2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3.8L L36 from North America

Summary:

This style Grand Prix is my dream car

Faults:

Air conditioning needed to be recharged.

Water is collecting in driver side headlamp.

General Comments:

This car handles very nicely. Merging into traffic is a breeze and off-ramps are no trouble.

Acceleration from a stop is good, but not what I expected. Although, passing power on the highway is excellent.

I love the interior. The bucket seats are a little firm, but all else is good. The amber lights in the gage cluster are cool and the factory radio packs a little punch.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th July, 2005

2002 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.8 from North America

Summary:

Fast, reliable and comfortable

Faults:

Nothing at all has gone wrong with this car.

General Comments:

This car is one of the best cars I have ever owned. It handeles and performs well. It accelerates like there is not tomorrow with there 3.8 L Series 2 engine. The interior is very nice. My car has all of the comforts. Cd player, moon roof, dual power seats, and dual climate control. It really does well on a double lane stop light. Especially against a little 4 banger Dodge Neon.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th January, 2005

2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP Coupe 3.8L SC from North America

Summary:

It's horrible, but I would love the car to death if it worked properly..

Faults:

The day after we got the car it took 10 seconds of turning it over for it to start.

The radio goes fuzzy when the rear defrost is on.

The car stalled when coming up to a stop sign.

The car stalled while backing out of the driveway.

Breaks started squealing shortly after we got the car.

Map lights started shorting out.

Heads up display no quit working.

Illumination problems with trip computer.

Headlights (plastic) fracturing.

Tail light covers had condensation in them.

Dash Carrier was mis aligned from the factory.

Horn actuates and holds for 3-5 seconds with no means of stopping it.

Valve cover gasket blew at 26421km.

Amplifier for BOSE stereo replaced.

Both valve cover gaskets, rear motor plate gasket and the rear main engine oil seal blew at 45382km.

Power window regulator replaced.

Stereo main unit replaced.

Heating and Airconditioning controls and vacuum lines replaced.

Heater box actuator and mode door replaced.

General Comments:

As manager within GM Canada's upper management for customer service said "If you do not feel safe driving you new GM vehicle there are alternate modes of transportation such as the bus or taxi."

Since some of the above problems are intermittent (stalling and the horn going off) and can't be duplicated on the 5 minute road test they can't be fixed or looked into. We bought this car because they are known for being rock solid with very few, if any at all, problems. We are also a one car household.

We paid $42,000 for this car after all the taxes, protection packages, and extended warranty. This is, in hind sight, was probably a little bit too much.

We know that we have a lemon and despite all the problems that have been found with this vehicle our dealer would not talk to GM for us. The car has been in and out of the shop approximately 30 times in the past 3 years that we have owned it. If we lived in a province with a lemon law this problem would have been off our hands a long time ago.

This was one of the cars that I had wanted... so we splurged on the last year that they were making a 2 door GTP. I am extremely disappointed in this vehicle and can NEVER suggest a GM vehicle to anyone after this experience. Just the possibility that they get will get treated the same way we have for buying their product that happens to be a lemon.

I have always liked GM vehicles and their innovative engineering, but I don't think I will ever own one again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th October, 2004

16th Dec 2004, 21:21

I take it you contacted GM directly. It takes a lot of persistence, but the few people I know that had new GM lemons got another vehicle or vouchers for newer vehicles at no extra cost. That's GM-USA though and maybe things are done a bit different up there.

28th Jan 2005, 13:03

Most of the States in the US have a lemon law which protects buyers from this exact situation. The province that I live in doesn't have a lemon law, but we met with a GM representative that told us that GM makes flawless computers for their vehicles and doesn't make mistakes in production. Unfortunately we couldn't reproduce the horn going off or the stalling of the vehicle within 20 minute road test so "these problems could not be duplicated" and therefore must not exist.

7th Oct 2005, 16:23

I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune. The GTP is such an awesome car; it's very unfortunate that you've had such a poor experience. As with any mass-production situation, theres bound to be one out of XXXX many that just doesn't cut it. Compared to the other reviews of the GTP on here, it appears that you were one of the un-lucky ones that got shafted from the factory. I haven't experienced any such problems with mine... in fact, it's one of the most solid vehicles I've driven, but like I said, it sounds as though you got a poorly built vehicle from the factory. I hope that you get your situation worked out. Good Luck!

27th Dec 2005, 00:08

So in addition to the above mentioned problems the saga continues. Our transmission stopped working on Christmas Eve leaving us stranded about 12 miles out of town. Our heating system has fallen way below par for what it used to be... the heads up display needs to be replaced AGAIN. The LED and light sensor have sunk into the dash somewhere. The speedometer cluster has a bulb burnt out. The windshield wiper fluid pump went on us. We always do our oil changes around 5000km (3100 miles) regardless of what the oil life meter says. Oil starts breaking down at around 4500km and the oil life meter still stated that we had 40% life left on the oil. When I drained the oil there was only about 2.25 litres (0.6 gal.) No leaks anywhere so where did it go??? I have no clue what to do anymore.