NHTSA Complaint #10112081 — 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM

I BEGAN NOTICING A GRINDING SOUND WHEN PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS ROLLED UP AND DOWN. GLASS BECAME INCREASINGLY SCRATCHED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE AS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM PERSISTED TO THE POINT OF WINDOW REGULATOR BREAKING OFF AND GLASS SLIDING DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR. HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES IN ONE YEAR. (DEALER DID NOT WANT TO PAY AT LAST VISIT DUE TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING. HAD TO REALLY HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE FOR THEM TO FIX IT.) NOW THE PROBLEM IS THAT BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BROKEN! GLASS HAS SLID DOWN INSIDE THE DOORS AND WILL NOT STAY UP (I HAVE PACKAGING TAPE HOLDING UP ONE WINDOW). PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS OFFERED ME A FREE OIL CHANGE AND/OR SMALL REIMBURSEMENT FOR "MY INCONVENIENCE." HOWEVER, EACH REGULATOR ALONE (NO LABOR) WILL COST AROUND $300. THAT IS $600 IN PARTS ALONE. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THIS, AND FIND IT RIDICULOUS THAT 3 OF THE 4 WINDOWS ARE EXHIBITING THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE AND IS VERY WELL-MAINTAINED. I BELIEVE GM HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE WINDOW REGULATORS IN THEIR GRAND AMS AND SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM