NHTSA — Exterior Lighting: Headlights Problems

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix (Page 3 of 7)

7.2

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,597 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix lights problems

lights problem

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1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner Comments (Page 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #95

Mar 012002

Grand Prix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Lense fell off headlight. This caused bulp to blowout. Took vehicle to dealer and they wanted to replaced whole headlight assembly. Consumer just wants only the bulb.

- Monteray, TN, USA

problem #94

Feb 152002

Grand Prix

  • miles
The lens on the headlight assembly fell off. In turn, the bulb failed/broke as it was directly exposed. For approximately two years preceeding this failure, both headlight assemblies showed condensation on the inside of the lens. Upon contacting the dealer, both the parts and service departments indicated that the glue that holds the headlight lens to the assembly has been failing.

- Marlboro, NJ, USA

problem #93

Feb 072002

(reported on)

Grand Prix

  • miles
While driving headlight covers fell off front end of vehicle. This was a reoccurring problem, causing traffic violations and safety hazards.

- Brazil, IN, USA

problem #92

Oct 012001

Grand Prix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Headlights constantly have condensation in them. One day while doing a quick stop from 30 miles an hour, the left front lens fell off and front wheel drove over it, smashing it to pieces. The lens itself could not be replaced, the complete assembly including turn signal indicator had to be purchased at $100.

- Bloomingdale, NJ, USA

problem #91

Aug 012001

Grand Prix

  • miles
Cover for left and right headlights fell off with out knowledge of a problems. Both within 2 months apart. Had to buy whole headlight assembly at $72 dollars each. Rack and pinion went out of steering box and was unable to find the right part. Had to substitute for a stand box. Heard there was a report of this problem before in the usa today.

- Walnut, IL, USA

problem #90

Apr 052001

Grand Prix

  • miles
Steering - rack & pinion failed while making a left turn - it was very hard to turn the wheel so that we could clear the intersection. It was also difficult to park the vehicle. Steering to the right was normal. Replaced rack & pinion $780.54. Headlights: Moisture buildup in front headlamps. Dealer replaced seals 1/98 under warranty. Another moisture problem developed 3/99 -dealer replace both headlamps. Air conditioner: System failed ON7/01 - unable to adjust air flow and air could barely be felt coming from the vents. Dealer found that vac line was split at pump - $42.23 to repair. Air system failed again 6/99 - loose vacuum hose repaired $21.59. Air bag indicator comes on and goes off at random. Dealer ran a diagnostic and found an error code, which they cleared, but no problem - issue unresolved. Rear power windows failed - dealer replace regulator on both rear windows - covered under warranty. Alternator failed 10/01 - replaced $314.54

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #89

Apr 052001

Grand Prix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Steering - rack & pinion failed while making a left turn - it was very hard to turn the wheel so that we could clear the intersection. It was also difficult to park the vehicle. Steering to the right was normal. Replaced rack & pinion $780.54. Headlights: Moisture buildup in front headlamps. Dealer replaced seals 1/98 under warranty. Another moisture problem developed 3/99 -dealer replace both headlamps. Air conditioner: System failed ON7/01 - unable to adjust air flow and air could barely be felt coming from the vents. Dealer found that vac line was split at pump - $42.23 to repair. Air system failed again 6/99 - loose vacuum hose repaired $21.59. Air bag indicator comes on and goes off at random. Dealer ran a diagnostic and found an error code, which they cleared, but no problem - issue unresolved. Rear power windows failed - dealer replace regulator on both rear windows - covered under warranty. Alternator failed 10/01 - replaced $314.54

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #88

Jun 152001

Grand Prix

  • miles
After replacing both head light lenses six month ag right side was missing. Dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.

- Williston Park, NY, USA

problem #87

Dec 122001

Grand Prix

  • miles
In October of this year I was at a mcdonalds drive through, and driver's side lens cover fell off headlight assembly. I picked it up, and when I got home I used epoxy cement to put it back on the headlight. Two nights ago while my wife was driving home from work in the rain the right cover came off and the lamp blew out at sixty five miles per hour. If both covers had came off at the same time she would have been left with only fog lights. When I contacted the company, they said well if the glue got moisture on it it could fail, and I replied that we didn't drive the car in a garage, and it was raining that night. Thank you robert stearsman.

