Comments: 1-15, 16-23
First transmission went at 39,000.
Second transmission went at 70,000. Currently being replaced as we speak.
I purchased this car used in July of 2002 and have to say that I really enjoyed this car. It drove nice, handled well and was comfortable for myself and my family and all in all seemed like a good purchase.
I encountered my first problem at about 39,000. The transmission became noisy and upon inspection, it was found to be defective and was replaced.
Now here I am once again at 70,000 having the transmission replaced once again. This time there was no "noise" but I could feel the hesitation as my car would attempt to shift.
Needless to say, I am not thrilled at the fact of having two transmissions replaced within 11,000 miles and I'm keeping my finger crossed that this will be the last of my "major" issues with this car. Hard to say whether this was a "Pontiac" issure or just poor work by the dealership.
As far as handling, comfort and enjoyment (transmission problems aside) I really did like this car.
I owned a GP SE and I haven't had any Tran. Porblems.
I have a 2001 Pontiac grand prix se... My problem is a ticking noise in the engine... I noticed it at 13,000 miles,let the dealership know. They found nothing. Again at 31,000, I brought it to another Pontiac dealership, again they heard nothing. Now at 49,000 miles, they hear the noise. They say the engine will have to be disassembled and rebuilt. At a cost between $3,000.00 and $4,000.00. Of course my warranty is no longer valid. I am dealing with Pontiac corporate customer service now. If the dealerships had dealt with the problem when I brought it to their attention, I wouldn't be going through all this grief now...
I bought my SE with 7 miles on it and also had a ticking noise from day 1. The dealership said it was the exhaust system. I also have had the transmission replaced at 60,000 miles and it still shudders. I know have 62,000 miles and fortunately I purchased the extended warranty that lasts for 75,000 miles. Overall, I have loved this car. It has great get up and go (or used to!) and outside of the ticking and transmission I have done nothing else except oil changes and brakes! I don't plan on keeping it past the 75,000 because I don't want to pay for anymore transmissions.
I have a 2001 GTP. It is a great machine. However, 1 have had the following issues.
@25,000miles: the front brake rotors started to vibrate, the left door moulding started to peel away, and the low coolant light came on -due to lower coolant level. Pontiac fixed brakes, but said nothing was wrong with the coolant system. They fixed these on warranty (low coolant they simply added coolant).
@54,000 miles: intake manifold started leaking coolant, required replacing. I did this work myself. I am skeptical whether or not it was actually slowly leaking previously to this or not. Obviously, if I had purchased a chrysler product this work would have been done for me.
@69,000 miles: transmission 4th gear is non-functional. I took it into pontiac and for 81 dollars they give me a call to say that the problem is internal and that it will be another 375 just to tear it down to diagnose the problem. I thought, "they could have at least washed the car! for 81 dollars". As a side note, if I had purchased a chrysler product, I would not be in the situation of giving my money away (7 yr, 70,000 mile warranty).
I think this 1st pontiac of mine has been a learning experience (i.e. buy chrsylers since they have double the warranty period! -dahh!).
To the last comment, Chryslers have more transmission problems than all other makes combined!
For the original comment, the problem in your transmission is only a $15 switch that is failing; it happens all the time on the older GM FWD automatics. The shop is just prefering to rebuild or replace the rest of it as long as it's apart. The entire transmission isn't failing at all. The first failure of this switch is usually anywhere from 35-50,000 miles.
I have a 2001 Grand Prix GT that sometimes shifts rough. I've taken it to my mechanic and he serviced the transmission (new filter and fluid flush). He said there were no signs of any transmission problems and since it only happens randomly after the car has warmed up, says it's nothing to worry about. I prefer to have smooth shifting at all times and wonder if anyone has had a similar problem and how it was repaired.
I love the way the car handles and otherwise it has been good to me... Great website!
Hmmmmm, a ticking noise
Well I'm not fancy southern lawyer, but when you shut off a car aluminum tends to make a nice ticking noise when it cools down.
Duh.
By the way a car of similar cost the Concorde has been known to slip out of park when on a hill, he a bad shift is the problem consider yourself lucky you don't drive a Chrysler.
I would always worry about the gm 3.1. not that it's a bad engine, but the simple fact is why would you buy it when for a few grand more you can get a 3.8 which is buy the way as old as dirt and also as reliable. We're talking honda reliability in an american car which also means it won't sound or drive like a blender. Not to mention the fact that this engine has more low end torque than a 300m with a 3.5 H.O. That things 255 horsepower! I'll take gm any day.
I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT with about 54,000 miles. I haven't had too many problems. The CD player stopped reading cd's and the driver window motor broke. Both of those things happened while still under warranty. Since the warranty is up, my low coolant light has decided to stay lit up, the rear driver side window motor broke and now I'm having transmission problems. This is my biggest concern.
At 55,900 miles I just got "bucking" from the transmission. A good friend with his own shop says it seems like a bearing is loose. I have "babied" this car and just 5 months ago had the dealership do a complete transmission flush with filter. The car is 48 months old and obviously out of warranty. I just talked to Pontiac and they have started a file on it. I am taking it to the dealership tomorrow to let them drive it. Let's see if they take any responsibility for what is obviously a manufacturing defect. Mostly all I have ever driven since 1965 are GM vehicles, except when I had a mid life love affair with a 1983 Porsche 944.
I have a 2001 SE and Have not had any problems and I have 110,000.thousand miles. It still runs like it did with 11 miles. One of the best cars I have owned. The ONLY problem is my passengers side rear window motor just went. I need to call the shop!
If you had documentation that you complained about the ticking noise BEFORE the warranty expired, GM is obligated by law to repair or replace your engine. That is the law.
My brother had PRECISELY this same problem with his Pontiac and was smart enough to keep written documentation of his visits to the dealership about the complaint. Sure enough, after the warranty had expired he was told he needed a new engine. He presented the written documentation and GM installed a brand new factory engine at no charge. ALWAYS keep written documentation of ANY complaints that occur before the warranty expires. I've also done this with a couple of my cars, and saved myself some hefty repair bills. If the service department doesn't give you written documentation when you take the car in for the complaint, DEMAND it. By law they HAVE to provide you with it, and it WILL save you a lot of headaches later on.
My grand Prix has 106,000+ miles and still hasn't had a messed up transmission. So... I really like the car.
I have a 2001 pontiac grand prix gt and I am having problems with the trany. it had 81 thousand km on it when I purchased it. After a while I noticed a wine in the trany than it started to slip only when the car was hot in stop and go traffic, I called gm and they said that I would have to bring it in. I also asked gm if they had any other complaints they said no. But after hearing all the problems other people had I didn't believe them. I hope that enough people phone GM so that they will finally call for a recall.
"I have a 2001 pontiac grand prix gt and I am having problems with the trany. it had 81 thousand km on it when I purchased it. After a while I noticed a wine in the trany than it started to slip only when the car was hot in stop and go traffic, I called gm and they said that I would have to bring it in. I also asked gm if they had any other complaints they said no. But after hearing all the problems other people had I didn't believe them. I hope that enough people phone GM so that they will finally call for a recall."
Well the problem with expecting a recall is that the Grand Prix GT tends to attract people that want to thrash it, and you bought it with 81,000 km's on it, after the original owner (s) had already thrashed it. If you did a little thrashing of your own, that didn't help it. Try changing the fluid and filter, and see if there is a band adjustment. You might still get a lot of use out of it if you don't beat on it. If you wanted a sportscar to beat on, then just buy the new tranny. Also, try adding an external transmission fluid cooler to help keep the fluid cool.