2000 Pontiac Grand Prix Complaint Log

JUST A NOTE TO LET YOU KNOW OUR 2000 PONTIAC GP GTP CAUGHT FIRE WHILE NOT RUNNING ON 06/22/04. I NOTIFIED PONTIAC THAT NIGHT. OUR INSURANCE HIRED A FIRE INVESTIGATOR. HE WAS MET AT OUR HOUSE BY A GM REPRESENTATIVE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR ADVISED US THERE HAD BEEN ANOTHER HE WAS SENT TO A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE OURS. GM FINALLY RECALLED THE CAR 2 YEARS LATER IN 2006, SO I KNOW THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS ONE AS WELL. THE INFORMED US TO REBUILD OUR HOME AND THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT INSURANCE DID NOT TAKE CARE OF, WHICH AMOUNTED TO 133,000. THEY DRUG IT OUT FOR 5 YEARS, PAID OUR INSURANCE CO BACK, AND LEFT US SITTING WITH A HOUSE PAYMENT 3 TIMES THE AMOUNT IT HAD BEEN. THIS COMPANY HAS NO RESPECT FOR THE CONSUMER! *TR

WHERE THE TREAD AND THE SIDE WALL MEET ON THIS TIRE THERE WAS A HALF INCH SEPARATION ABOUT FIVE INCHES LONG. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SEE THE STEEL BELTS UNDER THE TREAD. THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY EVIDENT ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. *NM *NM

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON WHEN NEEDED AUTOMATICALLY, LIKE THEY WERE PROGRAMMED TO DO. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR TEN MINUTES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE WINDOW MOTOR AND POWER WINDOW SWITCH. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING REGARDING THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR. THE COMPUTER CODE DETECTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 204,000.

I WAS WEST HEADING ON I-4 TOWARD ORLANDO, FLORIDA WHEN MY FIRESTONE P215 70R15 FR 680 UNRAVELED. THE RADIAL TREADED PART OF THE TIRE S;APPED AGAINST THE CAR WITH SUCH AN IMPACT IT CRUSHED THE CORNER PANEL.

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DAMAGED. *LA

I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ODI ID# 10070342. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY AND WAS TOLD SHIFTER ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF $375. *AK

DT: WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE WILL START, BUT WHEN TRYING TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IT LOCKS. THIS RESULTS IN THE BATTERY RUNNING DOWN AND THE INABILITY TO THE LOCK CAR. TOOK CAR TO A DEALER IN APRIL 2004 AND HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR ALONG WITH THE IGNITION LOCK RELEASE. A WEEK AGO THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. DID NOT HAVE ANY REPAIRS SINCE DISCOVERING THIS.*AK

2000 PONTIAC GRAN PRIX. APPROX 80,000 MILES. VEHICLE JERKS DURING GRADUAL ACCELERATION. PONITAC DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BAD PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID AND BAD TCC SOLENOID. PARTS AND SERVICE TO COST $700.00. NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE.*AK

DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE CAR SHUTS DOWN TOTALLY. AT TIMES THE CAR HAS SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC, SHUT DOWN SOON AFTER STARTING, SHUT DOWN COMMING TO A STOP. THE RADIO POWER FLICKERS, AND THE FUEL PUMP WILL NOT PRIME DURING A RESTART. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP RELAY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL PRESENT. I SUSPECT A PROBLEM WITH THE KEY IGNITION OR THE THEFT DETERRANT MODULE.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE. CAR WAS SHIFTING HARD AND "JERKING." PULLED IN TO A NEARBY REPAIR SHOP AND TWO DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE FOUND RELATING TO THE TRANSMISSION. ONE RELATED TO THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID AND THE OTHER "LONG SHIFT W/ MAX ADAPT". THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC, HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NOR COULD HE FIND ANYTHING WRONG AT THAT TIME. HE ALSO SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A SHOP SPECIALIZING IN TRANSMISSIONS. I DID. THEY ALSO COULD NOT DUPLCATE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANYTHING OTHER THAN METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN. THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REBUILT AT A COST OF OVER $2,100.00.*AK

TRANSMISSION 63,000 MILES, PRESSURE CONTROL CYLINOID GOES OUT AND TAKES 2ND AND 4TH GEAR WITH IT RESULTING IN NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK

POWER STEERING SEIZES WHEN TRYING TO MAKE LEFT TURNS. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION HAVING FAULTY BEARINGS WHICH WAS RECALLED BACK IN 1996-1998. THE CAR STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS IN 2000 MODELS. *AK

