NHTSA Complaint #10489407 — 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM

I STARTED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING APPROX 10MPH WHEN THE CAR DIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AFTER RESTART, IT DID IT AGAIN. THEN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD FUEL PUMP. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE PONTIAC ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT WAS KEEPING IT FROM STARTING. WHEN YOUR KEY STARTS GETTING WORN AND ROUNDED OFF, (AS MOST KEYS DO AFTER SOME USE!) THE THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS YOUR CAR UP. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ECU, IGNITION SYSTEM, KEY TUMBLER, OR A COMBINATION OF THE SAME, AND REPROGRAMMING IT, WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF 1000.00 THIS ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS PREVENTING ME FROM USING MY LAWFULLY OWNED CAR! THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP REPLACE DEFECTIVE PONTIAC PARTS. AN ANTI THEFT SYSTEM SHOULD BE A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO KEEP CROOKS FROM BOOSTING YOUR CAR, NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL COST THE OWNER MORE MONEY LATER WHEN THEIR KEY WEARS DOWN! WORSE YET, IF THE CAR IS DISABLED ON A HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, YOU RISK KILLING YOURSELF OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD! THIS HAS GOT TO BE A SAFETY VIOLATION AND A RED FLAG FOR A RECALL. I'M GOING TO PROBABLY SELL THIS RAT-TRAP FOR SCRAP/CRUSH VALUE TO A JUNK YARD AND BUY ANOTHER CAR, SO ALTHOUGH THIS COMPLAINT WON'T BENEFIT ME, HOPEFULLY MY COMMENT WILL HELP SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR POS PONTIAC. *TR