Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60
I have had my 1997 Pontiac Grand Am for about three years now. For the first year and a half it was a great car. In the next year I spent $500 on a new water pump, $1200 for new head gaskets, $60 three different times for front and rear brakes, and $1000 for a new heating core. My "great car" is now, once again in the shop. I have my choice of new pistons and camshaft, or an entirely new engine. ($2700 and $3500) respectively. I am not surprised to hear so many stories with such stark similarities. And like most of you, I will never buy a vehicle from Pontiac again.
Dan.
I bought a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am SE sedan in February 2004, it only had 84,000 miles on it. From owning other cars with power windows i could tell that the driver window was about to die soon. I've since replaced it. I got new motor and transmission mounts replaced, flushed the coolant, and got my recall fixed. Ever since I replaced the motor and transmission mounts my "check engine" light keeps coming on. I had it checked, and apparently it's a misfire in cylinder 2. I replaced the spark plugs and both coils. The car seems to be running better. One thing though, every time i go through a really bumpy entrance near my apartment and then downhill, the car dies out. Why is this?
Overall, this car has been great. I love it, that's probably why I keep putting money into it. I just hope nothing else goes wrong.
I have a 1994 Grand AM SE. I purchased it new in July 1994. The cost, a little under $17K. I've put about $10K in repairs over the last 11 year, just nickel-and-diming it. These repairs have nothing to do with accidents either, just "routine" stuff. In the end, I would never buy or recommend a Pontiac to anyone, ever. The Grand Am is simply one of the poorest built cars of all time. Thank God it is almost out of production.
I have a 97 Grand Am SE. Just like most of the comments I've read on this site, all of my windows are stuck. the driver side comes down and stay down. The passenger side take two days to go up. My carpet is worn completely to the floor that you can see the wires. I've replace the heater core, front and back brakes twice with in a year, the radiator. My speakers are shorted out except one. The clock on the radio doesn't show anymore. The air conditioner doesn't get as cold as it use to. There's got to be something we can do.
I own a 97 Pontiac Grand Am GT... I also have replaced the driver's window control arms twice... (motors run great)...One was replaced just inside the warranty, lasted about 2 years, then replaced same part on my own dime. A friend who looked into fixing it instead of replacing the part again said that the real problem is the weather stripping around the window... it is too tight and makes the control arm bend out and wear... the rear of the window will go up, but not the front. If you put two hands on either side of the window to "assist" it will work. I have also had lower intake manifold gasket replaced twice, power steering pump and water pump. I have a squealing noise which I am told is the air conditioner clutch (air works great though!) and ever since day one, there has been a "rapid clicking noise" that sounds like its coming from the front tires. Also have replaced the rod end control arms and they are slipping again which causes excessive wear on the tires (which never seem to hold the proper pressure). Radio control on dash quit working right away, only the steering wheel control will work. The gas gauge has stopped working... motor runs great, but my Check Engine light has been on for about three years... take it in get work, it clears than comes back on... last mechanic said it's probably emissions control failing. I attested a lot of the problems to "maintenance" as currently, I have 143,000.00 miles on the car, but I think and feel differently after reading the comments on this site. I wonder if anybody at GM reads this site... they need to.
I also own a 1997 Pontiac grand am SE sedan, and I just bought it used and now I regret buying it after I've seen the problems listed on this site and they're just like mine. All of my motor mounts and transmission mounts needs to be replaced, my water pump is leaking, my A/C compressor is burning and really needs to be replaced, my window (driver side) won't go down, but if you do it -won't go up, the drivers side floor, under the mat, always seem to be wet, my drivers side door is all busted up -if you pull on it it'll come off... yeah, it's that bad. So far, I've not had a radio problem; other than the speaker for the drivers side won't work, I now fear my head gasket will go out after I've read all of this; I'm now saving to fix that for when it does fail... thanks guy's. I'm trying to be a mechanic and this car will really make that a reality in no time at all. You'd think Pontiac would have reliable cars, but I guess not.
Good luck everyone
~ Jason ~
I have a 97 Grand Am SE 2 door Coupe, I bought it in 2002 and it was great for a while. The brakes suck, they always grind, my volume nob is horrible, my clock display and other lights are out, my whole front suspension system needs replaceing and don't know if I should get it done or just sell the thing, it also starts to shake violently and I have to turn it off and turn it back on to make it stop. Also there are many little problems with it too, only $1200 bucks worth! Any ideas on what I should do?? Please email me at irishchick0684@yahoo.com!!
NEVER buying a pontiac again. GO FORD!
