Comments: 1-15, 16-17
Over the past five years that I have owned this vehicle, I have had to replace the rotors every six months. I had to turn the rotors each time between replacing them. They are currently warped as I am writing this. Absolutely ridiculous.
In 2000, I had to have the evaporator replaced (Air Conditioning). The cost was close to $1000.
The alternator has given out once, which is understandable, but it is also not a cheap replacement.
Recently, the engine coolant system started to leak. Two weeks ago, I had to have the head gasket replaced ($320), and I had to have the water pump replaced today ($235).
I have also had to replace the driver's side window motor once ($300).
Current problems not fixed yet:
-Squeak at the bottom of the steering column
-Paint chipping from side mirrors
-Radio volume knob doesn't know the difference between increase and decrease.
-Dash squeak.
Do not get me wrong. I absolutely love my 1997 Grand AM GT, but the maintenance is unbelievable. I have had it since I was 16 years old. I am very lucky that I bought an extended warranty that is soon to run out at 60,000 miles. It has been well worth the $750.
Even though I love my Grand AM, I am not willing to put up with all of the repairs after I graduate from college. So I will be looking to buy a car that doesn't pose this many maintenance issues.
If you ever decide to buy a 1997 Grand AM, I would only ask you to ask yourself one question: Do you have enough money to keep it running?
I have had my 1997 GT for just over a year and in that time I have had to replace the brakes twice(the rotors were always so warped that they could not be turned), the alternator twice, the passenger side window once, and the tires several times because of the alignment. As of right now I have paint chipping of the side mirrors, my dashboard squeaks, and so does my side door panel. My volume button does not know the difference between increase and decrease. Do not get me wrong I love my Grand Am, but I am ready to get a newer one.
I've had my grand am gt for 3 days and I love it! no problems what so ever! It has 50000 miles on it and looks like it just came out of the factory! I'm looking forward to buying a new one when I get out of college in 4 years. this car is a big step up from a 94 ford probe. I know you all will agree.
This is really coincidental - I feel like we have had parallel experiences. I am currently at the crossroads on my 1997 Grand Am. I have it for 4 years and bought it from a Hertz Car Sale lot. It had about 38k on it and is now at 115k. Only a few minor noises came up in the beginning, but from the start it was a great feeling car and I felt I had a sensible, but sporty comfortable adult car (it was between it and the Malibu at the time, but the Grand Am felt more comfortable). The first few times I took it into a mechanic they pretty much said - nothing needs to be done - it was not the time. However, now it is starting down the road of the money pit.
My first major tune-up was done by a dealership. Then the several minors by my local mechanic; I had several times noted the ABS light would go on, but if I shut the engine and restarted it did not come back immediately; it continued to be the mystery light. Then we had the clicking noise just after the morning start. During smog check the ABS light /sensor became a $400 issue to get it smogged. Then a battery and alternator, followed by water pump. (- it was starting down the "how long do we keep it assessment). The dent in the mag wheel was definitely falling to the bottom of the pit, however, it was maybe attributing to the "violent road reaction of bumps and Bots Dots. OK - we still made it through a daily commute and a few trips.
Then came the sudden "water loss"; within a week the minor loss became refilling the reservoir after a 30-minute drive. In the same week the oil turned from OK/overdue black to murky brown. In stopping by at the mechanic he strongly suggested to go get a rental and not drive it to work. This has now become the cars' "sudden retirement". Going for a $ 1200 head gasket does not seem sensible at this point. My mechanic bluntly says - Pontiac left too many design issues undone. However, credit must be given to the car in that it performs beyond its engineering shortcomings. It is time it goes to the Catholic Charities to become a leg up for someone until they decide it is time for a new car. I thank you for the article on your experience. I feel it is a good car -and has some miles to give -it just needs to go the next leg without me. I will miss it, but am glad to have had the experience. I would definitely go for a Grand Am rental when having to get a rental and maybe one day go back for a second round of ownership.
I am from st. Louis MO. I have had my grand am gt for about 8 years now. No previous owners, and have found it slowly deteriorating. First with my power windows, and then car radio, and in that time a couple of new alternators. Now my car had been running hot, and upon getting it checked out. My mechanic says, a new intake gasket, must be replaced along with a new radiator. I have also spent $400 on a new water pump two years ago. Now given I have always loved my car, and it still runs great and smooth. I must say I am getting to the end of my road of fixing this car up. So if anyone is thinking about purchasing this car I would recommend look at the mileage. All these signs first started happening around 100,000 miles. So consider this if purchasing this car.
I've had my 97 Grand Am GT for three years now. While I love the car, I also have had to replace the rotors several times. I just recently put in a new radiator, as the old one had cracked, and am now preparing to put in a new water pump. My passenger window is slow as can be, but I have yet to replace it. It seems a slow window is at the bottom of my to-do list. I had to replace the battery twice, which is not that unusual since it has 135,000 miles on it. Other than that, I really have had very little problems with this car. Fortunately, I have learned quite about the mechanics of a car and have been able to fix most of these things on my own. However, this water pump thing sounds a little tricky, so I might have to splurge and hire a professional. All in all, not a bad car, but not a great one either.
