1999 Pontiac Grand Am GT from North America - Comments

I enjoyed reading all about everyone else's problems. I have not experienced any of the noise problems in the front end or any of the brake problems, but my radio volume control is junk, as well as my window noise. the intake gasket is on all of the 3.1 and 3.4 gm motors on the lumina, gran prix, monte carlo, skylark, malibu, and catera. I wish gm would recall that. I haven't had any other problems yet I'm very happy. I have almost 70k and I'm under warranty till 100k. I am wondering with all the alternator problems I read about if I may not have that too. sometimes when I start it it will stall out like I didn't hold the key long enough?

Hello, I own a 99' Grand Am SE and for the second time I have had to have my manifold gasket replaced and only now driving down the road today (9/7/04) my low coolant light came on as it does every once and a while and I believe what I will be told now for the third time is again its your intake manifold gasket. Wow I wish they would recall this problem because at $700 a crack and only having it done about 4-5 months ago it's a huge inconvenience. If anyone knows about a recall please HELP!!! Also my a.c. and heating knob only works on 3-5 not on 1 or 2, is anyone else having that problem Christine.

I have a 99 GT, and I saw that someone had mentioned a bad hazard light switch that was causing the blinkers not to work. My blinkers work very selectively. The first time I noticed the problem, my blinker was on and it just stopped. I tried to turn it on again and it wouldn't work, so I automatically thought I blew a fuse or something. But then the next day it worked fine. Today they weren't working at all. I'm wondering if my problem also is related to the hazard switch, or if it's in the wiring somewhere. Any suggestions?

I have a 1999 Grand Am GT with 114,000 miles. I have had multiple problems with the vehicle. The auto trans-axle has had three shift solenoids replaced before the trans-axle failed at 106,000 miles. The hvac blower resistor has been replaced twice. The engine blew the manifold gasket and the low coolant sensor failed at the same time, resulting in upper engine rebuild with two new heads. The variable steering rack and pinion has been replaced due to a leaking seal and GM does not offer a rebuild kit for the seals. The head light retainer rings have been replaced due to failure of the plastic. Two of the electric window switches have been replaced. At the present time the fog lights and the directional lights are intermittent. I will be replacing the directional lights relay this weekend. The vehicle has another peculiarity in that when the ignition is turned from ON to ACC, the engine continues to run, but the transmission is disabled, need to turn ignition to off for approximately 5 seconds before restarting. I enjoy the car when everything is working properly.

I currently own a 99 GT and can believe the problems everyone else seems to be having with their so called pride and joy. I seem to be having similar problems with my car as most of you. Including, but not limited to, the intake seal (my low coolant light comes on a lot and I changed the oil today and the cap was all gooped up with crud) and the blower fan switch does nothing at 1 and 2. I take it none of these things are a recall and if you want you vehicle to last the life of the sheet metal, we will have to get these things fixed. What is the dealer cost vs. local garage to fix manifold problem? My buddy who used to work at GM dealer said it was about a $300 job and I keep seeing quotes above that! What is the concensus with getting this thing fixed in a timely matter before something else breaks? What should I look for if this intake seal isn't fixed before x-mas? I have 53000 miles on this car and it pretty much sits in the winter so I don't want to give it away being it is in like new condition? Thanks for the input!

