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Pontiac Grand Am Suspension Front Springs Coil Springs Safety Report | Apr 13, 2006
Reported on Apr 13, 2006
| NO WARNING OR EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE. 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT WITH 87,000 MILES. NEW TIRES IN DECEMBER OF 2004. WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, RECEIVED SOME RESISTANCE, THOUGHT MY BRAKES WERE STICKING. PUSHED ON ACCELERATOR TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND RIPPING NOISE. AFTER I HEARD THE NOISE, I STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR BACK IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD. BEFORE HITTING THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL FORWARD I FELT THE FRONT RIGHT OF MY CAR FALL DOWN AND HEARD AN AIR RELEASE NOISE. I EXITED MY CAR AND DISCOVERED I HAD A FLAT TIRE. MY HUSBAND REMOVED MY TIRE THAT DAY AND FOUND THE WHOLE INSIDE WALL OF MY TIRE OPEN. THE SPRING COIL ON THE FRONT RIGHT HAND SIGHT WAS BROKEN IN TWO AND A JAGGED EDGE WAS EXPOSED. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY SHOP. THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN ME AN ESTIMATE YET BUT THEY SUSPECT I NEED NEW SPRING COILS AND POSSIBLY A WHOLE NEW SUSPENSION. PENDING ON CORRECTIVE ACTION. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS WITH THIS DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND MY TIRE BLEW, I COULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF. I HAVE RESEARCHED OTHER WEBSITES SUCH AS MYCARFACTS.COM AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WITH 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AMS. I HAVE ALSO READ THE NHTSA HAS DONE AN INVESTIGATION (EA03021 AND PE03031). I AM WRITING TO SUBMIT MY COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT SOME ACTION WILL COME OUT OF THIS. IT IS VERY SAD THAT A COMPANY WOULD ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY HERE IN AMERICA. MY SISTER IS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND DRIVES A GRAND AM ALSO. I WORRY FOR HER SAFETY. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A DEATH FOR THIS MATTER TO BE ADDRESSED? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *JB | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Grand Am |
| Manufactured by: | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| Year: | 1999 |
| 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: | WEST CHESTER OH |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 1G2NW52E1XM |
| Mileage: | 87000 miles. |
| Speed: | 5 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Vehicle type: | FWD |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS Fuel injection. |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
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