1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE review from North America
"I still like Pontiac"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I have a 99 Grand Am SE with a 3.4 SOHC. I bought the car with 140,000 miles on it and I now have a 149,252 on it.
I came home from the old lady's house the other night and the temperature gauge kept on climbing until it red-lined at 260. I pulled off the road and got to a gas station to find the problem; no visible leak other than overflow from coolant bottle. A mechanic checked it and said it's showing symptoms of a head gasket.
I have replaced the water pump, alternator, brakes, and battery in this car already, and now the head gasket is blown. I also have the fan switch problem; that is just a blown resistor on the blower motor itself. I also had the security light issue, but I found that if you don't leave the keys in the ignition, it should be okay. I still have my dealer keys at 149,000.
I really love these cars, but I wish they were a little more reliable. But I still love my Pontiac!!
General comments?
My GA handles really good, it's quick, and looks good. I'm hoping after this head gasket issue I can get to 175,000 with no more serious problems.
Recommended reviews
| This car was good for the first 100,000 miles, but after that it should have been pushed off a cliff |
|
| Worthless, Unreliable, and Poorly Built |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.4 single cam Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 140000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 149000 miles |
| Previous car | Chrysler 300 |
| Date of Entry | 3rd January, 2008 |