Service advisor comments lead me to suspect that shortness of alternator wiring harness caused electrical shorts which caused three alternator failures and one instrument cluster failure. Intial alternator failure resulted in sudden electrical system shutdown on I-880 at the santa cruz mountains summit, a near safety mishap. The vehicle had to be towed to dealer. On the other two alternator failures, warning lights gave us enough notice to drive the vehicle to the dealer for repairs.

- San Jose, CA, USA

Consumer was inside of vehicle. Started vehicle up, and noticed smoke coming underneath the dashboard. Fire department was called.

- Louisville, KY, USA

The steering wheel column made grinding noises when my 1996 Grand Am SE was driven. The noises even persisted after the Grand Am was returned to the original dealership in Washington, D.C. where the car was purchased from for service/repair in December 1999. The service manager informed me the noises from the steering wheel column could not be fixed and since the car was "older"- only 3 years old, any noises in the steering wheel column should be expected and are normal for a 3 year old car. The service manager told me he would look at the steering wheel column as well as the electrical componenets under the dashboard to investigate the problem. The service manager informed me that he did the best he could do to find and repair the noises in the steering wheel column. Approximately three months later, and continued to hear grinding noises from the steering wheel column, on March 31, 2000, after dropping my infant to the daycare center, I attempted to start the car and it would not start. The steering wheel column in addition to the turn signal chamber on the steering wheel column began to smoke. Flames began to appear from the steering wheel column and a steady flow of smoke. The electrical fire increased in size and was finally brought under control by two fire engine companies. My 1996 Pontiac Grand Am was towed, assessed for damages and finally deemed unsalvageable- a total loss. My 1996 Pontiac Grand Am SE was only three years old. This incident should not have occurred.( dot number: )

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

Continually disregarded by dealerships and corporate offices

- Shirley, NY, USA

Underdash wiring harness failure caused vehicle fire. Mjs

- Menasha, WI, USA

My most recent problem included transmission failure, and according to the mechanic this had been happening for a very long time. The fourth gear of the transmission and the clutch were burned out. I've also had to replace a water pump on the vehicle. Immediately after purchase, I noticed anti-freeze leaking from the vehicle and the vehicle would just die while driving along. I attempted to get the dealer to repair the vehicle and did get his verbal agreement however, he lied and wouldn't follow through. I suppose because he knew he'd sold me a lemon and was more than eager to state his case, that had no lemon law. There are various electrical problems especially with the instrument panel and I suppose it may be something electrical that causes my vehicle to die while driving along. There is no warning, the vehicle just goes dead. During stops it seems that at times the rear end just has a mind of its own; almost as if it wants to keep going while the front end has stopped - it's sort of like a skipping effect. Other electrical problems include the passenger door lock not operating with the power door lock, the radio display is lit at times and sometimes it's not, since I've had the transmission repaired the check engine light and ets lights which have been on since I purchased the vehicle, are no longer lit. During the water pump failure the dealerships remedy for it was to disconnect the electrical wiring which prompted me that something was wrong with this system. The electrical problems are numerous. My car is a lemon!

- Denmark, TN, USA

At any speed lights on control panel would illuminate, and car would suddenly die out. Incident occurred four times. Dealer contacted and attempted to remedy problem by installing new computer. Provide further information.

- Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA