1998 Pontiac Grand Am GT review from North America
"*** Avoid at all costs!!! ***"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Lower intake gasket (manifold).
Needs new engine at 81,000 miles.
General comments?
Watch out for GM cars from 1994-2000!!! Pontiac Grand Prix, Grand Am, Bonneville,...
GM blames Dex-Cool for problems, won't take responsibility for manufacturer defects!
Factory intake gaskets are faulty - gaskets fail and coolant flows into the crankcase, turning your oil into a thick brown sludge.
GM now recommends replacing with aluminum gaskets to prevent corrosion, but won't do recall for the thousands of owners who've complained!!
Gasket repair will cost anywhere from $550-1,000 (mostly labor / an 8+ hour job)
I waited 2 weeks to repair (until I had the $600) and lost my engine.
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| 1998 - Grand Am SE II 2.4 DOHC 4 cylinder You get what you pay for |
|
| A nice car if you have deep pockets |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1998 |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.1 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 79000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 81000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Explorer |
| Date of Entry | 3rd April, 2008 |