Well, As I can see I am not alone with all the problems that I have with my 99 Grand AM GT. I am not to sure where to start. I will a gree with all of you about the problems. A little history shows that I purchased my car in June of 2001 with 23,000 miles on it. Thankfully I bought the extended warranty. My car now has 95,000 and I still owe 4,700.00 on it. It is the most aggrivating car you could possibly own. Now for the problems. I will start first with the noise most of you have heard that seems to come from the tires or rims. It seems like a rubbing noise or somehting sqeaking. This noise comes from the tires on the rim itself. This was an on going battle with the dealership that sold me the car. Come to find out I made enough of a stink that the guy at the dealership talk to a rep at GM. The aggreed to put on Michillen Pilot tires. These tires thye clam are the only ones that don't make the noise. I no longer have that noise. Problem being if you put these on the car yourself it will run you 1100.00. Next Inside the car: The shift nob has fallen off on occassion. The gas gauge was all messed up. They had to replace the gas module in the tank itself costing over 1,000. I have replaced the driveside window module 4 times and it is going again. I hyave recently been getting a rubbing sound in the steering colum when turning at a slow speed, haven't figured that one out yet. I have owned the car 4 years and am attempting to do the brakes myself this time to save some money. In 4 years I have done 3 break jobs not including the one I am attemping to do. I am now having problems with my transmission. After driving for long periods of time (1/2hr) when I go into reverse then back to drive it seems to take a while for the transmission to switch gears, anyone else have this problem? Now for otehr things. Power steering pump twice, tension pully, Drive belt 2twice, most recently the a/c compressor has just gone, I have replaced the head gasket which was really expensive, the steering rack, and the list continues. I have had it with this car. Pontiac should just recall the hole thing. anything else you wanna dicuss about this lemon please feel free to email me at rchajj@aol.com.

Well...all of these reviews make me feel a little better. I am having serious issues with my Pontiac Grand Am GT, and will never own another Pontiac or Gm car for that matter. First my alternator went, had that rebuilt and thought I would sell the car then, I should have, now I have the manifold gasket (intake valve and coolant leak issue), and yep its expensive, my power steering is gone, my engine mount bracket cracked, and a grinding noise in my tires! I am told this may be the hub bearings!? Holy, there are only 108 000 Kms on my car! I bought second hand at 50 000 Kms through the dealer, and I loved my car... until just recently when all the problems started at once, and it could not come at a worse time, I am a new single mom with a four month old baby at home, I rely on that vehicle to get her to the Dr., right now, the bus is a lot more reliable, but what a miserable time of year to not have a car to drive! I paid good money for that car, and now it sits in my underground parking keeping our care-taker busy replacing the cardboard under the car to absorb all the leaks! I will be fixing this car and trying my hardest to sell this lemon... I wonder what its worth? The delear really should be held responsible for some of this...? Their product is defective

cikesc@hotmail.com.

Wow, I thought I was the only one as well. This is the first and last Pontiac car I'm buying ever! I thought I was getting a great deal I bought my 99 Grand AM SE v6 for 3,500. Since then I have had to replace the rotors and pads. Replace the whole fuel system, pump, injector, sensors, and now the heap is stalling on me and loosing power. I had the battery and alternator tested they say they are working fine, but I'm doubting them. From what I've read here the alternator is a fan favorite to go bad. Plus the car has an aftermarket security system in it. This thing is also causing the car to stall and makes a ticking sound. I had to take that to an aftermarket garage to have it removed. (right under the driver side behind the fuse box) just incase anyone else has one. So far I have almost spent what I paid for the car in repair bills. My suggestion to anyone wanting to buy a grand am SE 99 is think about it... take several cold showers... think about it some more and buy something else!

I am right there with all of you. I have a 99 a Grand Am SE that was bought new in May of 98. I can't even count how many times I have had to replace my brakes, rotors and wheel bearings! At least 5 times.. I have also had to replace both tie rod ends... which the dealer couldn't even diagnose as the problem. My trunk looks shifted when its closed and leaks.. My back deck where my speakers are rattles so bad you can barely hear the music. I was driving the other day and my passenger window just falls down.. 2 days later my drivers side did the same.. My volume does the same thing- you turn it down and it goes up.. My keyless entry has a mind of its own.. I've been locked out of my car twice by it! My uncle had my set of keys with the keyless entry and as I am walking away from the car- the horn beeps and the lights flashed- sure enough I was locked out! I broke down in he middle of the highway because my gas gauge wasn't working.. My gas gauge and speedometer will just start going up and down all the time. My biggest problem is my gear shifter- the button does not press in- I have to use a screwdriver to get my car in gear! After it runs 20 min! My manifold is leaking. And I have a wheezing sound coming from my engine as of tonight! This car is a piece of junk! I would never buy another Pontiac! In 2004 my car sat over 2 1/2 months waiting on repairs. I had a new alternator, serpentine belt, fuel pump, power steering pump and water pump all in the past year! I can't believe Pontiac Has not done anything about this.

