NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
105 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jun 19, 2000
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineVisibility
THERE ARE MORE PROBLEMS THEN LISTED. EVERY TIME I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER IT HAS BEEN A WASTE OF TIME. PHONE CALLS NEVER RETURNED. I GET BLOWN OFF BY THEM. I WAS IN ROYAL OAK,MI WITH MY FRIENDS WHEN THE CAR FROZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EVERY DASH LIGHT WAS BLINKING, AND WE COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE TO PUSH I…
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THERE ARE MORE PROBLEMS THEN LISTED. EVERY TIME I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER IT HAS BEEN A WASTE OF TIME. PHONE CALLS NEVER RETURNED. I GET BLOWN OFF BY THEM. I WAS IN ROYAL OAK,MI WITH MY FRIENDS WHEN THE CAR FROZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EVERY DASH LIGHT WAS BLINKING, AND WE COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE TO PUSH IT. ONCE WE FINALLY GOT THE CAR MOVED TO A SIDE STREET, MY FRIENDS WENT TO LOOK FOR HELP, AND I GOT JUMPED AND MASED WHILE I STOOD BY MY CAR WAITING FOR THEM TO RETURN. THE DRIVERS SIDE KEY DOESN'T WORK, DEALER SAYS IT'S CAUSE OF KEYLESS ENTRY, AIR CONDITIONER KILLS BATTERY, CRUSE CONTROL KICKS OUT, HEAD LIGHTS ALWAYS ARE ON, AND IT'S NOT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS TO PASS SOMEONE, NOTHING HAPPENS, ABOUT 5 OR MORE SECONDS LATER, IT WILL KICK IN UNEXPECTIDLY. THIS IS THE SECOND CAR I HAVE BOUGHT FROM THIS DEALER, THE FIRST WAS A 91 PONTIAC SUNBIRD, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A 90 WHEN I TRAIDED IT IN AT ANOTHER DEALER. SO I ENDED UP PAYING WAY TO MUCH FOR THE CAR, AND LOST ON IT WHEN I TRADED IT IN. I LIVE 1 HOUR AND 45MINS. AWAY FROM THE DEALER NOW WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE I FOUND OUT THAT THEY GAVE ME ONLY MECHANICAL ON THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT, NO ELECTRICAL, SO EVERYTHING COMES OUT OF MY POCKET. THEN TO FIND OUT I HAVE TO LEAVE MY CAR THERE FOR DAYS UP TO WEEKS, WITH NO LOANER, AND NO WAY TO GET BACK HOME, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND DEALER BOTH SAID "NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU."*AK
NHTSA ODI #724237
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2000
Electrical System
ALTERNATOR GONE AFTER 2 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP/INTAKE/MANIFOLD AS STATED/POWER WINDOWS DEFECTIVE/AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER - HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS IN ONLY 1 YEAR OF OWNERSHIP!
NHTSA ODI #724040
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSuspension
THIS 1997 GRAND AM IS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FAILURES AND AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. PLEASE CONTACT AT THE PHONE NUMBERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FORM ! NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723066
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2000
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL ITEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED BUT STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH KEY, THE KEY CONTINUALLY STUCK OFF AND ON AS THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, RECALL CAMPAIGN # 02V070000. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT TWICE WHILE DRIVING AND ONCE IN THE YARD, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *YD
NHTSA ODI #565697
Mileage unknown · May 5, 2000
Electrical System
THE MODULES IN QUESTION GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IN FACT THE DAY WE BOUGHT THE CAR ONE OF MODULES WENT OUT, AND WE WERE WITHOUT A CAR FOR SIX WEEKS. THE DEALER SAID THE MODULE WAS ON BACK ORDER. AND DIDN'T EVEN OFFER US A LOANER. ONE TIME IT WENT OUT ON MY WIFE IN THE MORNING IN THE DRIVEWAY. ONECE WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY D…
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THE MODULES IN QUESTION GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IN FACT THE DAY WE BOUGHT THE CAR ONE OF MODULES WENT OUT, AND WE WERE WITHOUT A CAR FOR SIX WEEKS. THE DEALER SAID THE MODULE WAS ON BACK ORDER. AND DIDN'T EVEN OFFER US A LOANER. ONE TIME IT WENT OUT ON MY WIFE IN THE MORNING IN THE DRIVEWAY. ONECE WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTHER LATE AT NIGHT AT PARKS MALL. ANOTHER INCIDENT I ARRIVED AT WORK, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T RESTART A QUITING TIME. MAC CHURCHILL HAS BEEN NICE, BUT I WANT THE CAR REPLACED. MY WIFE IS SCARED BE CAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW IF THE CAR WILL START. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722303
