NHTSA Complaint #742192 — 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN FEB OF 2000. IT ONLY HAS APRROX 43000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND OTHER MECHANICS. IN JUNE OF 2000 I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FELL OFF. I HAD NOTICED CONDENSATION WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. LUCKILY I FOUND THE COVERS AND DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. IN SEPT OF 2000 I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR WHEN IT FAILED WHILE I WAS GOING TO WORK. THEN IN DEC OF 2000 I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IN THE RADIATOR WAS JUST ABOUT COMPLETELY SOLIDIFIED. I HAD TO PAY FOR RADIATOR FLUSHES AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR". THEY ALSO NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE MAIN ENGINE BELTS WAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I HAVE REPLACED IT. NOW IT IS MARCH OF 2001 AND MY CAR IS NOW AGAIN AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE WATER PUMP AND AN AIRBAG LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO OFF. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT I WILL GET IN THE CAR AND THE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO DOWN. I KNOW THAT CARS NEED REPAIRS BUT I FEEL THAT I AM DEFINETLY HAVING LOTS OF PROBLEMS WHEN THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS NOT EXCESSIVE.THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT HE THOUGHT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND THAT IF HE WERE IN OUR SHOES, HE WOULD TRADE THE CAR.*AK