NHTSA Complaint #764032 — 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM

WITH NO PRIOR WARNING MY '96 PONTIAC GRAND AM SUDDENLY 'SHIVERED' OR 'SNEEZED' WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 - 60 MPH. ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND WERE BLINKING. THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AS WELL ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TRAVELING AS A RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL SPEED. I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OVER SINCE I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR US HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I QUICKLY TURNED ON MY WARNING FLASHERS, GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS AND TRIED TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS IN DISTRESS. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST INDEPENDENT SHOP, WHO, AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRS, WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I EVENTUALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PONTIAC DEALER WHO REPLACED THE 'IGNITION COIL'. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IT AS SUCH.*AK