1999 Pontiac Grand Am GT HO from North America

Summary:

If they still made the model I would upgrade in a heartbeat

Faults:

None, In the 7 years I have owned this car I have only replace 2 fuel injectors at a cost of $100 out of pocket,(extended warranty). At this time I am going to replace the Wheel bearings it seems to be a bit noisy.

Sorry people I love this car and will hate to see it finally go. I have owned and love Grand Am's since the 80's.

General Comments:

My 99 Grand Am GT1 is the greatest.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th November, 2006

9th Nov 2006, 18:50

I hadn't owned a GM car since 1976 until I bought my 2001 Grand Am. I have never owned a better car than this Grand Am, and we've owned cars from every U.S. maker as well as two Japanese lemons and one German disaster. In almost 60,000 miles the car has never had a single rattle, squeak or any kind of problem. I deeply regret Pontiac's decision to stop making the Grand Am and replace it with the ugly G-6.

I'd buy a new Grand Am for my next car if they still made them. As it is, I'll most likely drive this one til I die. Some of our friends have well over 200,000 miles on their Grand Ams.

1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE 2 3.4 from North America

Summary:

Poor Engineering will be the demise of the GM and especially Pontiac

Faults:

While driving in rain, water enters the vehicle from the underside of the door (poor seals) Replaced seals at 5000 miles, 40,000, and 85,000.

Air conditioning speed switch failed at 20000 miles.

Brake lights (controller board) failed at 22000 miles.

Dashboard has shrunk in the heat. Looks horrible.

Plastic Keeper for headlight bulb dry rotted and disintegrated.

Dome light falls down regularly.

Water pump failed less than 6 months old.

Lower Intake Manifold Leak (Repair $1100)

Replacement of serpentine belt $98. Requires removal of an engine mount and raising of the engine for replacement.

At 90,000 miles Alternator fell completely off of engine. Brackets broke under normal driving conditions.

Replaced Thermostat 4 times before 96,000 miles. The location under the intake manifold almost assures that this job can only be accomplished a mechanic using specialized tools. $130 for each replacement.

Driver seat has worn area where metal protrudes and will tear or rip clothing. Poor cushions and reinforcement.

Fuel gauge failed at 82,000 miles.

Clips that hold electric windows have failed. These white plastic clips are designed for a specific life span. Luckily only one window shattered when the clips failed on our car. Replacement clips are $30. (for two pieces of plastic no bigger than a silver dollar)

General Comments:

The overall aesthetics of the car are nice for small person. So from the word go, Pontiac has no saving aspect in competition with the Asians.

The engineering of the engine compartment as well as many key components that utilize plastic components are substandard. This planned obsolescence is a why US buyers are refusing to buy American.

Whether the problem is cost reductions or incompetent component designers/engineers, Pontiac is leading the charge in Customer dissatisfaction.

Who in their right mind designs a car where you have to remove an engine mount to replace the serpentine belt? Any high school shop student could tell you what is wrong with that one. Not to mention the location of the thermostat.

Recently I heard a story that a US manufacture was forcing the employees to drive the product they were manufacturing. If you ask me, the only way GM has a chance in competing is that they force their engineers to drive Asians products. Learn how professionals do the job.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 6th November, 2006

3rd Nov 2019, 13:29

Wow! How prophetic... 3 years after this review was posted, GM filed for Chapter 11 and Pontiac was killed-off in the process.

3rd Nov 2019, 17:37

They should make GM drive European cars.

4th Nov 2019, 17:24

Come to think of it, GM actually announced the demise of Pontiac in April of 2009 and filed for bankruptcy in June of the same year. So way before this review turned 3 years old. Pontiac officially died in October 2010. The last car was a white G6 and I dread to think the shoddy workmanship that Pontiac workers put into it.

I mean, why would they bother doing their job correctly if they were going to be fired anyway? I wouldn't be surprised if they even pissed in the oil in the crankcase of the last cars they built.

4th Nov 2019, 18:53

You are obviously unaware of the power and influence of the auto workers unions, which ensure that they have no consequences for not "doing their job correctly" nor any real fear of being "fired". Pissing in the crankcase would probably be the least of their shenanigans...

4th Nov 2019, 21:32

I wouldn’t do so. Always took pride in any place I worked for, if only for my own personal pride and satisfaction. That’s a really poor attitude. Many assembly operations are critical and could cost a vehicle consumer or pedestrian their life. Pontiac had a long history. But too many GM nameplates from Chevrolet, Buick and Olds. There was a time you could check off all the numerous Pontiac engine upgrades on your new car order sheet you wanted vs other brands. Be nice to focus on the 2020 models today. Would love to see Pontiac return - maybe not Grand Ams, but better choices. Get enough people demanding for them vs settling just for gas mileage.

6th Nov 2019, 16:08

They can fire you for even coming in late. That’s so incorrect. You don’t get more than a few chances. Dealers are the next step to insure that new cars are gone through a delivery checklist. My Pontiac Dealer also sold Honda, BMW, and Jag, and now more today. Dealers want repeat business. People think that a car is just built at the factory. But they go through the dealer's checklist before you get a key. Any issue is back charged to the factory. I am sure no one would ever be noticed urinating in a automobile factory. Much of the assembly process moving and up in the air on a conveyor system. What a joke.