1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED TO REPORT RECALL 91V214000 CONCERNING POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT CALLED A DEALER), AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN HIS FAMILY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ,AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE, THE FAILURE BEGAN IN EARLY NOVEMBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NEITHER WEATHER NOR SPEED WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. ALSO HE STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, SLIPPING WHEN HE TRIES TO SWITCH THE GEARS. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS CAR REPAIRED AS STATED IN THE SAFETY REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH SWITCHING THE GEARS. *AK

THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 92 PONTIAC HAD STARTED TO SMOKE THREE TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 1994. THE SECOND WAS AROUND 1996. THE LAST TIME WAS LAST MONTH. THE LAST TIME WAS THE WORST. EACH TIME I SHUT OFF THE KEY AND IT WOULD STOP SMOKING. *JB

I HAD BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED DEALERSHIP AND THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS WRONG WITH IT THAT I FEEL THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BEEN SOLD. I FEEL THAT IT FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW ACT. IT HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP LOTS OF TIMES AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIXED IT AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY WONT FIX IT AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THE ODOMETER DOES NOT WORK AND I TOLD THEM THAT AND THEY WON'T DO NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. SO PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME SO I CAN FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THANK YOU, JAMIE HOCHSTETLER. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL CRACKED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE LUGS: NUTS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THIS DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH, BUT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED.*AK

I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND MUCH MUCH MORE.

VEHICLES RUNS ROUGH AND HESITATES DUE TO AN IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE ONCE BEFORE, AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND MUCH MUCH MORE.

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE AND COOLANT LEAKING INSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK

HEARD LARGE BANG UNDER HOOD WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER SINCE IT SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE TROUBLE. DEALER IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. PLUG AND CABLES APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL (APPROX 150000 MILES). DEALER THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE RELATED TO CURRENTS IN ALUMINUM ENGINE WEARING DOWN SPARK PLUG THREADS DUE TO ELECROLYSIS. HE EXPLAINED THAT ALL SPARK PLUGS ARE IN A STATE WHERE THEY COULD BLOW OUT AND SO ADVISED THAT HEAD NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT $1800. SINCE PARTS APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL AND PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE DESIGN FLAW I CALLED PONTIAC AND ASKED THAT THEY FOOT THE BILL. PONTIAC SAID THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO CHANGE PLUGS EVERY 30000 AND REFUSED.*JB

1992 GRAND PRIX - ENGINE CRADLE TO BODY BUSHINGS. I WAS DRIVE AT 60 MPH WHEN THE WASHERS FOR THE BODY BUSHINGS GAVE WAY AND CAUSED MY CAR TO LOSE STEERING. I WAS LUCKY AND DIDN'T CROSS THE CENTER LINE OR INVOLVE ANY CARS BUT DID END UP IN THE DITCH WITH DAMAGE TO MY CAR DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING SECONDARY TO ENGINE CRADLE BODY BUSHINGS GIVING AWAY. THIS EXACT PART WAS RECALLED ON SIMILAR VEHICALS UP TO 1990 MODELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEXT TIME THE CONSUMER MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS MYSELF. I FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE INCREASED THE MODELS OF THEIR RECALL. *AK

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1992 GRAND PRIX - ENGINE CRADLE TO BODY BUSHINGS. I WAS DRIVE AT 60 MPH WHEN THE WASHERS FOR THE BODY BUSHINGS GAVE WAY AND CAUSED MY CAR TO LOSE STEERING. I WAS LUCKY AND DIDN'T CROSS THE CENTER LINE OR INVOLVE ANY CARS BUT DID END UP IN THE DITCH WITH DAMAGE TO MY CAR DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING SECONDARY TO ENGINE CRADLE BODY BUSHINGS GIVING AWAY. THIS EXACT PART WAS RECALLED ON SIMILAR VEHICALS UP TO 1990 MODELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEXT TIME THE CONSUMER MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS MYSELF. I FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE INCREASED THE MODELS OF THEIR RECALL. *AK

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INDICATOR LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT UP ERRATICALLY. READ THAT THIS WAS SOMEWHAT COMMON IN THIS MODEL. STARTED WITH "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT, THEN THE "LOW GAS" INDICATOR LIGHT AND NOW THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. CAR WAS TESTED AND NO MECHANICAL ISSUES FOUND - ISSUE IS ELECTRICAL OR OTHER - NOT FIXED DUE TO COST .*AK

1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS HAD TURN SIGNAL ISSUES FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW. THEY WOULD NOT WORK VERY WELL MOST OF THE TIME. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE COLUMN A COUPLE OF TIMES RECENTLY. THEY RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. DEALER SAID THEY HAD HEARD OF IT OFTEN AND A REPLACEMENT PART COSTS IN EXCESS OF $150.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED - WAS ADVISED NOT TO ATTEMPT REPAIR (ESTIMATES STARTED AT $1000 ASSUMING NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS FOUND AFTER THE JOB WAS STARTED) IF NHTSA WANTS THE CORPSE FOR AN AUTOPSY, WILL BE HAPPY TO DONATE. *AK

THE PAINT ON MY HOOD, DOORS, AND BETWEEN MY REAR SIDE WINDOWS AND REAR WINDOW IS PEELING OFF.

