2002 Pontiac Grand Am SE from North America - Comments

Comment 13:22 is one of the most helpful comments I've seen on the window issue. I've never had this problem with my 2001 SE-1, but the information is very helpful. Thank you!!

My experience with the sash clips is that it is the adhesive to the glass that fails, placing inordinate strain on the plastic sash clip that then fails. Too many DIY'ers and dealers alike are not using the proper adhesive to replace and they end up failing as well. Superglue, silicone, and the like will not cut it for the long haul. Everyone has so much trouble getting the OEM adhesive off, then use Elmer's or whatever is in the kitchen drawer to replace. GM sells one-use vials of the OEM stuff for incredible prices that are never in stock (so how could their techs be using it?). Only available in large quantity boxes if special ordered--so expensive that they don't buy it either. Clips are available at various places, read the thread above or go to Advance Auto's "Help!" board, but if you want the repair to last, GET THE RIGHT ADHESIVE! Try glass or windshield shops. NAPA has a urethane adhesive with which I've had good luck, but be sure to read the label and ask for the overpriced primer that is recommended. It only has a fraction of the bonding strength without the primer. Not cheap, but do-able, and far cheaper in the long run! Will take overnight to cure, will be all the stronger not to use for another 24hrs.

In a nutshell, my 02 Grand Am has 140K on it and my drivers window just blew. I've abused this window through ice, snow and the constant up and down whenever I'm in the vehicle. You can order a regulator for $48.00 and a sash kit for $10.00. Put it together and you're on the road.

I'm in the same boat. Just bought a 2002 Grand Am GT on December 15, 2008. On January 2, 2009, I rolled down the windows to clear the frost off, and the passenger window clips broke. You could hear them snap.

I'm going to opt for the $10 sash fix before I shell out money to a mechanic.

Two things I've learned: Never buy a used car until you've well researched the common problems AND Never buy a Pontiac.

If it makes any Pontiac owners feel better, my neighbor had to had the power windows on her brand new BMW X5 repaired six times in one year before she traded it in. One day she sat in her car, put on the seat belt and the anchor pulled out -the seat belt mechansim had never been properly tightened into place. And Consumer Reports had called the X5 the safest vehicle ever made. What a laugh.

Having had a couple of 5-series BMW's in our family I'm not surprised to hear of problems with them. These vehicles, and Mercedes (my family has had a couple of C-class Mercs over the years as well) are grossly over rated.

Our Pontiac and GMC have been every bit as reliable, and with the exception of the snob factor, are just as good in virtually every respect.

Our dog's car, an 8-year-old Grand Am, has been an absolutely awesome car, with no repairs ever except for 1 light bulb recently. No window problems, no security system issues, no blown head gaskets... absolutely NOTHING. It has proven to be one of the best, most reliable vehicles we have ever owned.

I replaced the passenger window clips and the driver side power window's motor about a year ago in my 2002 Grand Am. I purchased the clips from The GM dealer at about $40.00 each. What a joke for two pieces of plastic! I must say that the installation of the clips is not that easy because, 1. the clips were broken and the figuring out of how to install them was like putting a puzzle together without the picture and, 2. because there is not much room to maneuver around and you can't see from the inside of the door. Now the driver side window clips broke about two months ago and the glass is held by a piece of wood that I installed! Like some of you, I WILL NEVER BUY A PONTIAC AGAIN!

I've owned an '01 Grand Am GT since 2003, and I've had these plastic clips inside the windows fail on each window at least once -- the front driver's side window 3 times & the passenger twice!

I'm just lucky I have access to a mechanic at work, or I would've been out some serious cash...It's definitely a faulty design, and until Pontiac fixes it or somebody makes an aftermarket part with stronger plastic or metal (or better adhesive), it's going to continue happening.

My car has had no problems besides the windows, other than regular maintenance stuff, but damn... I've had to order parts for these windows SEVEN TIMES!!!

"I've owned an '01 Grand Am GT since 2003, and I've had these plastic clips inside the windows fail on each window at least once -- the front driver's side window 3 times & the passenger twice!"

I keep seeing these complaints on the Grand Am window clips so I KNOW it is a real problem. However my 2001 Grand Am with just under 80,000 miles on it has NEVER had even ONE of these clips break (or anything else, the car has been perfect). I inquired among members of a Grand Am club I belong to and none of them had ever had this problem either, including some with over 200,000 miles on their cars. Since we live in the Sunbelt, where it seldom gets below freezing, I am wondering if cold causes these clips to get brittle. Do you guys having this problem live in northern states? I've been curious about this, as no one here has ever heard of this problem.

1999 Grand AM GT 2 door.

Driver side clips have failed seven times. Passenger side just failed, plus the regulator clips broke as well. I paid the dealer $400 the first time to fix the driver side, and the sash clips failed within a year each time after that, so they had to fix it for free. The last time I said forget this and a friend of mine made a metal clip and used a flexible glue, which has worked fine. The passenger side looks like a nightmare because the regulator clips have shattered, so it's either glue the pieces back together or pay an arm and a leg for plastic garbage. I can take these windows apart in my sleep now, which is wrong.

Thanks for all the helpful tips. I feel confident that I can fix my own window with minimun cost and my 12 year old son to help get his sister's car back on the road. I haven't owned a car since my 1970 Maverick. (We drive trucks only). Bought a 2001 Grand Am last fall and think it is awesome... especially the mileage after driving trucks all my life. It rarely sits idle and has about 230,000 kms. to date.