NHTSA Complaint #719634 — 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM

TH NEXT YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR, I BEGAN TO LOSE COMPRESSION. THE CAR WOULD ALSO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, I NOTICED THAT MY "CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ON." I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERS AND THEY GAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF "USING THE WRONG GAS". I AM A WOMEN, AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS, THEREFORE, AT THE TIME, I DID NOT DISPUTE THIS RIDICULOUS DIAGNOSIS. A YEAR LATER, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES/DISC PADS TWICE. THERE WAS LOUD SQUELCHING NOISES. I ALSO BOUGHT NEW TIRES AFTER ONE YEAR. MAJOR PROBLEMS HAVE DEVELOPED SINCE 1999, WHICH ARE: I HAD TO HAVE THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED (AIR CONDITION AND HEAT STOPPED WORKING), I HAD TO HAVE A NEW WATERPUMP INSTALLED (CAR WAS POURING ANTI-FREEZE AND SMOKING), AND AS OF FEBRUARY 6, 2000, THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. I RECEIVED TWO QOUTES FROM AREA REPAIR SHOPS ESTIMATING BETWEEN $3K TO $4,500 TO REBUILD AND ENGINE! I HAVE EXHAUSTED MYSELF CONTACTING FRED JONES (SPOKE TO HIM PERSONALLY) OF FRED JONES PONTIAC, AND THEIR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. PLEASE HELP ME! ALSO, I READ ON YOUR SITE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR UNDERHOOD FIRES - I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AND MY CAR WAS NEVER TAKEN IN! I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT BESIDES THIS MAKE OF CAR BEING A LEMON, THIS MAY HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO MY PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP ME!!! *AK