NHTSA Complaint #758810 — 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM

WE HAVE HAD COOLANT LOSS THREE TIMES WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS "SUCKING THE COOLANT IN" RATHER THAN LEAKING OUT. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE 1ST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET & OIL PUMP DRIVE RING AND VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING. THE 2ND TIME, THE DEALER SIMPLE RESEALED THE INTAKE GASKET BUT DID NOT REPLACE. THE 3RD TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND RECHECKED FOR LEAKS. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER EITHER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (GOOD THRU 72,000 MI). WE NOW HAVE ALMOST 70,000 MI ON THIS CAR AND THE ENGINE IS SHOT! THE MAIN THROTTLE BEARING GAULDED AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY IS DENYING OUR CLAIM (EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 2,000 MI LEFT ON EXTENDED WARRANTY) BECAUSE THEY SAY THE OIL IS "CONTAMINATED". I HAVE MAINTAINED REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND AM DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE IN APPROX 200 MI. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AFTER ANY OF THE COOLANT LEAK REPAIRS. ALSO, WE HAD TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED WHEN THEN CAR WAS JUST 2 YRS OLD. PLUS WE HAD TO HAVE THE R&R SHAFT SEAL & BEARING KIT REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. ALSO HAD TO HAVE SHIFTER ASSEMPLY REPLACED BECAUSE THE KEY WAS STICKING IN THE IGNITION.*AK