STEERING GAVE OUT WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS A RACK AND PINION PRBLEM THAT WAS ALSO RECALLED ON THE 1996 THOUGH 1998 MODELS.*AK

STEERING WHEEL BEGAN POPPING WHEN TURNING, BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AT LOW SPEEDS. ALMOST HIT A RETAINING WALL WHEN TURNING ACROSS A MAJOR INTERSECTION. *JB

2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP--CAR DIES WITH NO WARNING ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP RESISTOR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THERE IS A KIT THAT REPLACES THE OLD SPOT WHERE IT WAS LOCATED. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL IF IT IS A KNOWM PROBLEM WITH A FIX!!!!!!!!!!*AK

AS I WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO A STREET POWER STEERING SEEMED TO GIVE OUT. I HAD TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT AND TURN AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR HOME TO SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT GETS VERY TOUGH, TURNING TO THE RIGHT IS FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BOTH SAID THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT, THERE SHOULD BE NO WAY THAT THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. I CONTACTED A GM REPRESENTATIVE, AFTER STRINGING ME A LONG FOR TWO WEEKS, THEY FINALLY TOLD ME THAT SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP. ALSO WHEN CONTACTING THE REPRESENTATIVE, THEY OFTEN DID NOT CALL BACK IN THE TIME FRAME THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO.*AK

I HAVE A 2000 GRAND PRIX WITH A 3.1 LITER ENGINE. IT HAS THE TYPICAL "UPPER/LOWER MANIFOLD LEAK". THE SYMPTOMS ARE SLIGHT SMELL OF BURNING COOLANT, TEMP GAUGE NOT STEADY, IN COOLER DAYS IT DOESN'T GET UP TO 180 DEGREES, ON HOT DAYS IT GOES TO 220. ALSO LOW COOLANT LIGHT EVERY WEEK, NEEDS COOLANT IN RESOVOIR. ALSO HAS A CRUSTY ORANGE BUILDUP IN RESOVOIR AND RADIATOR CAP. I DISCUSSED WITH GM CUSTOMER CARE AND I HAVE TO PAY A DEALER TO FIX. THEN SUBMIT A REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM. THE AGENT FOR GM/PONTIAC SAID HE WOULD COVER THE FIRST HALF AND WORK TO GET MORE...BUT NO PREMISE'S. WHILE RESEARCHING ON THE WEB, IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE GM PRODUCT INTAKE MANIFOLD IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I BELIEVE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THIS REPAIR DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *JB

SLIPPAGE IN FORWARD, REVERSE, METAL DEBRIS IN TRANS PAN - BAD TRANSMISSION

SHIFTER NOT RECOGNIZING THE VEHICLE IN PARK POSITION, CANNOT REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY. WORKS SOMETIMES. HAVE TO USE ALTERNATE METHOD TO REMOVE KEYS.*AK

PURCHASED 2000 GRAND PRIX IN DECEMBER OF 2003. EVERY WINDOW (4) IN THE CAR HAD THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAIL. WINDOW FALLS DOWN AND WILL NOT STAY UP. POWER WINDOW MOTOR COMPLETE FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE AND REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $1,600. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT/REPLACED AT 27,000 MILES (THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY). NOW AT 86,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO A GASKET BLOW THAT CAUSED ALL THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT WHICH THEN CAUSED INTERNAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY DEFECT THAT I FEEL MAY HAVE TO DO WITH A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. A $28,000 CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE A MAJOR DEFECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE TWICE BEFORE IT EVEN REACHES 100,000 MILE. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY GM BECAUSE I AM NOW SEEING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *LA

AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT TIME, 10 MINUTES, I PARKED AND TURNED OFF MY 2000 GRAND PRIX GTP. APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 MINUTES LATER A LOUD NOISE, EXPLOSION, WAS HEARD AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR WAS ENTIRELY IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND SUBSEQUENTLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PONTIAC INVESTIGATED AND CLAIMED TO FIND NO EVIDENCE OF LIABILITY. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE CONSUMER CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. *AK

CAR HAS ERRATIC SHIFTING, JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED AS PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID. WHEN THE TRANS PAN WAS TAKEN OFF THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF METAL SHAVINGS. THE TRASNMISSION WAS THEN TAKEN APART AND FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH AND MANY GEARS WERE DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE METAL. GM WAS CONTACTED FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THERE DEFECTIVE PARTS BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT DETERMINE HOW THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK CARE OF THE CAR.*AK

POWER STEERING LOCKS UP ON LEFT TURNS. *LA

THE STEREO/CLOCK DISPLAY FADES TO BE EXTREMELY DIM AND UNREADABLE. THIS OCCURRED AT 28000 MI, WHICH RESULTED IN MY DEALER REPLACING THE STEREO. IT HAS AGAIN OCCURRED AT 54000 MI. *LA

STEERING BINDS AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN TURNING LEFT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS WAS A RECALL IN 1996, 1997, 1998 WITH THE CAUSE BEING AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED RETAINER IN THE LOWER BEARING AREA OF THE PINION.

ENGINE COOLING-SMELL OF ENGINE COOLANT-TWO VISITS AGO MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO FIX THE RECALL FOR COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM-UPPER MANIFOLD. MONTH OR TWO LATER I RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, AND TO CORRECT A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT." DEALER INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR "NEEDED NEW THERMOSTAT." THOUGHT THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION-BUT EVEN AFTER RECALL FIXED MY CAR "SMELLED LIKE ENGINE COOLANT!" MY CAR HAS NEVER MISSED A REQUIRED SERVICE--I "OVER-SERVICE" MY CAR! THE NEEDED SERVICE COMPLETED BY DEALER REPLACING THERMOSTAT, BAD TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND REQUIRED ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER-MY CAR OVERHEATED-BLOWING SMOKE OUT OF THE HOOD. IT SMELLED LIKE COOLANT, I THOUGHT CAR WAS GOING TO BURN UP! I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER-WHERE DEALER INFORMED ME-THEY SPILLED COOLANT-AND THAT THE COOLANT SPILLED WAS SMOKING!--I THINK THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM WITH THIS SERIES ENGINE. I FEEL THAT GM IS COVERING UP A LARGER PROBLEM WITH THE 3800 SERIES ENGINE-I AM AFRAID THAT THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE MORE DAMAGE-I FEEL THAT GM DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THERE IS A LARGE PROBLEM, AND SIMPLY FIX MY CAR! -RATHER THE DEALER STATES "THERE IS NOTHING WRONG." I LIKE MY CAR, AND JUST WANT IT FIXED RIGHT. I AM AFRAID THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE--IT IS ONE OIL CHANGE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY-I FEEL THAT I AM STUCK WITH A LEMON.--EBROCK *LA

THE POWER STEERING WAS STICKING. WHEN I WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THAN TRY TO GO BACK TO THE RIGHT IT WOULD STICK, I HAD TOO USE MORE FORCE TO GET IT BACK TO CENTER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS BAD. IT COST ME $1300.00 TO GET IT FIXED AND I ONLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. *AK

WHILE IN THE PASSING LANE, THE CONSUMER DROVE OVER SOME GRAVEL IN THE ROAD. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT TWO TREES. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD BECAME CAUGHT BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DASHBOARD CAUSING INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 2000 GRAND PRIX SE (3.1 LITRE V6 - 60,000 MILES) HAS BEGUN TO LEAK. I KEEP UP TO DATE ON MAINTENANCE OF MY CAR REGULARLY, AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN SUBJECTED TO ANY EXTREME CONDITION. I OBSERVED NO NOTICEABLE PUDDLES OF COOLANT AROUND MY CAR OR IN THE GARAGE IT IS KEPT IN. THE PROBLEM FIRST REVEALED ITSELF WHILE DRIVING AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS (55MPH) FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES INTO MY TRIP. THE ENGINE COOLANT LOW LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE TEMPERATURE READING BEGAN TO RISE SHARPLY WITHIN 5 SECONDS (NEARLY TO REDLINE). UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE SPOT, NOTHING WAS FOUND. NO PUDDLES, NO WET COOLANT AROUND THE ENGINE. MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AT THIS POINT, EVEN RUNNING THE ENGINE AND COOLING IT REPEATEDLY. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH THE REPLACED COOLANT THINKING IT WAS A ONE TIME THING. THEN I BEGIN NOTICING PUDDLES, AND THE COOLANT IS LEAKING OUT RATHER RAPIDLY NOW (ALLOWING THE MECHANIC TO FINALLY FIND THE PROBLEM). ONCE I FOUND THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE GASGET, I FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME AND SIMILAR ENGINE HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. DUE TO THE SUDDEN NATURE OF THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM, AND DUE TO WIDESPREAD OCCURANCE OF THIS ISSUE ON RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE CARS, I FIND THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM THAT SEEM TO HAPPEN TO EVEN THE MOST WELL MAINTAINED CARS. IF I HAD NOT SEEN THE TEMPERATURE READING RISING (AS I'M SURE MOST PEOPLE DONT WATCH THEIR TEMP GUAGE) I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND CONTINUED DRIVING, THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE DIRECTLY CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO FAIL AT HIGH SPEED AND NO LONGER BE UNDER CONTROL ENDANGERING ME AND POSSIBLY MANY OTHER SAFE DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

VEHICLE HAD A BAD BURNING SMELL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MANIFOLD GASKET. HOWEVER, BURNING SMELL CONTINUED; WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND EXPLODED 3 TIMES. THERE WAS NO WARNING OTHER THAN THE BURNING SMELL PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

THE MOTOR FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW WENT OUT. IT'S BEEN GOING BAD FOR A WHILE AND NOW IT FINALLY QUIT FOR GOOD. AT 3 YEARS OLD I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THIS SO SOON. AND THE FAN FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WILL RUN ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE CAR EVEN RUNNING, CAN'T GET IT TO STOP UNLESS YOU TAKE THE FUSE OUT. *LA

REAR AND FRONT SIDE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN OR ROLL UP. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

PROBLEM WITH BOUNCING FRONT END ORIGINALLY. HAD WHEELS BALANCED, DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM. THEN HARD TO TURN AS IF POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING AND ALSO A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. FIRST THEY REPLACED A TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE HARD STEERING PROBLEM. HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER FOR MORE THAN A WEEK FOR THEM TO GET PARTS TO FIX THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH WATER INSIDE MY HEATER/AC CAUSING AN ACCUMULATION OF WATER AND MALFUNCTIONING OF THE FAN AND CAUSING WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE A SIDE MIRROR MOTOR REPLACED. I FORTUNATELY HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW IN FEB 2000. I ONLY HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THERE SURE HAS BEEN A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING TO IT. I HAVE ALSO HAD WATER LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK WHICH WAS A BAD SEAL AROUND THE RIM OF THE TRUNK AND SPOILER AND A LEAK NEAR MY SUNROOF WHICH WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. *LA

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE ON ICE THE VEHICLE REVVED AND THEN SLID THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. THIS OCCURS ONLY ON ICY ROADS AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO PUMP WHEN THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

MAIN COMPLAINT: GM IS AWARE THAT THEIR GM HYDRA-MATIC 4T65-E TRANSMISSION HAS A DEFECTIVE PART, YET THEY LEAVE IT TO CONSUMERS TO COVER THE COST OF HANDLING THE PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY, MY 2000 GRAND PRIX GT (WITH ONLY 64,000 MILES ON IT) STARTED UPSHIFTING HARD A FEW DAYS AGO FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND I HEAR METALLIC GRINDING NOISES FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND WHILE THE CAR IS STILL WARMING UP. HAVING PERFORMED ALL OF THE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE OVER THE YEARS, I AM ANGERED TO LEARN THAT I WILL HAVE TO FORK OVER APPROXIMATELY $600 TO REPAIR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON A CAR THAT I AM STILL PAYING FOR. I'VE READ OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING TO PAY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR CARS. RECENTLY, GM REPAIRED A COOLANT LEAK AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS BECAUSE IT WAS DEEMED A DEFECT. I HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED "LOW ENGINE COOLANT" WARNINGS FROM MY CAR AND WAS RELIEVED TO RECEIVE THE RECALL LETTER OFFERING TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. OF COURSE, THAT REPAIR TOOK 15 MINUTES - GM DIDN'T MIND PICKING UP THE COST FOR THAT DEFECT. MY CURRENT PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE SEVERAL HOURS OF TRANSAXLE WORK AND GM HAS CONVENIENTLY STUCK ME WITH THE COST OF THIS WORK. I ALSO WONDER WHY CONSUMERS ARE NOT BEING ALERTED TO THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT NOTICE OR MAY CHOOSE TO IGNORE THE SYMPTOMS THAT I NOTICED UNTIL THE OTHER DAY UNTIL THEY HAVE A CATASTROPHIC PROBLEM AND HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS TO REPAIR THEIR TRANSAXLE. IT SEEMS IRRESPONSIBLE TO ME THAT GM ONLY ISSUED THIS INFORMATION AS A SERVICE BULLETIN TO MECHANICS. OTHER MINOR COMPLAINTS: MY CAR INTERMITTENTLY HAD TROUBLE STARTING AROUND 45000 MILES. TWO MECHANICS CHECKED IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. MY KID BROTHER FOUND A LOOSE WIRE COMING FROM THE BATTERY AND QUICKLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, I HAVE LOST LEVELS 1-3 OF 5 FOR MY HEATING/COOLING FAN, MY WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID PUMP HAS STOPPED WORKING AND THE LOCK ON MY TRUNK IS INOPERABLE. I'M NOT CARELESS - THESE MATERIALS SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER. *LA

