2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT 3.4

Summary:

I love it

Faults:

Electrical noise from the speakers, like a bad contact. Can be triggered by a bump in the road. If I'm lucky I can stop it by kicking the steering wheel. Dealers tried to fix it to no avail. Being an intermittent problem it's hard to demonstrate.

Original tires were pretty bad, would slip a lot on wet surface.

It probably uses too much gas, but it drives so well, it's hard not to push it a little.

Somehow it's hard to fit larger items (TV, etc) through the openings (trunk, rear doors).

General Comments:

I love it. A pleasure to drive, very comfortable.

Drove it twice across north America (W->E, E->W) and it was a pleasure.

Responsive, good road feel, sporty, comfy, enough power for most situations.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th November, 2004

2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT 3.4L V6

Summary:

Will not buy another GM car

Faults:

Brakes went out at 37,000 miles.

Vent adjustment broke off at 41,000.

Tire wear inconsistent at 44,000 miles.

Air conditioning very weak at 40,000.

General Comments:

Brakes started making popping/grinding noise at 37,000 miles (go figure), and went to have them replaced, and the only thing wrong was the pads. Had it out of the shop for about 2 weeks, and it made the same sound again.

Brought it back in and they told me they couldn't find anything wrong. So I took it to a GM dealer to look at the brake system. They told me they couldn't find anything wrong with it, "maybe" it's in the wheels. They didn't want to look at those though.

Took it to another shop, and after about 4 hours they couldn't find anything wrong with it either, but it still makes the popping/grinding noise upon pushing on the brake pedal.

Either car is too difficult to work on, or GM doesn't want to help me out.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 16th September, 2004

2001 Pontiac Grand Am SE

Faults:

At 38,000 miles, the entire front brake system had to be replaced. This included Rotors, pads, and calipers. The repair shop said the calipers had seized and destroyed the rotors. The car was using only the rear (drum style) brakes to stop. This repair cost me about $700. (Warranty ended at 36,000 miles)

Two months later, at 41,000 miles, the power steering pump simply quit. All fluids were always kept at the proper levels. This repair cost me $300 more.

I usually get about 100,000 miles from my cars before trading/selling them. I seriously doubt that this car is going to make it that far. What a disappointment. My first Pontiac in 15 years, and definitely my last.

General Comments:

Sporty looking Lemon. Make me an offer.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 17th August, 2004

5th Jun 2006, 20:47

As a mechanic, I suspect your problem is more dishonest repair shops than the car. I never heard of BOTH calipers "seizing" and if they did, they would not damage the rotors if they seized in the open position, and if they seized in the closed position your car couldn't move. Some repair shops deliberately mess stuff up when you have work done so you'll have to come back soon. Since the power steering went out just 2 months after the bogus brake job, I strongly suspect foul play. You probably couldn't prove it, but I'd never go back to the same repair shop again. I've owned a Grand Am myself and they are one of the best built cars on the road, foreign or domestic. Getting 200,000+ miles out of one is not at all unusual.

6th Jun 2006, 10:29

Replacing every part in the front braking system shouldn't cost over $400 MAX. This repair shop really did a number on you. I've had rotors, calipers and pads replaced on my car once and the total cost was only $360. YOu got taken big time.

2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT 3.4

Summary:

A high tech nightmare

Faults:

Front rotors warped very easily.

Air intake temperature sensor. Makes transmission shift really hard as well as hurts performance.

Plastic in window regulator busted, have to purchase entire window regulator.

General Comments:

I like the overall look of the car and how it rides. It has a really cool stance (front rake).

It is nice and roomy and has lots of extra features.

I just wish that there was not so much that can go wrong with it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 9th August, 2004