Faults:

The first thing to go was the blinker switch.

The next was the water pump at 45000.

The alternator at 50000.

The pass wheel bearing at 75000.

The water pump again at 85000.

Leaks antifreeze since I bought it.

Now it dies going down the road at random times. It doesn't seem to mater how much fuel is in it. It has done it 6 times now. The first few times it started back up within ten minutes. The past two times I didn't start on the side of road, we had to tow it, but both times it started as soon as I got it home.

I've heard that the fuel pumps in the Grand Am can develop a intimation problem. Anybody else had this problem???

Faults:

Turn signal and hazard warning not working.

Fan Blower inoperative.

Key won't turn unless jiggled vigorously.

Seat belts to short for larger people.

Battery won't hold a charge.

General Comments:

My daughter-in-law gave me the car for free when she bought a new one. Did I tell you how much I love my daughter-law? :)

Update: I had Pontiac go over the car and they found the turn signal/hazard warning flasher was bad. They fixed it free under a special coverage thing (not a recall).

They also found the blower motor resistor blown from a rusted blower motor shaft. Replaced the resistor ($not free$) and lubed the motor so it will work for the time being. I will have to replace the blower motor soon, just not right now.

The dealer ordered a seat belt extender, free.

I replaced the battery, it was old and worn out So the car starts every time now.

All in all I'm pleased with the car. I know it has served my daughter-in-law well. It's in pretty good shape inside and out (with a few things to fix). It looks good and even though I'm a truck guy I'll keep it.

Faults:

It has been a walk down memory lane reading all the problems others have had with this particular vehicle. Many things I just thought were dumb luck appear to be common problems. Here are all the ones I can recall:

-First, the ticking sound the turn signal makes. Stays on at random times.

-The mirror control knob popped down into the door. I can pull it back up but it never stays.

-The small piece of plastic that covers the defogging vent for the driver side window keeps falling out.

-Two years ago the gasket on the cooling system failed, I needed to replace the water pump.

-The fan stopped working except on 3,4 and 5. Had to replace the motor there.

-Most fun of all, all four of my windows fell down into the doors within literally a three week span. I still haven't fixed this yet, just have them shimmed closed at the moment.

-The motor on the lumbar support for the driver seat died at around 50K miles, never bothered to fix that.

-The door plastic on the driver side rear door is beginning to bubble.

General Comments:

This was a hot car when I fist bought it and it has always been a fun car to drive but it is just poorly engineered for all the reasons I state above. I can get my head around the idea that on a car you may need to replace a water pump or a fan may die. But what gets to me is all of the other little things just falling apart. I have other vehicles with many more miles where this isn't a problem. But biggest of all, you just don't ever, on any vehicle, anticipate replacing ALL FOUR of your power windows. That is just shameful.

I will continue to drive it probably for another 50K miles unless something catastrophic goes wrong. I bought this car when I was a younger, much less mature guy. I have enjoyed it for being a pretty hot car, but now as an older family man I would never again purchase something so unreliable. I have had three other cars since I purchased this Grand Am. All Hondas. That ought to tell you something.

Oh and parting shot, this car holds its value as poorly as anything on the road today. It is for good reason.