2nd Jun 2005, 08:07

If you're truly a backyard mechanic, you know that things like replacing batteries, tires, serpentine belts and alternators at reasonable intervals is normal maintenance. Your won't avoid those kind of things with your Toyota.

Grand Ams of this vintage are pretty famous for running through brake pads and rotors. I had ceramic guaranteed-for-life pads installed a long time ago, and haven't had to futz with the brakes for 50,000 miles since... better luck than with any car I've owned in the past.

The intake gasket, wheel bearings, and suspension parts are another matter. Those should last the life of the car, and you are right to be unhappy about that.

20th Jun 2005, 18:17

I've had my grand am for 3 years and I've had about $1600 worth of work done. Fortunately I bought a warranty with when I bought it one year used. All in all...I'd buy another one. Good car.

18th Aug 2006, 21:00

Basically, you are trying to convince people not to like your car because you failed on maintenance. I have had my Grand Am for 6 years. I have 130,000 miles and I've replaced my brakes once, tires twice. I have kept up on belts, filters and fluids at the recommended intervals.

JD Power rated GM, Ford, Honda and Toyota in the same league based on a 5 year reliability study. You took your car to a bad 'backyard' mechanic, you didn't keep up on service intervals. You blame the car company. Oh, you forgot to note your oil changes, or did you just not have those done?

29th Apr 2007, 14:53

"GM, Ford, Honda and Toyota in the same league based on a 5 year reliability study"

GM? Maybe heavy duty trucks and tanks. Cars?-somebody must be kidding. They just can't build truly decent light vehicle, and Pontiac is notorious of being the worst of the pile.

29th May 2008, 17:30

I have a '99 Grand AM. I have had it for about 4 years, and I do like Pontiac, but I have had so many problems with this car.

My head gasket, rotors, brakes, my windows mysteriously falling to the bottom of my door off both of its tracks, transmission failure, fuel pump, power steering, and not to mention all the lights on my dashboard popping up out of nowhere, telling me there is something wrong with my car.

I don't ever drive my car bad or rough up the engine. I just used that car to get me from point A to point B.

I have a Toyota now, and I not only get better gas mileage, but I haven't had any problems at all whatsoever. It's been about 2 years now and I haven't had to replace anything!

They should have definitely done a recall on all '99 Grand Ams because they obviously didn't know what the heck they where doing when they built it. That not only comes from me, but even car dealerships have said the same thing.

26th Aug 2008, 12:06

Still have a 1999 Grand Am SE with around 150,000 miles on the odometer. Aside from normal maintenance costs (timing chain, pads, battery, that sort of things) the car has been quite a good commuter. Good service. Bad things? Wheels covers that break and pealing window switches. Overall, pretty good car. My parents Toyota Matrix has had more problems with way less mileage.