I own 99 GA. My blinkers worked when they wanted to. The dealership couldn't find the problem (go figure) and told me to play with the hazard switch to see if they came on. Long story short, was going to have it fixed (the hazard switch) but I received the recall in the mail (early 2005)! I didn't have to pay for it. So for all you that have problems, if you haven't gotten it fixed, there is a recall out there. I went to the dealership for an oil change for which I had a coupon for 5.95. I had them rotate my tires - 19.99. They also told me I needed a water pump and my oil pan was leaking. To fix both these problems would cost 1200+. Being a female, is the dealership pulling my leg, does it really cost that much to fix those two things and how do I know I need a water pump? No leaks on garage floor and my car temp never gets over 200. Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated!

I also have a 99 GA I was at the dealership getting my injectors, fuel filters and coolant flushed. They did everything, but the coolant flush they told my husband and I that there is a leak. We requested they put the car back up on the lift and show us where the leak is. The tech. briefly showed us and my husband put his finger up there on the supposed leaking spot. It was wet he put his finger on it and smelt it and tasted it.. (coolant has a sweet smell and taste) he said it had no smell and tasted like water... It was very cold the night before and there was a lot of dew on the car when were dropped it off at the dealer.. We also have never seen any puddle under the car and the coolant level has never changed. We've been keeping an eye on it since the dealer says we need a fuel pump replaced which they quoted us $750 which is outragous...I'm tempted to take to another Pontiac dealer and see if they see anything and compare the two. Don't let them play games with you and definitely get a second perhaps third opinion on it.

I own a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am GT which I purchased new. Well the same old problems here also, the radio replaced 2 times, the alternator burned out at 61000 miles, the front brake pads replace twice at 51000, fuel gauge all over the place, drivers side window motor, squeeking noise in front end that needed strut replacement. Here's the best one: a water leak from the drivers side window that's been fixed 2 times, one under warranty, and one out of my pocket. Would love a recall on that fuel tank issue.

I came across this site looking for alternators for my 1999 Pontiac Grand AM SE and was amazed at how many have the same problems I do. The power window went out one day and the window fell while I was driving down the hwy. I replace the alternator every year. This is the 3rd time its gone out. My volume control is out of control. Lets see, my air only works on one setting, the cruise control stopped working the clock went out, but the lights on the radio buttons still work. I need a new tire rod ALREADY. This car is a piece of junk. I would not advise anyone to get one. I wish I had seen this site before I purchased mine. Too many things go wrong in a short amount of time.

1999 grand am.there are times I will be low on gas and it will not take gas. it will run right out and down the side of the car.!any ideas please. Julie..

I've owned my 99 GT for about 8 months. Alternator just went out and left me on a busy road without hazard lights this morning. That's how I came about this site. Wondering how much this was going to cost. I've had belt problems, replaced the radio because there were no lights in it, have a problem with the auto lock on one door because it won't unlock anymore when in park or any other time, turn signals have a mind of their own and the air only works on 3-5. Really wish I would have know. I have a constant problem with "Check Tire Pressure". I cannot get this light to go off at all unless I pull the fuse. Some how it relates to my traction control light also. Car has 200,000 miles on it. Had 180,000 when I bought it, but I've probably spent enough to "TRY TO FIX" all the problems. I've tried to call about recalls on the turn signals because everyone seems to have this problem. I can also understand the tire problem. I cannot get mine to balance for more that three days. The people at the tire shop think I'm crazy, but every time I take it in they are out of balance. Of course they use an excuse about something else going bad and causing the tires to do it. Best solution I've come up with is to just send it DOWN THE ROAD! I'm done especially after finding this site. I think I will buy a Honda. They seem to be able to make it past 200,000 miles. GM needs to evaluate all the "SAME PROBLEMS" people keep having. Sad thing is, it will have to cost lives before it happens. SELL NOW!!!