1999 Pontiac Grand Am GT from North America - Comments

I am so glad that I have found this site. I was afraid that I was the only one drowning in the sea of bad Pontiac Grand Ams. I just had my '96 Grand Am towed for the second time this month. At the beginning of the month... the alternator. This time... lower intake gasket. I walked out to the car yesterday and there was a river of Dex-cool headed down the parking lot. In the 2 years I have had the car I have done over $1500 in repairs. The theft system kicks in whenever it wants to, power locks don't work, the windows slide down and then get stuck there all the time, the radio volume knob seems to be reversed (every other time anyhow), had brake problems last year, and it has it's own array of odd noises (it must be wallowing in self-pity!). Needless to say the gasket replacement is going to run around $1000, and I am thinking that it's time to say enough. I am looking forward to a day when I can go through a week without calling work to say, "I'm stranded in my driveway again."

Update: Well it has been several weeks since I posted that my '99 Grand Am finally gave out when I overheated and cracked a cylinder head. Just for grins I went back through my files to add up all of the maintenance cost that I have receipts for. Mind you that this only accounts for the major repairs I had done on my car, and doesn't include routine oil changes, etc. I would say these receipts account for 80-85% of my overall maintenance cost since I purchased the car. I almost passed out when I added them all up. I spent over $10,000 in repairs between May 1998 and April of 2007. I could have purchased another car for that amount. I am half tempted to send a copy of every receipt directly to Pontiac. I am soooo glad I no longer own this vehicle!!!

I absolutely love the look and feel of my 99 Pontiac Grand Am, but, will be forced to sell it with only 70,500 miles on it due to constantly dealing with the engine coolant light going on. At 40,000 replaced the manifold intake, at 50,000 did the head gasket and now need the intake manifold worked on again. Never had any brake problems, both windows fell down and needed to be fixed, and my fan 1 and 2 do not work. The console is separating. Thanks to the comments posted, even though it breaks my heart, it's time for the for sale sign while it is running.

Definitely sell that baby before it breaks down on you! I made the mistake of waiting too long and my engine died. When I purchased my new vehicle the Saturn dealership was kind enough to pay to tow my Grand Am to the dealership and give me a meager $300 trade-in. In some ways I miss my Grand Am, but I don't miss the quarterly visits to the auto repair shop.

I've owned my 99 Grand Am SE since 2000. Major electrical problems to say the least. Being in the mechanical field has helped, but the electronics are really messed up. As far as brakes, I found no problems. In the city, I use #3 automatic gear and "D" when driving over 50 mph. Tip on coolant, change every 4 years completely. This coolant turns corrosive and eats away at aluminum. My car has 150k miles and has just about had it. I think the computer is dying and I'm not willing to put any more money into it. I found the front end growling noises are from the wheel bearings. I'm sad to see so many people with so my problems with the Grand Am. Thankfully, my GA doesn't owe me a thing.

I wish I would have found this site before I bought my 99 Grand Am SE.

Let's see: I bought mine 2 months ago with 60,000. Couldn't believe the deal I thought I was getting. Got it for a really cheap price.

First, 2 days after buying the car, the volume went out on the radio. No big deal, I'm not a huge fan of factory systems. I actually was on my way to the store to pick put a new system. So I take out the old radio and find shorted out wires all in the dash. Had the dealer check it out and replace them, cause that's where I bought it.

So I get it home and the car starts misfiring. got it fixed, 2 days later again with the misfiring. A week later misfiring. The next day misfiring. This is no joke either. 2 months of having the car; it's been at the dealer 7 times for misfiring.

Now the the misfiring problems has been taking care of. Knock on wood.

It sputters when at a complete stop. It's been back to the dealer 5 times for sputtering and they can't find anything wrong. Everything's been replaced free of charge, but I'm still having problems.

If anyone has any info on what's causing the Grand Ams to sputter, please let me know.

LazyAsHere@aol.com

Let me add I work on cars on the side, so I do know a thing or two about cars. So please no remarks like I don't know about cars, and should treat your car better. I know how to care for a car, ad when a car's cared for. My car's in mint condition, just pretty much a money pit.

I'm sitting here laughing b/c I'm having most of the same problems as everyone else here. I've had my 99 Pontiac Grand Am since 2001 and it now has 124,000 miles on it. My 1 and 2 fan switch doesn't work, I never know how much gas is in my tank unless I check with my mileage (which is also off, by the way!), my antifreeze light is now coming on all the time and was told the intake needs to be replaced. In January 2005, I had my alternator replaced. Now I'm thinking it may need to be replaced again. My car is getting harder and harder to start. It just makes a grinding noise when trying to turn it over. After trying to start car over and over, eventually it will catch and start up. Does anyone know what this problem may be?? We have checked the battery and the battery was fine, but we're thinking the alternator isn't keeping it charged. Anyone have any other suggestions? Will be SO happy when I can afford to get another car (and not PONTIAC)!!!

To the last comment about the car grinding when trying to start. I wouldn't say the battery or alternator. I'd point you in the direction of your starter. Sounds like the solenoid isn't engaging correctly, and is just spinning or grinding against the flywheel. Putting a new starter in isn't the hardest job, so don't let anyone take advantage of you.

Mike

LazyAsHere@aol.com

Thanks Mike!! I actually took it to an auto parts store today and they said the same thing - they think it's the starter. The part they quoted me was $192.00!! Then he said it would probably be another $200 for the labor. (I'm female, so I don't know how to put a starter in!) So, is this being taken advantage of?? I think so...

To the last comment, I'd say a shop would charge ya about $200 to throw your starter in. I'd call around and get some other quotes tho if you already haven't taken care of it yet. Shops are rip offs. Me, I'd put in a starter for $50. Like I said, they're not to hard. Wish I could help ya out cos I hate seeing people getting ripped cos they don't work on cars their self.

99 Grand Am, last Pontiac I buy! Got it used at 35000, now needing third intake manifold gasket, blower resistor out, radio volume messes up, power windows switches intermittent due to water from poor design, door trim panels coming loose AGAIN, just a general all-around POS car. I guess GM is getting sued both in the US and Canada about the intake manifold gaskets, but the only ones that will get any money will be the lawyers. Pontiac will not do anything to help since the dealership cannot find the paperwork from the first repair, and the second repair was a non-GM dealer. So they could care less. Toyota or Honda for the next one?

To the last comment: you don't happen to be in north carolina do you?? LOL. I haven't had it taken care of yet, it actually hasn't acted up for over a week. But I know the time is coming. Is $192 a reasonable price for the actual starter itself? Is $400 reasonable for part and labor? Thanks!

Just to reply to the comment about buying Toyota or Honda - RIGHT IDEA! The problem with cars built in North America today, is that they are having a harder time competing in terms of profitability with Japanese/European manufacturers. It actually all comes down to Operations management - the Japanese employ a Target-oriented approach to production, while north American companies use a conformance-oriented approach. The conformance oriented approach is cheaper (this is where they try to narrow the gap with competitors), which leads to the production of cars using lower quality parts and labour.

Japanese cars on the other hand, are built with a greater desire to produce HIGH QUALITY. I own Chev/Ford/GM muscle cars, and my daily driver is a Toyota... my last Toyota got over 300,000 miles. Now, you tell me if North American manufacturers even come close to Japanese car makers... NOT A CHANCE!

No I'm not in North Carolina LOL. I'm in New York, sorry about that.

Umm 192.00 is little high for your starter. I'm finding them for about 150 to 160 here. Either way, they're not too cheap.

Sorry haven't gotten back sooner. I've actually gotten stuck with my car a few times now in the past 2 weeks. My security light starts flashing and the car won't start.

Grand Ams are the worst car I've ever had.

MIKE.

So does yours make the grinding noise also or no noise at all? Are you having your starter replaced too?