10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 15
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 78,711 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I bought this car brand new. In January of 2003 the car started dying while driving it at slow speeds. This usually happens when I am slowing down for a stop sign or red light. It also has twice stopped when I am going slow on a large looping entrance ramp to the interstate. Each time the car will start right up again and run fine. There is no prior warning the car is going to die. I first noticed it died when I wa no longer able to steer the car, because the power steering is gone. In February 2003 I took the car to the dealer I bought it from to have the problem checked out. I was charged $36.25 for a diagnostic on the vehicle and was told they could find nothing wrong with it. I asked what I should do since the car keeps stalling and I believe it is very dangerous to drive. I was told to trade it in.
- Coal Valley, IL, USA
When making a left turn vehicle locks up and then shutsdown. Was caused by filter being clogged. Replaced part, problem still occurring.
- Arcadia, CA, USA
Dealer's sevice man stated there is leakage from the lower and upper intake manifold gaskets and recommends replacing gasket and upper manifold. I don't believe a car with only 33,000 miles on it should have a serious problem like this. Thank you for your time. Nlm
- Martins Ferry, OH, USA
My 1997 Grand Prix with a 3.1 L engine was consuming coolant for a few months. On December 6 2001 I noticed coolant in the oil.I brought my vehicle to my mechanic and he thought the head gasket had blown.he told me to go to Pontiac to see if there was a recall on this vehicle for the head gaskets.when I went to my local Pontiac dealer I was told there was no recall on the head gaskets.I was further informed by a representive at Pontiac that it was probably not the head gasket leaking but rather the intake manifold gasket whiuch they see about 10 times a week in these engines.a obvious defect which GM is doing nothing about.my mechanic checked the intake manifold gasket and indeed it was leaking internally into the engine.the vehicle was repaired for just over $600 dollars. Pontiac has done nothing to try and rectify this situation as the new gaskets purchased from poniac were the same as the orginials.please look into this as it appears GM is doing nothing about a major defect.thank you.
- Baldwin, NY, USA
Difficulty starting and restarting vehicle in cold weather. Vehicle will sometimes cut off 5-10 minutes after it was started. Vehicle has been at dealer's shop several times for repairs. Consumer has been told that oil pump cover may cause high oil pressure and engine to misfire.
- Eauclaire, WI, USA
Consumer's stopped vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle traveling about 45 mph, air bags deployed and consumer got knocked out from inhaling an irritant that is in the air bag, consumer continues to have breathing problems.
- Naple, FL, USA
Engine's main rear seal leaked oil. Also, oil pan was leaking. Took vehicle to dealer & the mechanic repaired the problem. Each time it would fail to work. Has happened 3 different times around 8 months later. Each time the mechanic indicated the problem has been corrected.
- Royal Oak, MI, USA
According to dealer - oil from dip stick dripped on engine and ignited! Pontiac authorized an independent investigation and repairs, but refuses to release information related to cause, says it is propietary.
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
Automatic transmission/control valve body assembly failed.
- Tyngsboro, MA, USA
While driving away from a stop sign the back motor mounts fell out without warning. This caused the motor to drop approximately 6 inches. This in turn pulled the steering column apart, resulting in total loss of steering.
- Mount Carm, IL, USA
- Willowick, OH, USA