NHTSA Complaint #10239251 — 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

DRIVING FROM THE HIGHWAY TO THE CITY AS NORMAL LIKE EVERY WEEKEND IN MY ONLY VEHICLE A 97 GRAND PRIX GTP, PULL INTO A DRIVE THROUGH AND GET TO THE WINDOW AND PLACE MY CAR IN PARK. WAIT FOR MY CHANGE AND ORDER THEN TRY TO PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE FROM THE PARK POSITION- AND IT WON'T MOVE! I GOT A FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OF "ROAD RAGE" FROM OTHER PEOPLE YELLING AT ME AND CALLING ME NAMES TO GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN I CAN'T! MY SHIFTER IS STUCK IN PARK (AND YES MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE.) LUCKILY 15 MINUTES LATER STILL STUCK IN THE DRIVE THROUGH I NOTICE A BUTTON TO THE RIGHT OF THE GEAR SHIFTER CALLED A SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SO I STICK A PEN DOWN IT AND FINALLY I CAN LEAVE. GET HOME, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND IT WON'T RELEASE MY KEY! SO NOW THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T GO TO THE OFF POSITION. TRY TO LEAVE AGAIN AND THE ONLY WAY MY CAR WILL SHIFT FROM PARK IS IF I STICK SOMETHING DOWN IN THE HOLE FOR THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON. SEEING THE KEY DOESN'T COME OUT I'M CONSTANTLY PARANOID ABOUT SOMEONE SEEING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STEELING MY VEHICLE! EVERY TIME I USE MY CAR I HAVE TO USE THE RELEASE BUTTON AND LEAVE MY KEY IN THE IGNITION! I'M TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP IT'S GOING TO COST ALMOST $400 TO FIX THE IGNITION LOCK SOLENOID (TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEY) AND TO FIX THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID (TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT WITH OUT SHOVING A '!@#$% PEN IN A HOLE!) MIND YOU- THE $400 DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR!!!!!! THE SAD THING IS- I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR!! WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY INCIDENTS! I DON'T SEE WHY I SHOULD PAY FOR A DEFECT THAT'S SO COMMON- TOO COMMON! I'M WAITING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO SEE IF YOUR ABLE TO HELP MY SITUATION FIRST. *TR