1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT review from North America

Intake manifold gaskets leaked at 161000 miles.

Rocker panels are rusted through under plastic.

Strut towers were rotten and had to be fixed.

Broke off belt tensioner bracket in water pump while fixing gasket.

Replaced battery.

Window motors are weak.

Sunroof motor was weak, fixing battery helped.

Water in all four lights.

Fog lamp on right side doesn't work.

Cracked seats.

Speakers are worn out.

Several back lighting bulbs are burned out.

Temperature gauge doesn't work.

I purchased this car for $2000 after taking it for a long test drive and after doing a used car inspection on it. Every thing seemed to be all right. I checked every thing that I thought to look at. But only a few days after getting it home we started to find problems not apparent at the time. First of all, after the thirty mile drive home, I went to check the coolant level and it was low. While under the hood I took off the oil cap. Sure enough the guy I bought it from had cleaned it and a layer of fresh anti freeze film was on the cap and a puddle was on the lower intake, I geuss this is a very common problem with the 3800. So I fixed the intake gasket. It took over a week and was a huge pain. Then I noticed water in the trunk. I felt around and noticed that the strut mounts were tarred over and were rotten. Another $500 later and that was fixed. My heater doesn't blow enopugh heat, but I think a good coolant flush will fix that. And then I still have to fix numerous other annoying problems. I have other friends who own Grand Prixs and they have been good cars. So do your shopping right and make sure that the cart doesn't have any of these problems.