Faults:

All four of the bearings have gone out starting at 95000 miles.

The engine started to burn oil very badly and had to be replaced.

Oil filter blew apart and started spraying oil all over the road.

Rear speakers began to develop a short and no longer work.

General Comments:

I love the way the car looks and handles.

However, for a 19 year old, the repairs are beginning to get expensive.

The car is great in bad weather and always starts on the first try even in the freezing cold Michigan winters.

Faults:

Alternator went out about 3 times. Accessory belt has broke 2 times in one year. Transmission went out at 143,872 miles. Window motors on front 2 doors went out and the switch pad for power windows. Boot busted on front axle. Head gasket blew at 129,000. Glove box lock/latch is broke.Air-condition went out and 2weeks later the heater core blew while I was driving steam came through vents car got hot. Fog light on the pass. side went out in 96 dealer fixed it 2 times and it is still broke.

General Comments:

The car has been reliable just a pain in the butt. It runs great when its not broke. Handles the road well. Has great acceleration. The body still looks good and the paint really held up. The interior is average.

Faults:

Please note that this is not a complete list of maintenance problems.

At 26,000 miles, replaced brake pads & resurfaced rotors at $200.

At 38,000 miles, I replaced brake pads, brake drums, and resurfaced rotors at $600.

At 43,000 miles, I replaced the timing belt & spark plugs, with tune-up, at $300.

At 47,000 miles, I replaced brake rotors and pads at $600.

At 54,000 miles, I replaced intake manifold gaskets at 54,000 miles at $900.

At 54,000 miles, I replaced push rods at 54,000 miles at $300.

At 54,990 miles, the caliper bolts for the front right wheel partially detached from brake rotors/disk unit during a freeway drive, costing $100.

General Comments:

The 1996 is a nice looking car, perhaps the best looking Grand Am in Pontiac's history.

However, maintenance issues, and the incident where my front right wheel partially came off while driving on the freeway, have forced me to get rid of this car.

Faults:

A gear was broken, requiring the transmission to be rebuilt at 135,000 miles. Cost was $1,500.

Both lower control arms required replacement at 141,000 miles. Cost was $600.

Power steering fluid leak at 147,000 miles. Cost was $100.

An oil gasket is currently leaking, but my mechanic said that it does not need to be replaced, as I plan on selling my car after graduation (approximately nine months after mechanic made initial report of leak). Mechanic's estimated cost was $400 to $800.

The factory tape deck required replacement shortly after my purchase of the car.

General Comments:

I purchased the car with high miles, but it had been reconditioned by a mechanic prior to purchase. It seems like there is always something wrong with the car. One possible reason for the mechanical failure may be because I frequently drive on steep hills and for the first 25,000 miles I owned it drove at rush hour twice daily.

I am usually happy with the performance of the car, but maintenance has become very expensive lately.