Faults:

It needed a new manifold head gasket right after I purchased it, but the dealer covered the costs of that.

Ever since that repair, I have not had to have anything fixed at all on my Grand Am.

General Comments:

This car has been amazing for my needs. I commute to work and school daily, putting on over 100 miles per day and it has held up great. The only money I ever put into it is gas and oil changes. I have not needed to do any other repairs on it, and I have had it for almost three years.

Faults:

A/C 1-2 don't work.

Just replaced brake lines and had to replace the alternator.

Driver's side front window doesn't go down.

General Comments:

I love my car and would buy another. Only paid $500.00 for the car.

Faults:

Alternator just went out of the car, but that's not so bad considering that the car is 10 years old. We bought it from a good friend who bought it brand new back in 99. She didn't have any issues with it and only had it taken to the garage for oil changes and tune-ups. We're fixing the alternator today.

General Comments:

One thing I've noticed people complaining about is the "airplane" noise coming from either the front or back from one side or the other. We also had this, and having some experience with cars, I was able to 'diagnose' the problem as being a ball bearing. Sure enough, we had the brakes replaced and specifically asked for the ball bearing to be checked, and it was what was causing the noise.

It's been a great and reliable car ever since, although beware of electrical 'anomalies' (e.g. idiot lights coming on at random moments then flicking off. Exiting the car and having it honk at you even though no security system is installed, etc.) This usually means the alternator is going out.

Overall, we love the car.

Faults:

I bought this car used from a friend of mine about a year ago as is for $1,500. The engine had been replaced with about 40K when I took the car over. Basically, everything was fine other than this constant time bomb type ticking coming from the dash area.

About 3 months after buying it, I noticed that when I apply the brakes, there's a squealing sound as well as when I make left turns. I had the front brakes replaced, however, the noise has continued.

Both driver side windows are being held up in place by blocks of wood.

The A/C went out and I had to replace the A/C hose assembly (leak) and have the compressor rebuilt. The A/C fan does not work on 1 and 2, when I have it set on 4 and lower it to 3, the fan will stop blowing after about 5 minutes in that position and will not work again until I shut the car off and wait several hours.

The dash under the windshield on driver side starting to lift more and more.

Both driver and passenger front door panel material separating from the doors.

When I first start the car, whether it's been running just prior or not, it has a knocking sound, kinda like it's pinging when you have bad fuel. It goes away once I start driving though. I use Chevron 87 or 89 fuel.

Now, I need to replace windshield due to small chip that has cracked its way from the bottom all the way to the top within about a weeks time.

Other than that, I have no other issues, YET?

Oh yeah, don't know if this is normal or not, but it seems to operate at such a high temperature, usually 200-210 without A/C on, and up to 220 while running A/C on long distance, 225-230 when in town. Is this normal? I have driven this car once from SoCal to St George, Ut (about 900 miles round trip) with no issues, other than the A/C was out and it was in high 90's up and back.

General Comments:

As far as the comfort level, I'm 5'10"/260 lbs and it is a b***h to get in and out of car. So low to the ground. The seats in front are next to zero in comfort (no more cushion left). I have plenty of room as far as belly to steering wheel ratio, but long drives are a killer on the back and rear end.