1999 Pontiac Grand Am GT from North America - Comments

This car sucks... it's fun to drive, and fast and sporty, but it is a lemon... one thing after another breaks on this car!!! I've replaced my engine, replaced the front suspension 3 times, replaced the ps pump 2 times, blower motor resistor, pads and rotors too many times to count, the front wheel bearings a few times.

The rad hose just blew on me this morning, the power steering needs another pump... and the car leaks oil... it's a piece of crap!!! time for a new car, never buying GM or any other North American made POS again... import is the way to go!!!

This car is a 99 Grand Am GT with the V6 3400 engine...

I bought my 1999 Grand Am in October 2008.

I have replaced 3 window regulators; 1 of them twice in a month.

I replaced both front wheel hub/bearing assemblies due to loud grinding noise.

Blower motor resistor since heater only worked on 5.

I also have the turn signal clicking noise when turn signals are not on.

Gas gauge with a mind of its own.

Replaced the radio with aftermarket, but it did have the volume knob problem and screen problem.

Have a hard time turning the key and shifting out of park.

"Trust me this car is a LEMON"

I'm almost not sure whether to laugh or cry after seeing this site. At least I'm not alone.

I bought a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am GT sedan 4 months ago at 182k miles. Three days after I bought it, it developed a burnt or bent valve and had to have the heads redone and the valves reseated for 1100 bucks. A week and a half later the power steering pulley literally fell off. I had to have that replaced, then I learned two weeks later that the pump needed replacing. It has developed a constant clicking noise that sounds like my lifters are going bad.

My volume control is screwy.

Of course my blowers don't work on 1 & 2.

Now three days ago, my Pontiac started leaking power steering fluid at an incredible rate (less than 2 hours from completely full to completely empty. To top it all off my check tire pressure light came on right after I aired up my tires.

So in the 4 months and 4500 miles that I've had it, I've put in about 1500 dollars on repairs when I spent 3 grand on it in the first place.

This car is a piece of crap and has set my life back at least half a year with all of the wasted time and money. I think that it's time that we give up on American cars. The Japanese can make cars that aren't completely worthless. Down with the bailout!

I am puzzled about where people get the idea that any car with over 100,000 miles on it is going to have good reliability. I think only Volvo and Honda actually have "high mileage clubs" that promote the ultra long life concept. Then the problem with the old cars is they lack all the latest safety equipment.

Cars reach the end of an expected life span and after that you expect to have lots of parts breaking so the value of the car is only slightly more than than the annual repair cost. Then it only makes sense to send it to a junkyard and start over with something with lower mileage. It doesn't matter if the car is foreign or domestic, they all wear out at some point.

I don't mean to sound like I am lecturing, but I am genuinely curious how people make a judgment like a 10 year old car with 182000 miles is expected not to cost a lot to maintain? Is it because the paint still looked good, or the seats did not look very worn, or the engine sounded good, or something else?

"I don't mean to sound like I am lecturing, but I am genuinely curious how people make a judgment like a 10 year old car with 182000 miles is expected not to cost a lot to maintain?"

When my 1990 Dodge was sold at 240,000 miles it had cost me less than $15 in repairs except for recommended maintenance. In 8 years my grand Am has cost me a total of $10 in repairs. Old and high mileage doesn't necessarily mean lots of repair expense, especially for a domestic.

Alright, so I bought a 1999 Grand AM and it was meant to be my first car, but I found another one I'm more interested in. I was wondering how much roughly do these cars go for now-a-days?

I bought my first car... a 1999 Pontiac Grand GT. At first I was happy; later defect shows.

Dealership told me that I probably left the car windows opened and it rained inside of it. Wrong. There was much water behind the driver's side seat. I took it to the dealer to see if they could find out how the rain got in. They couldn't do it. And after a week, they told me that they couldn't find anything wrong.

The following week, water was again inside of the car. Back to the dealer again. I told them where the water was and would you believe it... they took out the passenger side front seat and told me it was leaking on that side. Wrong again. And there was no water leaking from the sun roof.

