1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM Suspensionfront Problems

LEFT FRONT SPRING ON 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM BROKE IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT CAUSING LEFT FRONT TIRE TO GO FLAT. LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. HAVE OLD PARTS. *TR

RIGHT FRONT SPRING AND STRUT ASSEMBLY BROKE. CAR ONLY HAS 44K MILES ON IT. *TR

MY DAUGHTERS 99 GRAND AM HAS HAD BOTH FRONT SPRINGS BREAK APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR APART. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE CAR WAS TRAVELING FORWARD AT LESS THAN 25 MPH. THE BROKEN SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY OCCURRED. NEW SPRINGS/STRUTS WERE INSTALLED ALONG WITH NEW TIRES. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT REAR SPRING WAS CRACKED AND WAS ALSO REPLACED. NO OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE. I'M VERY GLAD THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED WHEN THESE SPRINGS BROKE. *TR

AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH OF YOUR DEFECTS DATABASE I WANTED TO REPORT THAT THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE03031 HAPPENED TO ME ON BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND ONE REAR SPRING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EXACTLY IN THIS MANOR DESCRIBED. I DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT DATES OF THE INCIDENTS BUT THE FAILURES HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. BASED ON PARTS BILLS I BELIEVE THIS OCCURRED IN 9/2003 AND 9/2005 FOR THE FRONT SPRINGS AND 8/2007 FOR THE REAR SPRING. I PERSONALLY MADE THE REPAIRS AND PROBABLY HAVE THE FAILED SPRINGS STILL (STORED INSIDE) SINCE YOU CAN NOT JUST TOSS THEM IN THE GARBAGE. FORTUNATELY THE FRONT SPRING FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARTED OVERNIGHT AND DISCOVERED THE NEXT MORNING WHEN LEAVING. THE REAR SPRING FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION BUT WAS DRIVABLE. IF THE FRONT SPRINGS FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS FAILURE DUE...

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT ,FRONT COIL SPRING .BACK OUT OF DRIVE WAY THEN STARTED DOWN ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN RIGHT FRONT SPRING LET GO WITH SUCH A FORCE THAT I THOUGHT RT AT FIRST SOME ONE SHOT AT CAR OR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER FIX WITH NEW SPRING AND STRUT OEM PARTS WITCH WEAR DAMAGE DO TO SPRING GOING. DEALER KEEP PARTS SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT COMMON. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GRAND AMS. *TR

1) NO WARNING OF ANY KIND! 2) FRONT DRIVERS SUSPENSION COIL BREAK/COLLAPSE, COIL PUNCTURED TIRE CAUSING TIRE BLOW OUT, CAR CRASHING DOWN ALL INSTANTANEOUS. NO INJURY - I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE. HOW OFTEN 1 TIME. 3) TOW AND THEN REPLACE THE TIRE, COIL, STRUT, I ALSO MUST REPLACE THE OTHER FRONT COIL, STRUT AS WELL, SINCE THERE CLEARLY IS A DEFECT - AND I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I WILL REQUEST TO KEEP THE PARTS. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING OR PHYSICAL IMPACT/IMPAIRMENT RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED WITH A LOUD BANG, AND THE JAGGED END PIERCED MY TIRE SIDEWALL, DESTROYING TIRE. THIS OCCURRED AT APPROX 25 MPH, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT, HAD TO BE TOWED, NEW COIL INSTALLED, NEW TIRE PURCHASED, LABOR DAY PLANS RUINED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, CAR WAS PARKED FOR 12 HRS IN 70 DEGREE WEATHER, ANOTHER HUGE BANG, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL FRACTURED, C-SHAPED PIECE UNDER THE VEHICLE, AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, COIL REPLACED, MISSED A DAY OF WORK AS THIS HAPPENED IN CONNECTICUT, AND I WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS. *TR

FRACTURE OF FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT COIL SPRINGS. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED. NO APPARENT PRIOR PROBLEMS, JUST A CLEAN BREAK. IT HAPPENED AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED AND DID NOT CAUSE TIRE DAMAGE. NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR THE BREAK, OTHER THAN POSSIBLE MANUFACTURE DEFECT. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. *TR

