1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE review from North America

Replaced radio @ 14500 miles--LED readout wouldn't display correctly (was under warranty). Unfortunately, the replacement radio worked fine until just after the warranty expired.

Replaced power steering hose @ 16,700 miles (was under warranty)

Replaced battery @ 28,133 due to defective cell. The car just wouldn't start one day, and had to be towed to the dealer.

Replaced defective front brake calipers at 34,600, along with front brake pads (about $300).

Replaced intake manifold @ 40,400 ($600).

Replaced water pump @ 40,500 (just 10 days after replacing manifold!!) ($200).

Replaced front brake calipers, rotors and pads @ 40,900 ($400).

I was initially very happy with my Grand Am. I really like the power of the V-6, and the aesthetics are very pleasing. Overall, up until the point that everything started to go wrong with it (the past two months), I would have highly recommended the car.

However, having replaced the brakes twice, plus replacing the water pump and manifold intake during the past year have soured my opinion of this car. Replacing parts like these shouldn't be happening on a car with barely 40,000 miles. Moreover, it's too new a car to be worrying what will go wrong next. No piece of mind with this car.

The dealership and Pontiac both have been little help. The dealership insists that, although this isn't normal for a "quality' car such as the Grand Am, it's not uncommon either (how's that for double-speak). The nature of the work that I have had done recently (brakes 2x and manifold/water pump) lead me to conclude that Pontiac makes a poor quality vehicle. Even worse, they don't seem to care one way or another that they have a very unhappy customer.

This was my first, and definitely my last Pontiac.