Car-and-Safety.com
Pontiac Grand Am Visibility Rearview Mirrors/devices Exterior Safety Report | Feb 15, 2006
Reported on Feb 15, 2006
| DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR SUDDENLY DETACHED UPON BEING BUMPED BY A PERSON'S HIP AS SHE WALKED BY MY PARKED CAR. IT WAS A VERY LIGHT BUMP, YET THE LARGE INTERNAL BOLTS HOLDING THE MIRROR IN PLACE SNAPPED CLEANLY IN HALF, LEAVING THE MIRROR DANGLING BY THE POWER CORDS ONLY. THE CAR'S BODY/EXTERIOR IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. NO PRIOR INJURY/BUMPING TO THE CAR'S MIRROR HAD OCCURRED TO CAUSE OR EXPLAIN ANY SORT OF WEAKENING OF THE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN WITH 2 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH SIMILAR SURPRISINGLY LIGHT CONTACT ON THEIR GRAND AMS. ONE, WHEN SHE WENT THROUGH AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH. THE OTHER, AS SHE WAS MERELY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (WIND FORCES.) NONE OF THESE VEHICLES HAD BEEN IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED WEAKENING OF THE MOUNTING HARDWARE. NOR IS IT A 'WEAR AND TEAR' TYPE ISSUE. YET ONLY VERY MINOR PRESSURE CAUSED THE BOLTS TO BREAK EASILY. THE MIRRORS HAD TO BE HELD ON WITH DUCT TAPE AND/OR CORDS TO KEEP THEM FROM FLOPPING AROUND AND DAMAGING THE CAR'S EXTERIOR UNTIL REPAIR COULD BE SOUGHT. I HAD TO HOLD ON TO IT MANUALLY (IN VERY COLD WEATHER) TO KEEP IT FROM BANGING AROUND ON THE BODY OF MY CAR, UNTIL I COULD SECURE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (WITH MEDICAL IV TUBING, OFF ALL THINGS.) PONTIAC CLAIMS THAT THIS FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF A 'COSMETIC' REPAIR...THAT IT WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE (?!!)...AND SO REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. THEY INSIST ON CHARGING FULL PRICE. THERE MUST BE SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN THE BOLTS ATTACHING THESE MIRRORS TO ALLOW THEM TO GIVE WAY SO EASILY UNDER SUCH LITTLE FORCE. THIS CREATES A VERY SERIOUS TRAFFIC SAFETY HAZARD, AS IT CAN HAPPEN DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING, PUTTING THE DRIVER (AS WELL AS SURROUNDING DRIVERS) AT SERIOUS IMMEDIATE RISK OF AN MVA. I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN REACHING ANYONE IN AUTHORITY AT PONTIAC WILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *NM | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Grand Am |
| Manufactured by: | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| Year: | 2001 |
| 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: | SOMERVILLE AL |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 1G2NF52T01M |
| Mileage: | |
| Speed: | 0 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | |
| Vehicle type: | FWD |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS Fuel injection. |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | SERRA TOYOTA DECATUR DECATUR AL 35601 |
| Previous Report:Visibility Rearview Mirrors/devices Exterior | Next Report:Electrical System Ignition Switch |