I started hearing a popping or grinding noise in the front brakes, when slowing, within the first couple of months of owning the car. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the rotors.
I then noticed the same noise again, shortly after the first repair. I didn't take it back to the shop for a couple of months.
When I took it back to the dealer, I dropped it off and went back to work. When I picked up the car, I didn't hear the noise & my invoice said that no problem was found & no noises were heard.
Not even a week later the brakes started popping & grinding upon braking again. I immediately took it back to the dealer & asked the service manager to get into the car with me to take a ride down the road so he could hear the problem. He explained that the last time they had resurfaced the rotors & would try something different. I showed him the invoice that said no problem had been found. He changed the invoice to reflect what they had done.
I took the car back 3 more times for the same problem before filing lemon law.
I, being a woman, felt taken advantage of because everyone I talked to said that brake issues generally aren't covered under lemon law because they are a maintenance issue. My question was this: "do you cover maintenance issues under warranty?" Because all of this work was covered under warranty. The arbitrator not only sided with me, but I received almost $2000 after they paid off my car. It pays to keep your invoices and to take notes of who you speak to each time & everything they say.
This is a very UNFAIR indictment of a very good car due to a poor experience with a bad dealer. We own a 2001 Grand Am and a GMC. Neither has ever given us a minutes trouble. They are two of the finest and best built cars we've ever owned. I hate to see people smearing good cars because of poor dealers. In 40 years we've owned a lot of cars, including 3 foreign made cars. The GM vehicles we've owned have been the most trouble free vehicles we've had. My nephew is still driving our old '77 Buick with 277,000 miles on it.
I own a 2001 Grand Am & it is the most expensive lemon I've ever bought. I've put over $4000 into my car in 5 years. And they aren't small maintenance problems either. Let's start with the fuel pump, then the computer, then the passlock security system, then the timing chain & water pump, the turn signal switch, the master window control & finally last week the car wouldn't start & a mechanic said it had jumped time causing my pistons to go through my valves. Now the engine is shot & I still have 3 payments left to go. I warn everyone all the time to avoid at least the 2001 model. My sister had a 2000 & had several problems with turn signals, brakes, fuel pump & window controls. Cheaply made, high dollar, fix me every other month cars.
My husband and I totally agree that the 2001 3.4L V6 Pontiac Grand Am is a LEMON!! It still only has $23K miles on it, so it is not driven to death.
We purchased this car new in September 2000 and almost immediately started having problems.
We have had the brake issue, the window issue, tire issues, clicking issues, interior parts fall off and now it has been a HUGE PAPERWEIGHT in our driveway for the past 2 months due to the fact that it will not start. We have checked the alternator, starter, changed spark plugs and filter and STILL it does not start.
Tried the On/Off trick that another LEMON purchaser requested and it worked.
We purchased a new Kia Sportage a couple of months prior to this purchase and have had absolutely NO major mechanica problems with it as we have with this LEMON.
If anyone is thinking about purchasing this car BEWARE... RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN. It will be in the shop more than at your home.
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