NHTSA Complaint #10171539 — 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP. 45,000 MILES. AS OF TODAY, I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN SERVICE EIGHT TIMES FOR STEERING-RELATED DEFECTS, BEGINNING TWO WEEKS FROM THE DATE OF NEW PURCHASE IN JANUARY, 2004. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS HAVE ALL TOLD ME "IT'S A DESIGN DEFECT...THERE WILL BE A FIX SOON". REPLACED RACK AND PINION TWICE, MIDDLE STEERING SHAFT TWICE, AND RACK/PINION AND ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS SPONTANEOUSLY WORK LOOSE EVERY 3,000-5,000 MILES. NOW VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MOST RECENT VISIT TO CENTURY PONTIAC IN TAMPA, THEY ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE ME $75.00 IN ORDER TO APPLY YET ANOTHER TSB REGARDING LOOSE STEERING, STEERING WHEEL BIND, ETC. I HAD TO CALL PONTIAC AND COMPLAIN BITTERLY, THEY THEN WAIVED THE FEE...BUT DID NOT PAY FOR THE RENTAL CAR. THUS FAR, POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED, A/C COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED, MIDDLE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED TWICE, ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED TWICE, AND THERE IS STILL A PERSISTENT "JOLT" THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER PUTTING CAR INTO GEAR, OR TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT, GOING OVER A GUTTER, ETC. ALSO, LOUD "CLUNK" RESULTING IN SEVERE SHUDDER IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER(S) STATE THERE IS NO FIX. HAVE NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE THREE TIMES DUE TO STEERING SUDDENLY LOOSENING, OR BINDING, WANDERING OFF-CENTER, ETC. DEALER SAYS THERE'S NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. WHEN IS NHTSA GOING TO LISTEN TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE STEERING ISSUES ON THIS VEHICLE AND LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION?? STEERING RACK BOLTS COMING LOOSE? ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS COMING LOOSE? STEERING SHAFT FAILURES AND FRACTURES? EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN TO SERVICE, THE DEALERS AND SERVICE MANAGERS "PLAY DUMB" AND TRY TO SAY "I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING"...OR "IT DRIVES LIKE ALL THE OTHER GRAND PRIX'S". PLEASE DON'T LET GM AND PONTIAC CONTINUE TO INSULT OUR COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE AND IGNORE THESE STEERING AND DESIGN ISSUES TO THE POINT WHERE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *NM