When I got the car back, they told me it was fixed. Wrong again! I finally took it to another Pontiac dealer without telling them I had been to a previous Pontiac dealer for this problem. Well, lo and behold, within 1 or 2 days from dropping off the car it was fixed. They called in a water specialist! Gee, why couldn't the other dealer had done so. They tried to make me look bad by saying that I left the windows open just because the couldn't fix it.

Now I have a clunking noise, which sounds like it is coming from the brakes. But we have taken the rotors off, plus checking the brake system. And when I slow down or stop, this noise sounds as if something is going to break or fall off. Today again we disassembled the brake system and still can't find out what it is. One mechanic suggest that it might be the struts or shocks that might be the fault, and you won't know until something bad happens. Does anyone know of this noise? It now has expensive brakes because I thought that would take care of the problem. Wrong again. Can anyone advise, please?

99 Grand Am SE, and I truly am a proud owner despite all this issues that this board has focused on over the past few years.

I have had none of these issues.

I can't speak for the stereo - I bought the car brand new and within 2 days replaced sound system.

Brakes once a year as a habit not out of necessity. Tires every 2 years, again habit.

Manifold was replace via recall, although my personal mechanic assured me it was not a seal problem but an uneven head. So my buddy ripped the head out, took it to a machine shop, had it re worked for square. Buddy charged me nada and the machine shop charged $150.00, everything put back together. And I have never had another issue until now..

1 and 2 fan gone don't work... but junk yard and $50 bucks fine again...

I can't complain; regular maintenance and $200.00 10 years and 180 miles.. I am content.

"Brakes once a year as a habit not out of necessity. Tires every 2 years, again habit."

Tires maybe, but brakes ONCE A YEAR?? Unless you're driving 80,000 miles a year, you are REALLY wasting some money. I replaced the front pads on my Grand Am after EIGHT years. The rear pads are STILL the original. I think someone at a brake shop (wanting your money) has been trying to scare you. I rarely EVER replace brake pads before 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Including the brakes (which cost me a whopping $17) I have been out a TOTAL of $27 on my GA in nearly 9 years now. Best car I've ever owned.

"One mechanic suggest that it might be the struts or shocks that might be the fault, and you won't know until something bad happens"

By all means, I want you to be safe, but sometimes mechanics and service departments will try to scare you. It is VERY UNLIKELY that a bad shock or strut could EVER cause "anything bad" to happen. A worn out strut or shock just alters the car's ride and makes it a bit "bouncier". It WON'T cause the car to violently veer out of control. I once blew out BOTH rear shocks getting airborne over a rough railroad crossing at 80mph in my old Pinto. It actually rode BETTER with the blown shocks, so I drove it like that for 2 more years before selling it.

I'm a mechanic, and I'd say that if your brakes checked out OK it might be a bad strut. You might also check all the bolts that hold the struts on. these ARE important and CAN cause an accident if the bottom ones somehow get loose. If the bolts are OK, I'd say ignore the clunking and enjoy the car. Old cars make LOTS of odd noises. Most are harmless. My suggestion to people who complain about noises in older cars is "turn up the stereo".

Well I am with everyone else on this. I bought my daughter this car used with 38,000 miles on it. It now has 100,000 miles.

I have the blinker that has a mind of its own. I have two broken windows that I fixed once and now that can stay that way.

Had to replace the head gaskets.

The dash fell apart, and last but not least, when you get up to about 40 mph the stupid thing sputters, but not all the time.

It is now parked, and she went out and bought a new 2009 Nissan. We have had it for six years.

I have a 1995 Toyota Camry SE that runs just as good as the day I bought it, and the only thing I done to it was replace the starter twice. Go figure.

Think I will shoot the Pontiac now, after reading all this I don't suppose we will get anything out of it.

AHAHH I cannot believe this! I bought my 99 GA in 2002 and have actually had pretty good luck with it, at least I was thinking so to myself as I was leaving the shop today for my oil change. I replaced the alternator in 2006, brakes twice over the almost 7 years I've had it; window fell down and cost about $600 to fix at the last minute over Christmas a few years ago (unfortunately the snow in Canada over my university break didn't allow me to take time to shop around) ; fixed the blinker-craze and have done a few other relatively minor repairs. Fan 1 & 2 stopped working after a few years but it didn't bother me enough to do anything about it... probably because I'm a bit cheap when it comes to things I know will never give me a return on my expenses!

I have just recently noticed my coolant light coming on and off, I guess I'll get that looked at now that I've read about this Dex-cool situation...wonderful!

Today I was told I needed a new battery and serpentine belt; but I decided to wait it out and shop around a bit since I now only drive a few miles to work and if it breaks down on the highway it's not a huge deal at this point.

I have to say, I've loved the car - the only thing that has always driven me nuts is the hub cap rattling, or whatever it is... how embarrassing as I go over bumpy roads or pull up to pick someone up haha - ghetto fabulous!

Any words of advice when it comes to the serpentine belt - they quoted $87 (Cdn) for part and labour, which sounds reasonable to me (totally clueless) considering some of the other costs I've paid out!

Drive'r till she sputters out one last time :-)

My 99 Grand Am needs a new head gasket and other random gaskets because of GM's brilliant idea of Dex-Cool has eating away at my head gasket since I never switched the coolant like they say you shouldn't. They said 600, can I get it done any cheaper than that? My advice: Switch coolants!

Well.

After reading all of these horror stories about the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, I think the my love affair with my own 1999 Grand Am SE is coming to a close.

Bought the car brand new in April, 1999. So far, I needed to replace the battery (failed at 13,000 miles), then the brakes (failed at 17,000 miles),then the fan switch quit working on 1-4 (only 5 still works) and now I see I have a slight leak from under the engine somewhere. I am thinking it is the power steering hose as the fluid is low in the reservoir.

All of my windows and door locks work very well, as do my gauges and electronics on the dash. Even my radio works. All of my exterior lights work, even the lower backup lights.

My car is still as shiny and black as the day I picked her up. The interior still smells new, and is flawless. This car has been garage kept its entire life, and driven no worse than an old lady that just drives to church. I am very gentle on the brakes, steering, and acceleration. Everyone passes me.

Even with this stringent babying, I am starting to regret ever purchasing this car. It is beautiful to look at, and still drives very well, but after reading all of your horror stories I think I'd better cut and run. All of this and only 30,000 miles on the odometer.

Wish I still had my old Rambler American 220. That car ran like a top and sat outside it's entire life. Was very dependable. I guess I just needed to vent a bit here, and sympathize with all of you other people who were unknowingly taken to the proverbial cleaners with this junky GM car. This will be my last GM car, as I have my sights set on a Ford Ranger pickup or Escape. I am almost afraid to sell it through the paper and have some other poor unsuspecting soul try to live with it. Might see what I can get with a trade in.

"This will be my last GM car, as I have my sights set on a Ford Ranger pickup or Escape'

Well, I certainly can't fault the Ranger (I've had 4, none ever saw the inside of a repair shop). I have never owned an Escape, although they seem to be VERY good vehicles. I've driven both the 4 and 6 and found both to be good driving and competent vehicles.

On the flip side, my 2001 Grand Am SE-1 has cost me a whopping $27 in 8 and 1/2 years of service. I replaced one light bulb and the front brake pads (the rear are STILL original!!) I normally do brake jobs at around 100,000 miles, so I WAS disappointed that the Grand AM required front pads at only 70,000 miles.

I'm a mechanic and love cars. We currently own 4. In addition to the Grand Am we have a 2003 GMC Envoy (perfect, never a repair), a 2006 Ford Fusion (as good as they can make them) and a 2007 Mustang (perfect so far).

I know lots of folks seem to have issues with the Grand Am. There MUST be some problems or there wouldn't be so many negative comments. All I can say is that I have never had a hint of a problem with mine and the guys in a Grand Am club I belong to seem to routinely get over 150,000-200,000 miles out of theirs with very little headaches. Still, if you don't feel good about yours then you probably should trade it.

The Ranger is an awesome truck. Consumer Reports did a story on long-lasting vehicles in their October 2007 issue and the longest-lasting vehicle featured was a Ford Ranger with 488,000 trouble-free miles. Be forewarned, however, the ride is a bit choppy and rough on rough surfaces, as it is with all small trucks. Mechanically they are absolutely bullet-proof.