Warranty Item (9700km) : The spoiler leaked and had water inside of it following a rainstorm or washing. After four tries, the dealer finally solved the problem...$0.
Warranty Item (27244km) : Front rotors and brake pads replaced...$0.
Recall (32135km) : Center console latch assembly replaced...$0.
48076km: Four new tires...$504.90CAN.
58783km: Front brake pads replaced...$29.00CAN (labor done myself)
58940km: The intake lower gasket was replaced. The dealer did this and said that they would give me a deal and only charged me half the cost since my mileage was below the warranty, but I was beyond the three year warranty time-line (not sure if it was much of a deal)...$281.33CAN.
59903km: New front wheel bearing/hub assembly...$391.43.
65000km: New front rotors...$60.00CAN (labour done myself)
67210km: New front wheel bearing/hub assembly...$242.39CAN (backyard mechanic)
67750km: New front wheel bearing/hub assembly (the last one was defective... I still had to pay my backyard mechanic to replace it)...$20.00CAN.
67976km: Replaced the battery. One of the poles literally fell off of the battery... good ole Del-co parts...$63.24CAN (labor done myself)
69083km: Suspension diagnostic check: There was an annoying sound coming out of the drivers side front suspension assembly. The problem wasn't confirmed, but was thought to be the strut mount. Nothing was replaced...$19.19CAN.
78300km: Brake job - new front brake pads...$177.93CAN.
84450km: New front struts and springs installed by backyard mechanic...$710.47CAN.
87856km: Front end alignment, replacement of both the inner and outer tie rod ends, new tire...$779.96CAN.
92000km: Install new front rotors (labor done myself)...$73.19.
97390km: New alternator and serpentine belt...$249.39CAN (labor done myself)
98250km: Four new tires...$441.32CAN.
103750km: The engine was racing very high, sometimes as high as 3000RPM at a stop sign. Computer reading diagnostic check to figure out why this was happening. The mechanic tried replacing a few things, none of which worked...$50.40CAN.
104182km: Another diagnostic check for the problem mentioned above...$34.70CAN.
104421km: Did the smartest thing I think I ever did. I traded in this piece of crap for a Toyota...$Priceless.
I will never own another GM product in my life. I would not wish this car on my worst enemy. A coworker had a 2000 Grand AM SE and had a lot of the same problems as I had. He is now driving a Honda and will never own another GM either.
This is the worst car I have ever owned and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.
The power seat height adjustment option stopped working at about 50000km as well, and didn't work when I got rid of this car.
The drivers side window is so scratched, you can barely see through it. This was a problem noted after year 1.
Some of the light bulbs, particularly in the rear, constantly burn out. I know that this is not just a problem with my car, as most Grand Am's I see have at least one tail light burned out.
The performance value noted should be higher than that noted. It is the only good thing about this car.
What on earth are you doing to your brakes? You must have a really heavy foot. I've never heard of someone replacing pads and rotors as often as you have described. I've had my Grand Am for 2 years now and have not had a single issue. You must drive the hell out of your car.
If you're truly a backyard mechanic, you know that things like replacing batteries, tires, serpentine belts and alternators at reasonable intervals is normal maintenance. Your won't avoid those kind of things with your Toyota.
Grand Ams of this vintage are pretty famous for running through brake pads and rotors. I had ceramic guaranteed-for-life pads installed a long time ago, and haven't had to futz with the brakes for 50,000 miles since... better luck than with any car I've owned in the past.
The intake gasket, wheel bearings, and suspension parts are another matter. Those should last the life of the car, and you are right to be unhappy about that.
I've had my grand am for 3 years and I've had about $1600 worth of work done. Fortunately I bought a warranty with when I bought it one year used. All in all...I'd buy another one. Good car.
Basically, you are trying to convince people not to like your car because you failed on maintenance. I have had my Grand Am for 6 years. I have 130,000 miles and I've replaced my brakes once, tires twice. I have kept up on belts, filters and fluids at the recommended intervals.
JD Power rated GM, Ford, Honda and Toyota in the same league based on a 5 year reliability study. You took your car to a bad 'backyard' mechanic, you didn't keep up on service intervals. You blame the car company. Oh, you forgot to note your oil changes, or did you just not have those done?
"GM, Ford, Honda and Toyota in the same league based on a 5 year reliability study"
GM? Maybe heavy duty trucks and tanks. Cars?-somebody must be kidding. They just can't build truly decent light vehicle, and Pontiac is notorious of being the worst of the pile.
I have a '99 Grand AM. I have had it for about 4 years, and I do like Pontiac, but I have had so many problems with this car.
My head gasket, rotors, brakes, my windows mysteriously falling to the bottom of my door off both of its tracks, transmission failure, fuel pump, power steering, and not to mention all the lights on my dashboard popping up out of nowhere, telling me there is something wrong with my car.
I don't ever drive my car bad or rough up the engine. I just used that car to get me from point A to point B.
I have a Toyota now, and I not only get better gas mileage, but I haven't had any problems at all whatsoever. It's been about 2 years now and I haven't had to replace anything!
They should have definitely done a recall on all '99 Grand Ams because they obviously didn't know what the heck they where doing when they built it. That not only comes from me, but even car dealerships have said the same thing.
Still have a 1999 Grand Am SE with around 150,000 miles on the odometer. Aside from normal maintenance costs (timing chain, pads, battery, that sort of things) the car has been quite a good commuter. Good service. Bad things? Wheels covers that break and pealing window switches. Overall, pretty good car. My parents Toyota Matrix has had more problems with way less mileage.
Note: A Comments RSS Feed is available.