23rd Jul 2007, 21:59
Love my 99 Grand Am! Bought used at 35,000 miles, and now with 80,000, only one minor problem, the alternator quit working.
As to the coolant leaks, there was a design flaw on the intake gasket.
Brake rotors fail manly due to heat, some rust and pit badly because of where they were imported from.
Do routine maintenance, and your car should last for decades.
Finally, it's not auto workers making the bad cars, it's the engineer that decides how well it's made.
13th Dec 2007, 07:57
I recently bought a 1999 Grand Am with 115,000 miles on it. I haven't had the engine problems noted above. I do have the rotor and brake problems also.
The main problem I have is I can't keep tires on the front of the car. I put low profile chrome wheels and tires on it for 1200 bucks. The front tires wore out in three months. Replaced them again three months ago and they've worn out again. The rear tires wear normally; haven't had to replace them since I have had the car.
I replaced the driver's side window regulator, and 4 months later had to replace it again. GM tells me there isn't a fix for it; most people have had this problem also.
The door locks don't work either.
While driving down the road, the dash lights will come on and won't go off till I shut the car off and start it again.
I do like the design of the car and the way it runs. It looks sharp.
21st Feb 2008, 09:36
I recently bought a 99 grand am gt. I have had several problems. Front and back brakes bad. Terrible wiring problems, slippery transmision, bad blower motor, coolant leakage, and also did I mention that terrible gas mileage.
4th May 2008, 19:39
Just purchased a used 1999 Grand AM GT. I had to change several exterior light bulbs and didn't think much of it at the time. Now the turn indicators work only sometimes - if anyone has any ideas as to why this is, I would sure like to hear from you.
19th May 2008, 09:33
I bought my 1999 Grand Am GT in 2002 and I loved it... until recently. I now have 110,000 miles on it and have done nothing but put money into it.
It would randomly not start, so my mechanic had a joy in finding the issue. After several hundred dollars in new parts, it still acts up on me. You have to give it gas, then it will start.
My coolant has leaked 3 times after heating up to about 220!!! Had it pressure tested and no leaks. I just replaced my thermostat so hopefully that will do it until I can get another car.
Do NOT buy a Grand Am, or the new G6 as I am sure the problems in the Grand Am just transferred to the G6.
7th Jun 2008, 17:15
I bought a 1999 Grand Am a month ago. Ran okay till last week. The car started shaking and idles low. I fixed that problem. Replaced brakes and rotors. The car eats gas even though it is a 4cyl. It's now over heating real bad. Every day I am adding coolant and water, but no leaks.
GM engineered the worst thermostat location ever. It's located behind the engine, by the exhaust manifold. The hose runs from the coolant tank to the radiator; there's a hose and a weird looking pipe that you cannot pull out. The pipe runs underneath the engine and up again to top of the back of the engine. The coolant outlet pipe is impossible to come out. It's routed by the engine and transmission. Why place a thermostat behind the engine instead of putting it on top. It's a nightmare with the overheating problem.
GM designed a horrible car. It looks good but it's a bad horrible car.
11th Jun 2008, 13:29
June 11, 2008
I bought my 99 Grand AM in 2003, it had 49,000 miles.
The first thing that went wrong was the thermostat had to be replaced, then the motor to my driver side power window, then all new tires, but my front tire on drivers side keeps going flat, and can't find the problem.
It gets better - I've also had to change alternator, get the short in turn signals fixed, coolant still leaks, power steering leaks badly, dash lights come on while driving, short in the factory stereo volume knob, heat goes out, cigarette lighter keeps blowing fuse, brakes are bad, the leather interior is coming out from the doors.
Oh, and did I mention just last night I was driving and the engine caught fire, and fire dept had to put it out, so now I have no car... If your car idles high, and starts to stall, you might get it checked quickly.
8th Oct 2008, 21:27
I just bought a 2003 Grand Am GT. It has 180k miles, but it runs great and it is just a joy to drive.
I've been raised a GM person, and my dad is obsessed with fast, and even he is impressed by this car.
The gas mileage sucks, but it's just a minor problem that I haven't had time to get checked out, otherwise it's a good little car.
5th Feb 2009, 09:18
I just bought a '99 Pontiac Grand Am with 77k miles, 2 days ago...
The first day it drove fine, no problems at all. Then on the second day I was driving back home from school and the engine started smoking. I noticed that the temperature gauge was way past 200 into the red. I pulled over, put my hazards on, popped the hood and noticed that coolant was spilling all over the street. Wow I thought, this sucks... thank god I have 30 days to return this car after reading all of the comments on car survey, I can return this nightmare of a car and never look back.
23rd Aug 2009, 08:54
I too own a 1999 grand AM GT. I've had it for 7 years.
My main problem is the brakes.
Sometimes when I put it in gear to go, it acts like it's in neutral; I have to put back in park, turn off and restart.
It also has trouble starting sometimes. If I go through a drive through for fast food and have to wait, it will overheat and want to die.
The knob on the radio to turn the volume up and down doesn't work right.
Lighter keeps blowing a fuse and they told me it might be my phone charger (LOL).
My strut is making loud noise, have another noise under front end; the garage can't find where it is.
My change oil light doesn't come on. This is my second Pontiac, loved them both, but when they start getting miles on them, they seem to start costing you.
25th Jan 2010, 18:21
I too have bought a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE... Love love love the way the car drives and looks.
It does have a lot of miles, but damn I have had cars with almost 300,000 miles on them. Luckily I did not pay a mint for this car, or have a loan on it.
My problem with the car is that the heat goes in and out; one minute it's so hot you can't stand it, and the next it's ice cold. Just changed the thermostat, what a job that was. Let's just say that the design of this car was well "did you have your big bowl of stupid today"?
If you have any suggestions on how to have even heat, please email me. jeanniemthomas@gmail.com NEVER AGAIN!!!
15th Nov 2010, 20:40
I got a 1999 Grand Am GT.
I like it a lot and don't have too many problems, but still have some issues. I just got my blinking security light fixed. I had to have my ignition lock cylinder replaced. I have water leaks everywhere, my radio volume knob goes up when you turn it down and down when you turn it up... very stupid stuff.
Other than that, it's a decent car but these Grand Ams still kinda suck... I'm getting a Honda which will be way better then a Pontiac Grand Am. I already know that for a fact.
28th Feb 2007, 23:37
Sadly, I too have fallen victim to the 1999 Pontiac Grand AM GT nightmare. I bought mine used in 2002 with not quite 20k on it. Around 20k I also had to replace the rotors. Ran good until 2004 then all hell broke loose. First it was leaking power steering fluid like crazy so I had to have all the power steering lines replaced. Shortly after that (around 45k miles) the water pump went. Then at 50k the transmission went. I am now at 70k and the head gasket is blown. What a piece of junk!!! I still owe $2k on the loan and have already put in close to that in parts and labor. I think this time around I am just going to cut my losses and NEVER again by such shoddy workmanship! Good luck to anyone else that buys or owns one!