First thing I have to say I love Pontiacs, including my 1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT. However, eventhough I am fortunate to have a running car I must say the car has been a costly investment. Here is the list of my costly investments. Heater core, new radiator, fuel regulator,2alternators, master cylinder, inginition switch. Because I am in school and am not working these are the investment I have yet to make. New exhaust from the cat back, air conditioning compressor, driver side window motor.
Hey, it runs.
Only really two main reasons rotors warp: over-tightening of the lug bolts, (common at most repair shops), or getting them wet when they are very hot, (don't wash your car as soon as you get thru driving it - when possible avoid driving thru large puddles of water). Other than that, the factory radio has a feature built into it that automatically senses road noise and compensates for it, which is why the volume control tends to go out, (doesn't know the difference between up and down). Install a better stereo...
These are well-built cars, not really any higher maintenance cost than any other. If you are having continual problems with brake rotors, don't blame the car, just find a reputable repair shop...
I have had my Pontiac Grand am Gt for 3 months and I must say that I love it. I bought it for 2500 and it is a 1997. I haven't had any problems except I blew my head gasket. That cost 400 to get fixed, but other than that it is a really good car. To everyone who bad mouths the pontiac I don't believe you have had one or you don't take care of it. My brother has had his for 4 years and the only thing that he had to get done was the power windows, but that only cost $50. Hey it's a great car and I love it.
My 1997 GT has had a couple problems in the couple months since I've bought it for $1800... 3 of the window motors are out, the other goes down in about 53 seconds. I've got a anti-freeze leak somewhere, there's something loose in the engine, sounds like a washer or something... and it's annoying. But it's not a bad car, except I think I might have a head gasket failure, because I've got some oil getting into my engine coolant reservoir.
I have had my Pontiac grand am gt for about a month now. I have to say I like the car and all, but it has a few problems. Ever since I got this car I have bought a new battery, alternator, brakes, and radio. Owning a car isn't always really cheap. It doesn't take much money to fill up the tank also, but it does eat a lot of gas when it starts. It drives really smoothly and picks up nice. One suggestion would be that if you are plannin on buying this vehicle then make sure you have money to back it up. I'm plannin on getting a more recent grand am gt once I have enough money saved up also.
My Pontiac Grand Am has been a good car for me - 1997 coupe, I've had it since 1999. Only 83,000 miles at this point. I had one spell in 2001 when I put quite a bit of money into it - alternator, battery, and brakes. Now, after several years with no trouble, I've found out that the water pump has gone out. The local dealership quoted $888 (apparently it is more expensive for mine - a 4 cylinder - than a 6 cylinder would cost). I am debating whether or not to put the money in and keep the car, or get rid of it before it becomes a regular drain.
I have a 2003 Grand Am Gt. This is my second Grand Am. My previous one was a 2000 and I had 2 issues with it. Brakes were the first. I had to get them replaced after 1,200 miles. But with the new set I got over 30,000 miles out of them. The 2003 that I own now has been a good car, it gets about 30 mpg, and I drive 80% hwy. I have 60,000 miles and just replaced my rotors. I also replaced my front pads for the second time and my rear pads for the first time. I did have a cracked intake gasket, I was past my warranty, but since I was still under 60,000 at the time GM gave me the part at cost and picked up half of the total price. The only complaint I have had with both is excessive wind noise and to much body cladding. Overall, as long as you perform routine maintenance on any car it will not give you too many troubles. There are a lot of moving parts and major expenses here and there are expected.
My Parents had bought me My red Grand Am GT I have had it for a little under 1 year. Bough it used and have had issues snince Day one. My Head Gaskits had went aswell and my Intake Modual which reuffley came up to around 800.00-900.00. My Back Brakes went aswell which cost me around 200.00. My Left Auto Locks/Window Modor had went and that cost me around 350.00-400.00 My Left Window stoped working aswell I had to get a new Arm on it as the track was also nogo. I had to fix my Alinternator as that went aswell. Just last week my GPT had went. My Clock did not work wnince I got the Car and Now my Clock Works and my CD Player will not work. You put a CD into it and it Spits out. The Nob to move my Side Mirrows did not work either so I had to replace it. Overall I have give or take put in around 1500.00 to fix my car and it is still not up to 100% perfect. I had to also fix my Muffler I had to replace it. That cost me 260.00. Don't get me wrong I love this car but I am a student working a Part-time Job and Really cannot efford to make these Kinds of Repairs that these Prices to fix the car. Thank god my Father Knows about cars and has help me along the whole Way.
I have had my 2000 Grand Am GT for 3 years, and loved it when I first bought it, but can't wait to get rid of the money pit! I have had so many things go wrong that I doubt I can name them all, but I'll sure try.
I have replaced the water pump for $350, replaced the alternator for $890, the passenger window doesn't work anymore ($300), there is an annoying clicking noise that is expensive to fix, couple hundred dollars, rotator balls couple times, several hundred, cracked intake manifold gasket $200-300, and numerous others that I don't remember anymore. If you have one, get rid of it before 75,000 miles!
I have had my 1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT for about 4 years now. These comments I am reading are amazing to me- I have replaced my radiator, drivers side window, paint is chipping on both mirrors, volume knob on radio is confused, bought brand new tires -- fill them up once a week, and now my coolant light is on!
I understand it is a used car and there are going to be glitches -- but from reading every ones comments, we are all dealing with the same issues.
It gets me where I need to be, not necessarily safe? But I get there!