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997, ON 5/2/00 CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN DURING THE DAY, IT TURNED OVER ONCE, THEN NOTHING SAW SMOKE TRAIL COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL ARM CUT IGNITION SWITCH OFF, GOT OUT OF VECHILE, WENT INTO THE HOUSE, ABOUT 3MINUTES HEARD THE HORN OF THE VEHICLE SOUNDING, WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK , CAR WAS ON FIRE AT …
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PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997, ON 5/2/00 CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN DURING THE DAY, IT TURNED OVER ONCE, THEN NOTHING SAW SMOKE TRAIL COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL ARM CUT IGNITION SWITCH OFF, GOT OUT OF VECHILE, WENT INTO THE HOUSE, ABOUT 3MINUTES HEARD THE HORN OF THE VEHICLE SOUNDING, WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK , CAR WAS ON FIRE AT THE DRIVERS SIDE, OPENED UP DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, FLAMES WERE IN THE STEERING UNIT, AND ON THE DRIVERS SEAT , AND STEERING WHEEL AND TOP SUN VISOR, RAN AND GOT A FIRE EXTINQUISHER, PUT OUT THE FIRE, HORN STILL GOING OFF, POPPED HOOD RELEASE AND DISCONNECTED THE HOT CABLE FROM THE BATTERY. CAR IS NOW AT DEALERSHIP PENDING INVESTIGATION, CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING THE VECHILE, WAS JUST LUCKY IT DID NOT HAPPEN DURING USE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #722258
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2000
Electrical System
IGNITION LOCKS UP. HAS HAPPEND SEVERAL TIMES. LOCKS UP AND THE KEY CANNOT BE TURNED EVEN WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT LOCKED UP. LAST TIME IT HAPPEND WE HAD TO PUT THE CAR UP ON A JACK TO UNLOCK THE IGNITION? IT CANNOT BE FIXED NOWTHOUGH WITHOUT SPENDING ALOT OF MONEY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS UNDER…
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IGNITION LOCKS UP. HAS HAPPEND SEVERAL TIMES. LOCKS UP AND THE KEY CANNOT BE TURNED EVEN WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT LOCKED UP. LAST TIME IT HAPPEND WE HAD TO PUT THE CAR UP ON A JACK TO UNLOCK THE IGNITION? IT CANNOT BE FIXED NOWTHOUGH WITHOUT SPENDING ALOT OF MONEY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT PROPERLY THE FIRST TIMEI AM GOING TO END UP SPENDING A GREAT DEAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721396
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS FROM THIS CAR AND, GM DOES NOT WANT TO HELP. I WAS SENT OUT OF THE DEALER SHIP WITH NO HORN FOR THREE DAYS. DEALERS ARE NOW SMART ENOUGH TO WORK AROUND THE LEMON LAW IN WORDING REPAIR ORDERS. I THINK WITH ALL THE MOTOR PROBLEMS AND, SAFETY ISSUES MAYBE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE A CAR STA…
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I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS FROM THIS CAR AND, GM DOES NOT WANT TO HELP. I WAS SENT OUT OF THE DEALER SHIP WITH NO HORN FOR THREE DAYS. DEALERS ARE NOW SMART ENOUGH TO WORK AROUND THE LEMON LAW IN WORDING REPAIR ORDERS. I THINK WITH ALL THE MOTOR PROBLEMS AND, SAFETY ISSUES MAYBE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE A CAR STALLS AND SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720331
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
THE WHEEL JOINT SIMPLY BROKE APART NO PRIOR WARNING. COMPANY DID COVER THAT. SPARK PLUG AND WIRE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR 100,000 MILES, BUT WERE NO GOOD AFTER 47,000 MILES, WATER PUMP WENT OUT AT 49,000MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS ON A VEHICLE WITH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS GM CARS THAT HAVE LASTED OVER 1…
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THE WHEEL JOINT SIMPLY BROKE APART NO PRIOR WARNING. COMPANY DID COVER THAT. SPARK PLUG AND WIRE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR 100,000 MILES, BUT WERE NO GOOD AFTER 47,000 MILES, WATER PUMP WENT OUT AT 49,000MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS ON A VEHICLE WITH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS GM CARS THAT HAVE LASTED OVER 100,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS. IS THIS CAR KNOWN TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS? I HAVE SPENT $700 IN REPAIRS BECAUSE THE WAY THE CAR IS PUT TOGETHER IT TAKES HOURS FOR THE MECHANIC TO FIX ANYTHING. $483 FOR A WATER PUMP!!
NHTSA ODI #717691
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
CARD RUNS ROUGH, STUMBLES AND HESITATES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. DEALER REPLACED CATALITIC CONVERTER, O2 CENSORS, EGR VALVE, SPARK PLUGS TO NO AVAIL. PLEASE E-MAIL ME IF YOU ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AT ALIEN@CASTLES.COM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #717403
NHTSA investigations
2RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
RQ98013 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Aug 26, 1998 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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