THE COIL SPRING ON THE STRUT ON THE FRONT OF A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM BROKE. THIS WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW SPRING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. IN TALKING TO MANY REPAIR SHOPS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES OF GM CARS. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED IN TOWN, BUT HAD IT HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD WRECK. THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER AT THE PONTIAC DEALER STATED THIS WAS FAIRLY COMMON, BUT THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR REPAIRS IF THE OWNER HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE THE OLD PARTS IN MY POSSESSION. THIS WAS A CLEAN BREAK, NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS CRACKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM -- THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A COIL SPRING-OVER-STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION WITH THE SPRING ITSELF RESTING IN COMPRESSION BETWEEN TWO POLYMER ISOLATORS. THIS IS REGARDING FRACTURE OF THIS SPRING. THE FRACTURES OCCUR IN THE FIRST ACTIVE COIL ABOVE THE LOWER ISOLATOR. I HAD BOTH COILS FRACTURE. FIRST (PASSENGER FRONT AT APPROXIMATELY 95,000 MILES AND THE DRIVER FRONT HAPPENED AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES). THERE APPEARS TO BE VERY LITTLE WEAR OR PITTING ON THESE COILS. COIL COATING IS IN TACT AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION FOR THE YEAR AND MILES. THE COILS FRACTURE IN THE SAME LOCATION. THE FRACTURE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE A PUNCTURE IN THE TIRES. I AM REFERENCING AN EXISTING COMPLAINT NOTICE #PE03-031. INVESTIGATE REPORTS. *TR

BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WHILE DRIVING , WITH THE LAST BLOWING OUT THE TIRE WHILE MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE FRONT TIRE MAKES A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR LEANED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. ONE COULD TELL THIS IF JUST STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AND LOOKING AT IT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT IT GRADUALLY GOT WORSE.*AK

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM 2.4 L AUTO SEVERE BRAKE FAILURE---REPLACEMENT OF PADS 8 TIMES, ROTORS 3 TIMES AND CALIPERS 2 TIMES IN 80,000 MILES. BRAKES OCCASIONALLY LOCK UP AND MAKE LOUD GRINDING AND SQUEALING NOISES STEERING SHUDDERS AND VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT.. PARTICIPATING PONTIAC DEALER FAILED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE AT 11,000 MILES. UNDER WARRANTY REPLACEMENT IT HAS HAD 6 DOOR PANELS DUE TO PEELING LEATHER ON TOP OF PANEL, 5 GEAR SHIFTERS DUE TO DEALERS IMPROPER INSTALLATION, 2 FACTORY CD/RADIO FAILURES, 1 RACK AND PINION UNIT, 2 FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO KNOCKING NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR (WENT BAD AFTER 10,000 MILES USE), PROBLEM WITH HESITATION AT IDLE-COLD START(UNSUCCESSFULLY DIAGNOSED BY DEALER) CARPET LOOSE IN TRUNK AROUND LATCH ASSEMBLY(TOO SHORT FOR TRUNK AND WAS HOT GLUED TO BACK WALL OF CAR BY DEALER INSTEAD OF REPLACEMENT). TURN SIGNALS STILL OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO WORK(DEALER SAID THEY WORKED...

'99 GR AM: GRINDING NOISE R FRONT-DEALER: DRILLED OUT RESTRICTOR IN PWR STEERNG HOSE PER BULLETIN 990232002. RUBBING & SQUAWK NOISE TURNING LEFT-DEALER: SWAY BAR BUSHINGS REPLCD. PASSENGER SEAT STUCK-DEALER: REPLACED SEAT TRACK. CENTER CONSOLE DOOR LATCH ASSMBLY REPLACED PER RECALL. RADIO LCD GARBLED & BLACKING OUT-DEALER: REPLCD RADIO ASSEMBLY. WHINING IN PWR STEERING- DEALER: P/S COOLER LINE LEAKING, REPLCD & BLED SYSTEM. GAS GAUGE BACK & FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY-DEALER: TANK SENDING UNIT SHORTED, REPLCD TANK MODULE ASSY. FLUID/OIL LEAK FROM INTAKE GASKET-DEALER: REPLCD GASKETS & REPLCD OIL PUMP DRIVE O-RING. PASSENGER SEAT SQUEAKS-DEALER: SEAT TRACKS LOOSE IN FLOOR PAN HOOK ATTCHMNT OPENINGS. CRUNCH/SQUAWK IN FRONT END ON SPEED BUMPS-DEALER: REPLCD R&R FRONT STRUTS, REPLCD UPPER MOUNTS. BRAKE PULSATION-DEALER: FRONT ROTORS WARPED, BOTH ROTORS WERE MACHINED & PADS REPLACED. OIL/FLUID LEAK RT TRANS. AXLE SEAL, STEERING RACK CENTER SECTION- DEALER: REPLCD SEAL & SLEEVE, REPLCD STEERING RACK. SHIMMY...

LEAKING POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE, LOW OIL LEVELS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM FIRST TIME, CAR TO GO BACK IN SHOP 10-22-02, DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW INOPERABLE AND SCRATCHED SINCE PURCHASE, REWIRED REMOTE STARTER, PULSATING BRAKES, REPLACED PAD, ROTORS, POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL BROKEN, REPLACED BATTERY,RADIO LED INOPERABLE, REPLACED RADIO ASSEMBLY, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR R/F WHEEL INCORRECT SIGNAL, REPLACED R/F HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY, KNOCKING AND CAR SHAKING AT STOPS AND LOSS OF POWER, LACK OF FUEL CYLINDER #4, REPLACED INJECTOR, REPLACED MACHINE CYLINDER HEAD, REPLACED UPPER STRUT MOUNTS, 6-10-02 INSPECT FOR OIL LOSS DOWN 2 1/2 QUARTS, NOTHING FOUND. OIL CHANGE COMPLETED AT 34304 AND AT 37160 OIL LOSS TO 3 QUARTS, CAR TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER 10-22-02. AIR CONDITIONER HAS PC LEAK IN HOSE, HOSE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND FREON ADDED. DT

VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN DRIVING. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, AND WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP THERE'S A CLUNKING NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT OFF VEHICLE SHAKES IRRATICALLY, WHICH MAKES VEHICLE FEEL UNBALANCED.*AK. CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE ROTORS MAY BE WARPED.*SLC

TIRE DEFECT,GLASS SCRATCHED, CAR VIBRTING, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BRAKES GRINDING.

FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE POPPING NOISES WHILE DRIVING AND/OR TURNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE SOUND IS A WINDING AND GRINDING SOUND IN THE FRONT END WITH OR WITH OUT BRAKES ON. THE SOUND HAS GOTTEN LOUDER SINCE THEY ( THE DEARLERSHIP) REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS AND TOOK THE TIRES OFF THE RIMS TO CLEAR COAT THE RIMS, WHICH THEY SAID THIER TECHNICIANS SAID WOULD DO THE JOB. WELL ITS WORSE NOW. THEY KEEP SAYING THEY CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING, WHEN I AND MY HUSBAND KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY CAR. I FEEL I WILL NEVER EVER WILL OWN A PONTIAC OF ANY KIND BECAUSE OF THIS SERVICE AND I WILL BE TELL ALL THE MILITARY FAMILIES IN OUR AREA TO DO THE SAME

EXCESSIVE RUBBING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEELS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P225/50R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/50R16 )

ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS I AM HAVING MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS, FROM THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT POPING, TO THE WHOLE FRONT END POPING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK THE CV BOOTS 3 TIMES, THEY KEPT BUSTING, LOWER BALL JOINTS, "A" ARMS, THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR A BIT, THEN THE CV BOOT FRACTURED AGAIN THEY WOULDNT REPLACE, NOW THE FRONT IN POPS HORRIABLY WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN TO THE RIGHT AND ADD A LITTLE TORQUE, TOOK TO DEALER, NO DIAGONSIS, TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT AGENT, EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE, ONLY THING HE CAN THINK OF IS A BREAK IN A SPOT WELD ON THE FRONT END, IE THE TUBING THAT SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND FRONT SUSPENSION, I HAVE EVENT CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND THEY SAY THE PROBLEM IS NO LONGER THERES, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LET YOU TEST THE CAR AND HEAR THE NOISE, AND SEE IF IT WOULDNT...

