NHTSA Complaint #10568611 — 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM

FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 2005 - INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING OIL, CAR OVERHEATED ON MY WAY TO WORK COULD NOT DRIVE HOME. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC - AFTER EVALUATION IT COST ME $700.00 TO FIX. THEN IN 2007 MY ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT LEFT WHEEL HUB WAS DAMAGED AND SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING, SO I HAD IT CHANGED $300.00. THEN IN 2008 I HAD THE RIGHT WHEEL HUB CHANGED DUE TO SAME PROBLEM AS LEFT SIDE $300.00 MORE. IN 2009 THE POWER STEERING BELT WAS PROBLEM LEFT ME STRANDED @WALMART IN PA, HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC HE CHANGED POWER STEERING BELT PLUS OTHER TIME RUNNING BELTS AT SAME TIME. COST ME $375.00. NOW IN DEC. 2013 I HAVE A PROBLEM AGAIN WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING OIL & ANTIFREEZE MAKING CAR OVERHEAT, LEFT ME STRANDED IN ALLENTOWN, PA, HAD CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE IN STROUDSBURG, PA COST ME $225.00. NOW I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS HERE AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FROM 1,200 TO 2,000 FOR THE WORK. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I ALSO MAKE SURE THAT I SERVICE MY CAR FOR OIL CHANGES, ALL FLUIDS AND STATE INSPECTION ON TIMELY BASIS. GET NEW TIRES WHEN NEEDED I RATHER DONATE IT THEN SPEND MORE MONEY ON THE CAR. MANY MECHANICS I WENT TO SAY THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS THESE ISSUES, THE COST OF THE PARTS IS UNDER $100 BUT THE LABOR IS THE MOST BECAUSE IT TAKES ABOUT 6 TO 7 HOURS TO DO WORK AND HALF THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO WORK QUICKLY. WORD OF ADVICE WHEN BUYING A NEW CAR, FIND OUT ABOUT REPAIR COST FOR CAR BECAUSE ONCE YOUR WARRANTY IS OVER THE COST ARE OUTRAGEOUS. IF YOU KNOW OF A GOOD MECHANIC THAT DOESN'T CHARGE AN ARM OR A LEG PLEASE ADVISE, THANKS. *TR