2000 Pontiac GRAND PRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

2000 PONTIAC GRANT PRIX GT BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2000, PROBLEMS INCLUDE: 1) 22-JULY-2002, (36,040 MILES), TIE ROD WORN BADLY, HAD EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 2) 30-SEPTEMBER-02, (38,697 MILES), SERPENTINE BELT (I UNDERSTAND GENERAL MAINTENANCE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM). 3) 21-OCT-2002, (39,181 MILES), REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD. IN THE 3 INCIDENTS ABOVE, I UNDERSTAND CHANGING A SERPENTINE BELT WHEN NEEDED, BUT FOR MY TIE ROD TO BE WORN AND REPLACED WITHIN 2 YRS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE IS NOT A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM FO…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,181 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003470 at NHTSA ↗

A FIRE AROUND THE IGNITION COIL BEGAN IN MY CAR WITH NO WARNING. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN COMPLETED AND THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE. THE FIRE ERRUPTED QUICKLY. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE IS SOME ISSUE OR THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME WARNING THAT A PROBLEM WAS PRESENT IF THIS WAS DUE TO "WEAR AND TEAR". IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THIS WOULD BE A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM AS NO PROBLEMS OR INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS WERE EXISTENT PRIOR TO THIS FIRE.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005153 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, IT SUFFERED A COOLANT LEAK IN THE UPPER MANIFOLD SECTION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH LOCALLY AND FROM PERSONAL FAMILY EXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE SOME PONTIAC V6 SUFFERS FROM EITHER DEFECTIVE GASKETS AND OR FAULTY ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSE A LEAK TO DEVELOP AFTER 2-3 YEARS OF USEAGE WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NEW CAR PURCHASE AND PONTIAC OFFERING NO SERVICE BULLETINS/RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. OUR FAMILY HAS SUFFERED 4 SUCH FAILURES INCLUDING 2- GRANDPRIX'S (1999 & 2000 MODELS) , GRAND AM (1997), SUNFIRE (1997) AMONG NUMEROUS OTH…

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005374 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE JUST SPENT $726 ON BRAKES AND ROTORS ALL THE WAY AROUND. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE PADS NEEDING REPLACING, BUT WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE ROTORS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005541 at NHTSA ↗

THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007182 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD MY WIRING HARNESS CATCH FIRE ON 2-2-03 WITHOUT WARNING. GM INSPECTING AND I AM STILL WAITING ON THEIR REPORT. HOWEVER, AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR FROM REPAIRS ON 2-15-03, I DROVE THE CAR 2-15 AND 2-16 AND TO WORK ON 2-17. UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR TO START IT, IT WOULD START AND THEN DIE IMMEDIATELY. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR MOVED TO THE DEALER. NO WARNINGS, NO PROBLEMS, NO LIGHTS TO TELL ME WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 71,030 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007657 at NHTSA ↗

IN COLD WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GET STUCK IN AN UPRIGHT RESTING POSITION. ALSO THE STEERING RACK AND PINON HAVE FAULTY BEARINGS CAUSING IT TO FEEL LIKE THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING WHEN YOU TURN A SHARP LEFT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008027 at NHTSA ↗

MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS GOING OUT AT 71,000 MILES. MY GAS MILEAGE IS HORRIBLE AND THIS HAS TO BE REPLACED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 71,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010238 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2008-03-12 (March 12, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.

Consequence: CERTAIN UNDERHOOD FIRES MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FIRE MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, ALONG WITH THE 1-3-5 SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. , FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. UNTIL THE REMEDY IS COMPLETED, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS (1) THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CAR PORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Reported: 1999-10-21 (October 21, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULES HAVE AN UNDERSIZED INFLATOR ORIFICE.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THIS UNDERSIZED ORIFICE CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF AN AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND/OR PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULES.