1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE 2.4 ltr. 4 cylinder. from North America
Summary:
Cute car, fun to drive, but a pain to upkeep
Faults:
New breaks have been installed three times in the past two years. I had to buy each time, break warranty wasn't covered, the sales clerk told me it was due to the car not using breaks properly. When checked out, breaks seems fine, no problems found. Brand new breaks makes noises. But breaks do work.
Replaced water pump at 117,000. Personal mechanic done to save money from overcharging-dealers. Took a week to get to the pump due to location. Took another week to fix because when pump went out, timing chain also broke, as well as the cheap clamp holding it. Total repair was about $150.00 by having personal mechanic fix.
There is a bar that sticks in your back in the driver's seat, where seat is obviously broken. Very uncomfortable. Have to use a pillow.
The plastic part around my dash defroster vent is cracked in two places.
My wheels rattled bad until we removed them and purchased cheap caps to replace.
Oil is leaking. Can't seem to find the leak, but it leaks aprox. 1/2-1 Qt. every two days.
All of the hoses were replaced around 115,000 miles. They were cracked.
Coolant leak detected, replaced hoses, and checked, but still slowly leaks.
The radio is wacky! It works, but if you need to turn the sound up or down, you have a little problem, as it doesn't seem to want to cooperate. The clock/radio frequency display jumps occasionally to different numbers, and half numbers. But most times, it's correct.
Other than these problems, the engine runs good. The car has never left me stranded.
General Comments:
It hasn't been a bad car, but I wouldn't buy another one. I am selling this one before it gives me anymore headaches!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 21st July, 2005
11th Apr 2007, 13:25
Have some of the same problems. Brakes are yearly - especially front. Rotors tend to warp, causing the car to shake heavily under hard braking. My gas tank just started leaking and last week, the timing chain broke and destroyed the engine. The power window 3of 4 haven't worked for a year and the drivers side automatic door lock button fell through. The car hasn't been bad up until last year when I hit approx. 220,000kms when everything started going down hill. Oh yeah, my cooling system leaks like a sieve and I had the water pump replaced as well.
6th Sep 2010, 09:55
I have a 99 Grand Am GT. The dash board seems to be warped and cracking, any ideas on a fix?
14th Dec 2006, 20:44
I am experiencing many of these same problems..
Radio has a mind of its own. Whenever I attempt to adjust the volume, I have to spin the dial a few times for the volume to actually work. Sometimes the display will show weird half numbers..don't know what to do with that.
The interior dome lights will randomly turn on and off. For example, I was pumping gas, and the lights of my car turned on! I couldn't figure out how in the world that happened because the vehicle wasn't on, and I had my keys in my pocket.
There is a rattling in the front of the car, almost a "thud" noise whenever I go over a bump or a dip in the road.
Brakes on the car are absolutely horrible! I almost cannot keep up with them. There will be times when they make a lot of noise, and other times they will be fine. When they make noise, it almost seems as if the entire rear of the vehicle is being pulled down towards the road. Doesn't seem too normal to me..
The vibrating of the car when I'm on the highway drives me insane. Especially when I need to stop quickly, the entire car shakes horribly. It almost makes me nervous to brake at high speeds.
I went to lock my car doors by pushing on the power lock button on the driver's side door, and the entire button fell into the door! Very dis-satisfied because I wasn't pushing hard on the button at all.
Seat is very uncomfortable, there seems to be a metal bar going across the middle of the driver's seat. After a few weeks of driving the car daily, my lower back began to hurt. I now have a padded seat cushion to make it more comfortable.
Otherwise, I love the way the car looks. I have the 98 GT edition. The rear spoiler seems to be a whole different color-it looks like it is warped or faded.
The entire inside of the vehicle seems to be falling apart. Absolutely everything squeaks whenever I drive over the smallest bump, and it drives me crazy! The dashboard where the radio is seems to be shifting or falling out.. not very impressed.
I would never purchase another Pontiac. This car has been nothing, but trouble for me. Very disappointing.