Cooling system is failing all the time on all Pontiac have the same problem intake manifold blow 5 times at $50 miles oil mixes with the coolant and all the smoke from that goes in the air it is a major problem and than the cars are junk so than everybody who buys Pontiac they are buying a lemon cars even if it brand new from the shop.

- Manchester, NH, USA

Took vehicle to murphy motors, dealership here in my home town. Took to them due to fact my heat gauge kept rising and I didn't want to run car hot ;went to find out what was wrong. Technician stated that he put the car on the code machine and ran it. Said code popped up transmission. I didn't take car in for transmission. They refused to fix overheat problem. Said would have to pay $2,500 to replace transmission. Picked up car took to clifford vine garage. He looked at car and immediately told me the radiator was pouring water out of it. He replaced radiator and cooling fan. He put car on code machine after repairing those two items and did not see a code for transmission. After that alternator went out, and two days later, my computer and fuel injectors went out. Murphy motors ran car checking transmission no telling how long and probably ran without water since radiator was pouring it out. They didn't mention problem with radiator at all, just transmission codes. I feel they damaged car while running it in their shop looking for more money to get off me, like $2,500 for a transmission that has nothing wrong with it. This car was a lemon from the first day I got it. I've had coil housing replaced numerous times by murphy motors and by john hays Pontiac-hope ar 71801 when I broke down. Car has been towed in more times for coil housing. GM needs this car drove right up their backside for the problems it has caused and continues to cause me. I currently have a $750 outstanding shop bill to clifford vines garage in el dorado, ar 71730 for the last 3 times it was towed to his shop for the radiator, cooling fan, alternator, fuel injectors, and computer. I'll never buy another Pontiac again, that's for sure.

- El Dorado, AR, USA

97 Grand Am 4cyl pur new 5/97 series of problems.GT version but driven cautiously by 40 year olds.at 2 years and 39,000 miles water pump fails.is under car and is $600 dol to replace!nobody should buy the 4 cylinder when an item prone to failure like a water pump cant be accessed without removing the manifolds on the car.at 50,000 key comes out of ignition while car running.ignition switch fails, has to be re keyed and cost is $500 by local mechanic serv stat.at 55,000 miles at interlocks up, car stuck towed at this time a alternator check shows that is not charging.replace both cost $800 plus battery.Dec 2000 front left tire on alum wheel is flat-take to sev stat, they refill drive car after X-mas it deflates causes car to spin hit light pole mostly on tire area at 40 mph, no air bag deployment but a high snowbank decelerates car.alum wheel leak again?ever since w.pump replaced a tapping comes from cam area.at 75,000 miles auto dr lock in driv side fails and is replaced.cam noise cont. As serv. People say it is a lifter, finally in 2002 Dec. Car runs rough, is put on comp. And found to have bad cam timing.chain is inspected as it is steel and for life of car.a tiny cheap bracket keeps the chain in place and it had cracked and slowly broken at 80,000 miles.engine got by with new chain and labor for $800 dol.85,000 new battery,95,000 new battery.108,000 4 speed autotrans starts slipping into neutral.car stops on highway wont move.hw patrol tows, charged $129 to repair shop.say tranny is bad.and water pump is leaking again.bill would be thousands due to premature failure of these parts and car will be sold as parts car.too bad, looks good.-March 06,2004.

- Mpls, MN, USA

I have had one problem after another with this vehical and there are others with the same style car that are having the exact same problems. This needs to be looked into seriously. It is becoming to costly. No safety defect mentioned.

- Keiser, AR, USA

Dex-cool was used as only coolant. My mechanic faxed me some information on dex-cool stating that it was starting to cause problems in the 1st cars using it. Everything cooling related is starting to go out.

- Bronx, NY, USA

Coolant is leaking onto rack and pinion, deteriorating the rack and pinion, and making it very difficult to steer vehicle when making a turn. Also, there is alot of play in the steering wheel and noise when turning. Power steering hose has gone bad. Consumer has contacted dealer. Powere steering hose and water pump leaked causing rack and pinion damage. Front brake shoes failed.

- Coyota, CA, USA

Water pump failed.

- Mount Look, WV, USA

No summary listed for abov evehicle.

- Williamstown, KY, USA

Water pump failed.

- Mount Look, WV, USA

Th next year after I purchased my car, I began to lose compression. The car would also accelerate on its own, I noticed that my "check engine lights were on." I immediately took the car back to the dealers and they gave a diagnosis of "using the wrong gas". I am a women, and I don't know much about cars, therefore, at the time, I did not dispute this ridiculous diagnosis. A year later, I had to replace the brakes/disc pads twice. There was loud squelching noises. I also bought new tires after one year. Major problems have developed since 1999, which are: I had to have the thermostat replaced (air condition and heat stopped working), I had to have a new waterpump installed (car was pouring anti-freeze and smoking), and as of February 6, 2000, the car just completely stopped running. I received two qoutes from area repair shops estimating between $3K to $4,500 to rebuild and engine! I have exhausted myself contacting fred jones (spoke to him personally) of fred jones Pontiac, and their customer care center. Please help me! also, I read on your site that there was a recall on this vehicle for underhood fires - I never received a recall letter and my car was never taken in! I am very concerned that besides this make of car being a lemon, this may have also contributed to my problems. Please help me!!!

- Brookfield, WI, USA

The wheel joint simply broke apart no prior warning. Company did cover that. Spark plug and wire were supposed to be good for 100,000 miles, but were no good after 47,000 miles, water pump went out at 49,000miles. I have never had so many problems on a vehicle with low mileage. I have had previous GM cars that have lasted over 100,000 miles with no problems. Is this car known to have these kinds of problems? I have spent $700 in repairs because the way the car is put together it takes hours for the mechanic to fix anything. $483 for a water pump!!

- Liberty, MO, USA

This is the letter I submitted to them: I'm writing you this letter to let you know how disatisfied I am with your product. I bought my 97 Pontiac Grand Am new. I am a strong believer you get what you pay for. That is why I bought new versus a used vehicle. I believe that I should get more for my money than what I have got from your product. I'm very dissatisfied!!!! I am in the U.S.M.C. my family and I do alot of traveling to and from our home state. My wife was broke down on the highway with this vehicle. We as car owners have never broke down on the highway in my 18 years of being in the military. I am very picky about my vehicles and always have my car serviced as required. I never miss my oil changes. I am a middle class citizen just trying to make a living and make sure my family is safe on the roads. I have had no problems with the car dealership. I believe them to be the best in town. I believe I just picked the lemon on the lot. I have listed my expenses that I have paid out of my pocket and also what was covered under warranty. Please fell free to give me a call if you have any questions. I feel that I should be reimburse for repairs and expenses. Of $1257.65

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

I will never purchase another Pontiac-I have had nothing but trouble from this car and absolutely zero help repairing it. I owned two Buick prior to this car and will buy another as soon as I can get rid of this lemon!

- Hermitage, TN, USA

I will never purchase another Pontiac-I have had nothing but trouble from this car and absolutely zero help repairing it. I owned two Buick prior to this car and will buy another as soon as I can get rid of this lemon!

- Hermitage, TN, USA