DELCO AUTO BATTERY LEAKAGE ON 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX . 3 TIMES IN 2 1/2 YEARS. FIRST TIME- 5/29/01. REPLACED BATTERY, DAMAGED HVAC HOSE AND BATTERY BOLT. SECOND TIME-4/11/02. REPLACED BATTERY, POSITIVE CABLE TO STARTER AND BOLT. BOTH DONE UNDER GM WARRANTY. 3RD TIME-10/30/03. REPLACED BATTERY. I PAID $131.00. *LA

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE, IT RESTARTS GOES 10 FEET SHUTS DOWN AGAIN. RESTARTS AGAIN THEN SHUTS DOWN ALL TOGETHER.. LET VEHICLE SIT FOR 1 HOUR IT WILL RUN FINE. UNTIL IT GETS WARM AND GOES THROUGH THE ROUTINE AGAIN. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS LOST THE 1ST AND 2ND LEVEL FOR THE INTERIOR FAN, AND THE 3RD LEVEL IS NOW LOSING FUNCTION. I KNOW OF OTHER GM CARS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM: LOSING THE FAN LEVEL BY LEVEL FROM THE LOWEST SPEED UPWARD. THIS IS A PROGRESSING PROBLEM. ARE THERE ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS? *LA

BRAKE PADS ON 2000 PONTIAC GRAD PRIX, PADS SEPARATED FROM METAL BACKING MAKE CAR STOP POORLY. PADS HAD ONLY 30% WEAR AT THE MOST. I STILL HAVE PARTS. *LA

MY CAR IS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP. IN OCTOBER 2003 AND MARCH 2004 I HAVE HAD POWER WINDOW FAILURES. THE FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVED THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND THE SECOND INVOLVED THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW. THE TOTAL COST OF THE FIRST REPAIR WAS $457. THE SECOND REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT LEAST $400. I HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES ON THE INTERNET WITH WINDOW FAILURES, AS MANY AS 11 TIMES ON ONE CAR. I WAS EVEN ALERTED TO A LAW FIRM CONSIDERING A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THE MATTER.*AK

2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP HAS 42,000 MILES. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY OF 2000. NO SIGN OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. GOING FROM A STOP LOUD CLANKING NOISE, CAR JERKED 3 OR 4 TIMES. 5 MINUTES LATER AFTER ANOTHER STOP SIGN THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I STOPPED TO A REPAIR STATION, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT MAKES AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE WHILE IDLING. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOOK THE CAR FOR A DRIVE AND SAID TO GET IT TO A GM DEALER BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING. I WAS TOLD THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. AS I AM LOOKING THROUGH THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMPLAINT DATA BASE I AM SEEING 9 COMPLAINTS THAT ARE QUITE SIMILAR. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE TILL THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS RECALLED? I PAID $27,000.00 FOR MY CAR 3 1/2 YEARS AGO AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT $2,000.00 INTO IT ALREADY. I PURCHASE NEW CARS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF FEELING SECURE KNOWING THAT I TAKE CARE OF MY CARS WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE AND WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY MAJOR REPAIRS. I WOULD LIKE THIS RESOLVED BY GM REPAIRING MY VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. *LA

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. TRANSMISSION NEEDS REBUILD AT 55,000 MILES.

COOLANT LOSS FROM HEADS AND,ORINTAKE. *LA

MY 2000 GRAND PRIX HAS HAD THE WINDOW CABLES REPAIRED ON THE PASSANGER SIDE, NOW THE DRIVERSIDE MUST BE REPAIRED, DUE TO CABLE INSIDE THE DOOR BREAKING. THIS REPAIR COST $430.00 EACH TIME!*AK

FIRST DAY I HAD MY NEW/USED GRAND PRIX, ONLY 30,000 MILES, THE ENGINE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE IN PARK IDILING AND WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON FREEWAY. TOOK THE DEALER 2 DAYS TO FIX IT AND THEY PUT 50 MILES ON MY CAR.*AK

NOTIFIED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. UPON INVESTIGATION, BULBS AND FUSES WERE OK. ALSO, NOTICED THAT THE HAZARD BUTTON DID NOT ENGAGE HAZARD LIGHTS. HAD NO BACK TAIL LIGHTS WHEN BRAKING. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURE.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BACK DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, INJURY WOULD BE IMMINENT. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE LATCH WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SCC *JB