1999 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.1 from North America
Summary:
Biggest lemon of all time!
Faults:
To start first thing was a coolant leak, diagnosis cracked intake manifold.
Second, a tapping noise turned out to be a bent push rods and valves in cylinders 1 and 3.
Third, after this was fixed they noticed the head was cracked and replaced.
Fourth, the timing chain was stretched and the guide was cracked.
Fifth, the fly wheel was cracked.
Sixth, was a mysterious gas leak, no one could find, result was a new plenum gasket and O ring seals for the injectors (not convinced it is taken care of still a slight gas smell)
Seventh, two window regulators have broken both on the passenger side.
Eighth, the radio only works if the car has been in the sun and is extremely hot after it cools off only the front speakers work.
General Comments:
This has been the worst car I have ever had the privilege of driving, I know who ever had it before me must have dogged it hard. I do have to admit now that the engine has been rebuilt four times in the past thirty days it has some power to it. I would consider buying another Pontiac in the future, but it will be new so I know it is the manufactures fault if it goes wrong.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th May, 2003
7th Jun 2006, 09:56
I bought a 99 Grand Prix as a demo from a Pontiac Dealer and had some similar problems. I had a coolant leak into the cylinder. I have three window regulators that do not work (two of them are rear windows and get very little use). The carpets show more wear than they should for the year. In addition, the headlights seemed to have some coating on them that has yellowed and now dim the headlights quite a bit, making it necessary to replace both. My previous vehicle was a Toyota pickup and it just ran. The only thing that broke was a heat adjuster cable. That was after 8-9 years. Think I hate not to buy American again, but the quality is a lot better from Toyota.
3rd Apr 2005, 10:32
Sounds to me that your mechanic is taking you to the bank. Any time whey start one major repair and they happen to stumble upon another problem by accident, it's no accident. Try taking it to another dealership for a second opinion.