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Pontiac Grand Am Service Brakes, Hydraulic Foundation Components Disc Rotor Safety Report | July 08, 2005



Reported on July 08, 2005


THIS IS NOT A TRUE FAILURE , PER SE, BUT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT/FLAW/PRACTICE. I OWN A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT1, (PURCHASED 8/02) WHICH WAS RECENTLY SERVICED AT 40,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES, DURING 4/04, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND SCORING. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THE WEAR WAS DUE TO THE USE OF ROAD SALT THAT WINTER. THE FRONT ROTORS HADN'T BEEN TURNED, OR PREVIOUSLY SERVICED. AT THE RECENT 40,000 MILE CHECKUP, I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD AGAIN NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS. AS WITH THE 20,000 MILE CHECKUP, THE ROTORS HAD NOT BEEN TURNED, OR OTHERWISE SERVICED, BUT WERE WORN TO THE POINT OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE LARGE MAJORITY (90+%) OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY, WHICH SHOULD BE A BIT EASIER ON THE BRAKES THAN CITY, OR STOP-AND-GO DRIVING. AT EACH INSTANCE I INVOKED THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, WHO WERE ONLY MINIMALLY HELPFUL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 OR SO MILES, AND IS NOT DOCUMENTED ANYWHERE IN PONTIAC LITERATURE, WOULD THIS NOT CONSTITUTE A DOCUMENTED PREMATURE FAILURE FOR A SAFETY SYSTEM ? I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER CONSUMERS, NOTING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS, SO I'M LESS INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ISOLATED EVENT. IN EACH INSTANCE, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF BRAKE WEAR (NO NOISES, PEDAL FADE, WEAR SENSOR SQUEAL, LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, ETC.) THERE ALSO HAS BEEN NO INCIDENTS , OR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT. *NM
Make: Pontiac
Model: Grand Am
Manufactured by: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Year: 2003
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: DEDHAM MA
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):
Mileage: 39921 miles.
Speed:
Number of cylinders: 6
Vehicle type: FWD
Vehicle fuel: GAS Fuel injection.
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location: BEZEMA PONTIAC NORWOOD MA 02062
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