~Katie~
I have owned my 1997 Grand Am for almost two years now, and I have had to replace mostly minor parts aside form a few major parts like the heating core. Which isn't bad considering it's history. It was in at least one major accident that I'm aware of, plus it was at one time a rental car, then it was used to deliver newspapers for almost three years. Both of those jobs put a lot of strain on a car, but the Grand Am still runs beatuifully. I love my car, it runs great just about all the time, it is just to fun to drive, to sell for just a few minor problems.
I also have a 97 Grand Am 2.4 and all of the problems you have all stated are completely in sync with my Grand am's problems. Althought despite the problems, it has 176,000 miles on it and still gets me to work and back regularly. It does have its problems.
To reset your check engine light you can open the hood and fusebox, pull the black fuse labeled "shunt" and leave it out about 20 minutes.
After we bought this car we read "Consumer Reports" about it and they warned of bad brakes and bad electrical system in it. We bought AutoZone Lifetime Brakes and I can change them myself in less than an hour. I have a crapload of electrical problems too, but my Grandam still runs. We trashed the stock radio immediatly. All the dash lights don't work, except the cluster. The headlight switch is fryed. And we replaced most of the power window motors at least once. I've budgeted in repairs to be about 50 bucks a month over 4 years.
All and all, I can't complain, it gets me and GrandMa from point A to Point B, if we don't go ovet 60 mph.
What I reaallllllllllllllly want is a Pontiac GTO Judge, any traders!!!
ZZ.
You folks that are having problems with these Grand Ams must be driving the hell out of them. I own a 1994 Grand Am SE and five years later have only replaced the belts and waterpump. Try doing some routine maintenance.
Hello I have a question. My Pontiac has been giving me some small problems until the last couple of days. I put it in "Park" or "Drive" and it is like someone is pushing down on the gas pedal. Very scary. This has happened 3 times, and also it stalls soon after this. When it dosn't do this and just in "Park" or "drive it jerks around almost like its gonna die at anytime. Thought first it was the oil, but my husband changed it and some plugs, but that didn't help. Also If one dosn't have a gas gap can this be the cause of this current problem I'm having. I heard that if there was no gas cap there is no compression and dust and such can get in the engine and parts. Please give me some I deal of what this could be and even if I should be driving it. :)
I to have a 1997 Grand Am SE 2.4L Four Cylinder. When I first bought the car the check engine light was on, and it would stall till the engine warmed up. The dealer said they would fix it. It went to their shop, another dealers shop, and two independent shops and NO ONE could figure it out. Finally the third shop got it to work, but never really told me what was wrong with it. Currently only two window motors work. My radio volume knob only works when pulled on. The water pump has been leaking for quite a while, so much that I don't put coolant in it anymore because it was costing me about $80.00 a month in coolant! The engine burns oil like an oil lamp! This week my oil light came on when I stopped, and within 2 minutes the lifters started clicking. I am told that I need a new engine. ($1000.00) The brakes and rotors need to be replaced more often then they ought. I've gone through three alternators and two batteries. After reading the posts on this site I am glad to know I am not the only one with these issues. If it weren't for the cars handiling and sporty performance as well as MPG the decision to get a new car as opposed to replacing the engine a lot easier.
97 Grand Am GT, 3100 V6, 102k miles.
I totally agree with everyone on this site. I love my car, it's great looking, performs well (when it wants to), and gets decent mileage. What I do not like about it, my CE light is almost always on, I've gone through 3 alternators, 2 sunroof motors (currently is stuck closed), 2 batteries, a water pump, and 5 brake jobs in 3 years, and my power windows suck. The wiring in these cars is horrible, and it sounds like my engine is struggling. Just recently, my idle started jumping and slowing, until I put it in drive, where it levelled off at about 650-700.
As far as routine maintenance being the problem, I say "Nay". I have taken great care of this car during its career under my ownership.
If you have not had major problems with your GA, consider yourself lucky. But, it looks nice.
So as I glanced over all of the comments... I started to think how lucky I must be. I have had my 1997 Grand Am SE for almost a year now, and the previous owner, my neighbor, bought it new. The car has over 200,000 miles on it! It has had some minor problems that were easy to fix, like changing the spark plugs. That is pretty normal with a car, especially with so many miles. Last week, though, I got my oil changed... and I also had the coolant system flushed out... and I believe that they may have busted the water hose or one of the radiator hoses in the process... not good. Other than these things though, that are very fixable with out a large amount of money, I have really enjoyed this car. It runs very well... if you take good care of it.
I have a 97 Grand Am and am experiencing the same problems as everyone else: passenger window motor not working, CE light constantly on, just had the brakes replaced and now hearing a thumping sound in rear axle, no heat and the heater core was just replaced. I hate this car, but can't put myself into another five years of car payments. I will never buy another Pontiac product again. I would love for the CEO of GM to read this web site, but that is highly unlikely. Unsatisfied Consumer.