to lack of gasoline, the engine won't start.) the next day, I called the Pontiac dealer myself, and was told that the problem was most likely the anti-theft controller, and was quoted approx. $500-600 to repair. I have been reading more and more incidents like mine, and frankly don't have the $600 to spend to repair, however, I am very concerned that this defect may leave me stranded somewhere in an unfavorable situation. Is there anything you can do to help have this issue looked at as a possible recall, and have the manufacturer fix? thank you for your help.

- Livermore, CA, USA

Passlock failure. Passlock shuts down fuel supply. It is suppose to if the passlock/ignition reports to the computer that the ignition has been tampered with. Hundreds of times passlock comes on and I cannot start my car without waiting and doing the 10 minute procedure. Happened while I was at a 7-11 one time, some unsavory looking characters same over to me, I flashed my pepper spray and cell phone and said I am calling the police. Luckily they ran off. Also comes on while I am driving which is extremely dangerous. Car would die completely or run ok if not on a hill or incline. Happened so many times that the fuel pump needed to be replaced at 50,000 miles. Two Pontiac dealers suggested new ignition to be installed to "see" if that will fix it. I will not pay to "see" if that will fix it. As I research the internet over 17,000 people have had the same problem and reported it to various sites. Those are only the people who think of looking on the internet to see if it is a common problem. I did write GM recently to see if they could do something. Have not heard back yet. Can you help" as I research I have found cars and SUV's that have had the same problems since 1999. Why hasn't GM discontinued or fixed that passlock issues in all those years? must cost to much have a recall. Does someone have to die" hope not. Thanks so much for you time and work that goes to helping keep people safe.

- Albany, OR, USA

: the contact stated when the anti-theft controller light illuminated the vehicle failed to start upon the first attempt. After waiting ten minutes and turning the ignition on a second time the vehicle started. The problem occurred intermittently. Upon inspection the dealership determined the anti-theft controller sensor needed to be replaced. The consumer stated it would take at least 5 attempts to get the vehicle started. Updated 07/03/06.

- Lansing, NY, USA

Pontiac Grand Am.

- Tyndall Afb, FL, USA

Faulty security system; the car will start and run one minute and the next time the car will not start because the anti-theft feature will activate for no apparent reason the only thing the dealership tells me is the same put the key in the ignition turn to acc position wait ten minutes and try to start, and it usually does. I had a friend take his 2002 Grand Am to the dealership for the same reason and they replaced a chip on his computer and charged him $400 dollars which did not fix the problem, and they tell him the same thing put your key in turn to acc position and wait ten minutes, and low and behold the car starts, I could have told him that and not charged him $400 dollars. Basically no one seems to know how to fix this issue, I was told how to deactivate the anti-theft device by removing two yellow wires and hooking them together the problem with that is the security light stays on all the time, but will always start. This problem is really starting to wear on me and as I said their is a lot of other Grand Am owners from the 90's to present that have the same problem. G.M doesn't know how to repair the problem, or doesn't care.

- Cody, WY, USA

While driving security light illuminated. Consumer pulled over, turned engine off, and tried to restart engine. However, engine would not start. Mechanic stated ignition anti-theft switch and sensor had malfunctioned, causing the problem to occur.

- Dallas, GA, USA