I bought this car in January of 2008. It had 76,000 miles on it at time of purchase. Within the first 2 days of owning this POS, I get the SES light. Needs a thermostat and have a code for Transmission Long Shift. Replaced Thermostat and cleared codes since dealer informed that Transmission Long Shift can be caused by the bad Thermostat. Thats where the problem started. I have constantly dumped money into this trans over the years just trying to keep it going since the GM dealer quoted me $3,400 to replace the trans. Apparently, according to a no longer GM service rep, the trans in that car along with MANY MANY other GM cars, has problems with a Pressure Control Valve, premature wear and failure of the clutches, premature Torque Converter failure. I have contacted GM many times about this problem with no avail. The cost to fix the car is as much as replacing the entire car! GM has it all wrong for customer retention. Based on things I have seen GM do to repair cars and the cost of GM repairs, this will defiantly be my last GM vehicle.

While driving the transmission makes a terrible whine. Seems to shift ok except I have noticed that when coming to a stop and the trans downshifts from 2nd to 1st it is a harsh downshift. Almost a clunk. I checked the engine mounts thinking that was the problem, but everything seems ok. A new problem also is when driving and going to pass another vehicle and the trans downshifts it now seems to be slipping until it shifts back into 4th. Unsure what the problem is. I have a bad feeling the trans is about to take a dump. Inherited the car and the prior owner always had it dealer serviced. This car doesn't have enough miles on it to be having these problems. I'm seriously considering to trade the car in.

Transmission started knocking hard shifting into every gear, but was fine downshifting, made a winding noise coming from the front of the car, would only do this when the temperature of the car was above 73 degrees. If the car was shut off for a few minutes and started again it would work fine for a little while but start again. We thought it was the transmission so we had it rebuilt, still did it, took it apart and replaced a sensor in the transmission and it stopped for 2 years then started again, you have to get the transmission speed sensor replaced - I believe that is what its called. it is a very expensive fix because they have to remove your transmission to get at it.

I recently bought this car and I right away noticed that every now and then, on acceleration, the shifts were jerky. it really began to bug me so i did some research and it turns out that this is a common problem for grand prix. its like my tranny has terminal cancer. its fine to drive now, but it will eventually get worse and worse until there is no tranny. this is obviously a simplified version but thats what hard shifting means if you own a grand prix, '97-'02. no, its not just in need of a tranny flush or a tune up, its had all that. i will post back when i save up the several thousand to get a new or rebuilt tranny, hopefully before it dies.