2002 Pontiac Grand Am review from North America
"I like it, but the MFG has to get better quality factory parts"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I’ve had front-end problems from the start. Shortly after I got the car, the ABS light came on and a grinding noise started coming from the front wheels.
Upon inspection the pads were new, but the rear of the pads had a dimple that pushed directly on the piston cup of the caliper wedging the brakes sideways slightly. This caused a small dent in the caliper piston. The front-end bearings are sealed units, and you can get cheap or expensive replacement assemblies.
I’ve seen bearings go at 60000 up to 120000, but they are simple to replace.
If you buy an OBD2 reader for around 100-150 bucks, you can clear your own codes and check for faults. Well worth one trip to the diagnostics shop.
General comments?
The car is not all bad, but I have a mechanical background. I have a problem with the dash lights/dimmer switch not illuminating the gauges and will post how I fixed it later.
The manufacturer should spend more money on their front bearing assemblies and braking system. FYI the link for the OBD2 reader is under the dash above the pedals on the driver’s side. It’s saved my family and me several hundred in diagnostics.
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| At 162,000 miles, this car is still going strong |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2002 |
| Year of manufacture | 2002 |
| First year of ownership | 2006 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 76000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 90000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Beretta |
| Date of Entry | 16th October, 2006 |