Faults:

The valve intakes went at 100,000 kilometeres.

The fuel pump has been replaced three times.

The transmission shifts hard into second and third gear.

The on-board computer has been replaced twice.

The brake rotors have been replaced twice in the past two years.

The radio knob does not work properly, and the radio display does not work at all.

The power locks do not function, the power mirrors do not function, and the defrost in the back.

The body cladding has started to come off on all the doors.

The handle to adjust the seat for the driver has broken three times.

I am constantly replaced bulbs, in the back, in the front, and for the fog lights.

The door seals frequently let water enter the vehicle.

The wheel bearings have been replaced twice on the passenger side, and on the driver side once.

I frequently get random warning lights appearing on the dash (i.e low oil), without there being any problem.

General Comments:

This car is an absolute looker, preforms very well, however, if more time and effort had been put into the production of this vehicle, it would be a much better car.

Faults:

My brakes went out along with my serpentine belt, right after the warranty was up... go figure! I have also had to replace a blinker.

General Comments:

This car is really quick off the line, however; it has a slow top speed.

This car handles like a tank rollin' in tar.

The car is really easy to make look nice.

Faults:

Rotors needed to be replaced around 30000 miles.

All 4 windows were replaced due to scratches - something about tabs in the doors being the cause.

Water got into tail lamps and rusted bulb connection so reverse light is currently out. It costs $40 to replace the circuitry which the bulbs plug into.

Trunk carpet is peeling away.

Battery replaced around 36000 miles.

Intake gasket is leaking.

Electrical problems: Power windows failing, traction control slipping occasionally, dash controls resetting while driving, etc.

Replaced power steering pump around 45,000 miles.

Starter occasionally does not work the first time.

There may be others I'm forgetting.

General Comments:

The car looks nice and has decent power, but you can tell that it's cheaply built.

Faults:

Replaced radio @ 14500 miles--LED readout wouldn't display correctly (was under warranty). Unfortunately, the replacement radio worked fine until just after the warranty expired.

Replaced power steering hose @ 16,700 miles (was under warranty)

Replaced battery @ 28,133 due to defective cell. The car just wouldn't start one day, and had to be towed to the dealer.

Replaced defective front brake calipers at 34,600, along with front brake pads (about $300).

Replaced intake manifold @ 40,400 ($600).

Replaced water pump @ 40,500 (just 10 days after replacing manifold!!) ($200).

Replaced front brake calipers, rotors and pads @ 40,900 ($400).

General Comments:

I was initially very happy with my Grand Am. I really like the power of the V-6, and the aesthetics are very pleasing. Overall, up until the point that everything started to go wrong with it (the past two months), I would have highly recommended the car.

However, having replaced the brakes twice, plus replacing the water pump and manifold intake during the past year have soured my opinion of this car. Replacing parts like these shouldn't be happening on a car with barely 40,000 miles. Moreover, it's too new a car to be worrying what will go wrong next. No piece of mind with this car.

The dealership and Pontiac both have been little help. The dealership insists that, although this isn't normal for a "quality' car such as the Grand Am, it's not uncommon either (how's that for double-speak). The nature of the work that I have had done recently (brakes 2x and manifold/water pump) lead me to conclude that Pontiac makes a poor quality vehicle. Even worse, they don't seem to care one way or another that they have a very unhappy customer.

This was my first, and definitely my last Pontiac.