- Mortons Gap, KY, USA

problem #86

Nov 232001

Grand Prix

  • miles
Other complaints listed on internet at similer mileage.

- Kennewick, WA, USA

problem #85

Nov 012001

Grand Prix

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Both left and right headlight assemblies have fallen off three times. Glueing them back on only fixes the problem temporarily. Eventually moisture gets inside and the light will fail or the reflective surface will tarnish and will restrict visibillity at night.

- Mansfield, PA, USA

problem #84

Jul 012000

Grand Prix

  • miles
Cover for head light assembly has fallen off three times. Front-right cover had fallen off two times, and front-left cover had fallen off once. Dealership examined vehicle and made repairs. Please provide any additional information / attachments.

- Barneveld, NY, USA

problem #83

Aug 152001

Grand Prix

  • miles
The driver side headlight lens/cover fell off in August, leaving halogen light unit exposed which led to premature failure of bulb. Condensation inside that headlight was observed for several months prior to the failure. I didn't think anything of it because there was often condensation in the lenses of my 1987 olds cutlass wagon from 1990-2000 (when I owned the car) but nothing ever happened to the headlight lenses or the bulbs. I asked the dealer about replacing the lens as defective three times. The dealer told me that the lens was not available as a separate part and offered to sell me a new headlight "bucket" (lens and holder assembly) for $70. Service counter man didn't even have to look up the price as he had "just sold one" the previous day. I told both the service manager and parts manager that I thought this should be covered under warranty. Don't get me wrong - I have had no problems with this dealer - they seem to be good people, but I've been in manufacturing most of my career and this is the old "pretend we don't have a problem and it will eventually go away" dance. Research among other Grand Prix owners, area service men (off the record, of course) and www.grandprix.net/problems indicates this is a very widespread problem that Pontiac refuses to acknowledge as a defect. What happens is the glue that holds the lens to the headlight "bucket" dries, allowing more moisture to enter, which further deteriorates the glue and causes the lens to fall off. Without the lens, the $20 headlight bulb will burn out within 1-2 weeks from weather exposure. I had planned to complain to Pontiac, but research into others with this problem indicates that Pontiac does not seem willing to admit this is a manufacturing defect. I have owned cars for almost 30 years. Headlight pieces aren't supposed to just fall off - are they" is this the correct forum in which to make this complaint or should I be contacting some other Agency" please let me know. Thanks for your time.

- Potsttown, PA, USA

problem #82

Sep 082001

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Non-operational headlights due to lens coming off headlights. Dealer was notified, and informed of no manufacturer's recall on that parts.*akboth front head light lens coners feell off, they fell at separate times and the bulb immediately failed as well leaving limited to no visibility for night driving. Nlm

- Miami Beach, FL, USA

problem #81

Feb 012000

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Headlights fog up which causes difficult visibilty. Dealer advised consumer that defect was due to water build up, and was a "manufacturer's defect". also, driver's side headlight was begining to fall off.

- Mt Olivet, KY, USA

problem #80

Aug 032001

Grand Prix

  • miles
This is the 3rd time I have had to replace the headlight assembly what is wrong"??"

- Townsend, MA, USA

problem #79

Aug 052001

(reported on)

Grand Prix

  • miles
On separate occasions, the headlight lens has came off of headlight assembly of both headlights. Falls off unexpectedly and is run over, damaged, or lost. I believe this is probably a result of the headlight assembly not being watertight, as there is always condensed moisture inside the headlight unit. One of my complaints, aside from the fact that the lens cover comes off, is that you cannot just go to a dealer and buy a new lens cover. You have to buy the entire headlight assembly (or at least that is what I was told at long Pontiac in chattanooa, tn), which is costly at around $65 a piece plus the additional labor cost of removing damaged unit and replacing with new unit. I believe this is a defect because both headlights had this problem, on separate occasions.

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #78

Jul 202001

Grand Prix

  • miles
Headlight cover fell (flew) off as I was driving. My headlight cover previously fell off, last year, and we "glued" on again. Obviously this did not resolve the problem.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #77

Jul 082001

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Headlight lenses will fall off without any notice. Consumer contacted dealer who found both headlight covers were gone.

- Farming Dale, NY, USA

problem #76

Mar 222001

Grand Prix

  • miles
Both headlight assemblies fell apart, one while driving in a rain storm, and one the next day upon inspection at the dealership.

- Bethpage, NY, USA

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