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH 13 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 4 TIMES. BRAKES WERE REPLACED FOR KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES/ PADS AND STRUTS WERE ALL CHANGED TO RECTIFY PROBLEM. REPAIRS HELD UP A WEEK AND REPEATED. CONSUMER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 75,000 BECAUSE SO MANY PROBLEM WERE HAPPENING TO VEHICLE.*AK

HORN WAS STUCK, DEALER REPLACED HORN RING AND MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. DEALER REPLACED AIR BAG, IT WAS LOOSE. STEERING RACK SQUEAKED, DEALER REPLACED STEERING RACK AND SET TOE, CONSUMER STATES STEERING RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE HOWEVER NOISE IS STILL THERE AND THERE IS A SMELL. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. RADIO FAILED. VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *SLC

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE LIKE MEDAL TO MEDAL WHILE PUTTING ON BRAKES. VEHICLE SHOOK WHILE DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN WEAR ON TIRES/ BRAKES AND ROTORS. DEALER EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 2 YEARS, AND REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT END VIBRATES WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS.GAS PEDAL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR FOR A WHILE BEFORE GRADUALLY GAINING ANY SPEED. DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER & FUEL PUMP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT NOTHING HAS HELP.*AK

FRONT END OF THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED. THE CAR PULLS DRAMATICLY TO THE LEST WHEN YOU TRY AND PASS ANOTHER CAR. BOTH MANUFACTOR AND DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL "NORMAL TORQUE STEER". THIS ACTION CAUSES THE CAR TO EITHER INTO THE FAR LEFT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD OR ALOMOST BECOME UNCONTROLABLE IF THERE IS SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE BRAKES STARTED SHAKING WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, DEALER REPLACED ROTOR ASSMB. AND OILED CALIBERS. BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. I HAVE CONTINUED TO TRY AND HAVE THE FRONT END FIXED. DEALER REPLACED TIRES (CLAIMS THEY WERE OUT OF ROUND), DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, DEALER REPLACED WHEELS (CLAIMS THEY WERE MILLED WRONG) DID NOT FIX THE PROBELM. MANUFACTURE STATES AFTER CALL, THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. THIS CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE SHOP FOR THESE RELATED REPAIRS...

THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE REAR LATERAL LINK BOLT SEPARATED AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL HITTING A CULVERT PIPE AND FLIPPING OVER INJURING THE DRIVER. YH

SINCE THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW ON NOVEMBER 1998 (1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM) IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, FRONT END HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES, BRAKES REPAIRED (WARPED ROTORS), AIR BAG COVER WARPED AND WAS REPLACED, DOOR PANELING CAME OFF AND WAS REPLACED WITH NEW PANELING, GLOVE BOX DOOR WAS LOOSE.

THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNIDENTIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIPS I'VE BEEN TO FOR SERVICE. THE CAR WILL PERIODICALLY VIOLENTLY PULL TO EITHER SIDE (HAS OCCURED ON BOTH SIDES), THRVED OUT OF CONTROL, THE BRAKES IN GENERAL ARE POOR AND DON'T STOP THE CAR WELL; I HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT THE AUTOMATIC IN ORDER TO STOP AT TIMES, THE LOCKS QUIT WORKING AND NEEDED REPROGRAMMED THREE TIMES, THE CAR HAS LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AND TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART. THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR (SUCH AS REAR WINDSHIELD RATTLES, POOR GAS MILEAGE 14 CITY, 19 HIGHWAY, BAD GAS GAUGE) BUT THEY ARE NOT THE MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENT BETWEEN THE BRAKES AND THE 'VIOLENT PULLING' BUT PONTIAC KEEPS TELLING ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR SINCE THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITANTLY. I WAS TOLD THE...

SINCE NEW, CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER 7-TIMES FOR VIBRATION IN FRONT END, 5 TIMES FOR EXCESSIVE STEERING BACKLASH, 3 TIMES FOR STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY DURING BRAKING, AND 2 TIMES FOR ENGINE HIGH TEMPERATURE. (5 TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 4 RIMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 3 SETS OF BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. POWER RACK AND PINION UNIT REPLACED. FRONT END ALIGNED. TIRES BALANCED 9 TIMES.) VIBRATION STILL EXISTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CAR PULLING TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE TIRES AGAIN ALONG WITH ONE MORE RIM. CAR ENGINE TEMPERATURE GOES UP TO 230 DEGREES, DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL. STEERING WHEEL STILL SHIMMIES DURING BRAKING AND DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FRONT TIRES SHOW CUPPING AND PREMATURE WEAR PATTERNS WITH ONLY 4000 MILES SINCE BEING REPLACED. SEEMS LIKE DEALER(S) DO NOT WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE A NEW CAR, BUT DEALER DOES NOT WANT...