CONSUMER STATES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS DO NOT "PARK" AT CORRECT LOCATION. WHEN DISENGAGED, ARMS STOP DIRECTLY VERTICAL ON WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING. RELATED RECALL 99V348000 V.I.N. NOT INCLUDED.

WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH RIGHT FRONT STEEL RIM SEPARATED WITHIN MIDDLE OF RIM. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS CONDITION IN LAST THREE YEARS.*AK

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WHILE BACKING OUT ONTO THE STREET, THE CRADLE BOLT BROKE, THIS RESULTED IN ENGINE DROPPING ONTO FRAME/ SEPARATION OF STEERING COLUMN, AND FAILURE IMMEDIATELY OF DIRECTION CONTROL. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RUSTED WASHERS CAUSED THE CRADLE BOLT TO BREAK AND INSTALLED SPACERS, INSULATOR AND RETAINERS. *YH

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, SMOKE HAS OCCASIONALLY COME FROM THE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. I TEST DROVE ANOTHER GRAND PRIX ONCE AND IT DID IT DURING THE TEST DRIVE. MY TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING PROPERLY, AND ONLY WORK IF I PULL THE LEVER UP OR DOWN AND TOWARD ME AND HOLD IT THERE WHILE I TURN.

SMOKE WAS DISCHARGED ON 2 OCCASIONS FROM STEERING COLUMN. CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER INFORMATION AND DEALER ABOUT PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. NO INJURY, JUST PANIC. *AK

BOTH REAR BOLTS SECURING THE SUB-FRAME BROKE CAUSING IT TO FALL. WHEN THAT HAPPENED THE SUBFRAME FALLING CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO COME COMPLETELY OUT OF JOINT. WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN DISCONNECTED THE STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNCONTROLABLE. LUCKILY I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND HAD JUST BEGUN TO MOVE AGAIN OTHERWISE MYSELF AND OTHERS WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK

1) UPON STARTING THE CAR, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. 2) AS I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND THE CAR JUMPED, THINKING SOMEONE HAD HIT ME, I KEPT DRIVING TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT I HAD NO STEERING. BY THE TIME I HAD STOPPED I WAS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND NARROWLY MISSED SEVERAL CARS. THE MOTOR HAD SEPARATED ROM THE A FRAME. THE MECHANIC SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE MANUFACTURER HAD FORGOTTEN A BOLT AND THE OTHER ONE GOT STRESSED. 3) THE BRAKES FAIL OR ARE SLOW AT STOPPING QUITE OFTEN EVEN WHEN PADS ARE REPLACED. 4) CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR MISSES. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED AND ALSO HAPPENS WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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THIS WAS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED AND I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE SAME THING THAT HAPPEND WITH MY CAR ALSO HAPPEND TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT I KNOW. NO SAFETY DEFECT.

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THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY CAUSING CONTINUAL FAILURES OF THE ALTERNATORS, BATTERIES AND IGNITION MODULES WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. NLM

I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEM WITH SIGNAL LIGHT NOT WORKING AND THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

CAR HAS FAILED TO START QUITE OFTEN. *AK

MY REAR BRAKES....ROTORS/ CALIPERS AND PADS ARE DESTROYED. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED BRAKES 6 MONTHS AGO, AND SAID THEY WERE FINE. *AK

REAR BRAKES ARE FAULTY, CONSUMER RECEIVED A BRAKE REPAIR LITIGATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS, HOWEVER IT'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *SLC

WHILE PLACING VEHICLE IN GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. SAME AS RECALL 91V214000/ AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE ORANGE MARKER BEHIND THE WINDOWS IN THE GEAR INDICATOR CAME LOOSE FROM THE LNKAGE. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING IN A LOW SPEED ON PARKING LOT OR IN SLOW TRAFFIC ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, BUT NEVER ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CUSTOMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY SINCE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE FIXED AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.

BRAKE FAILURE REPLACED CLPRS, FRT BRAKES ROTORS AND REAR BRAKES CLPRS ROTORS AND PADS

THERE HAS BEEN PUFFS OF SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN INTERMITTENTLY FOR MONTHS, WHEN SUDDENLY THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILED (JUST LIGHTS ONCE). MECHANIC HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. NO REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE! (THEREFORE, NO COST ENTERED.) MECHANIC STATED THAT MOST LIKELY THE OTHER TURN SIGNAL WILL FAIL SOON, AND EVENTUALLY NEITHER WILL WORK EVEN AT THE CURRENT, LIMITED ABILITY. POSSIBILITY OF LOSING ALL POWER TO STEERING COLUMN.

ELECTRCIAL PROBLEMS OFF AND ON FOR YEARS. COULD NOT FIND SOURCE. MY SON BARELY MADE "IT OUT IN TIME" ON JULY 20TH; THE CAR BURNED UP ON INTERSTATE 25. *AK

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INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TURN SIGNALS NO LONGER WORK. WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS GREASE INSIDE COLUMN. APPT SCHEDULED WITH NEW DEALER. *AK *ML