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Pontiac Grand Prix Power Train Automatic Transmission Safety Report | Nov 20, 2002
Reported on Nov 20, 2002
| BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 26,550 MILES ON IT, OWNER HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NO SYMPTOMS OF TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION UNTIL THE TRIP IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. ON THE TRIP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND VIBRATED A BIT WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP, IT MADE THE SAME UNUSUAL NOISE AND VIBRATION. THE NOISE AND VIBRATION SUBSIDED ONCE THE CAR WAS MOVING MORE THAN FIVE OR TEN MILES PER HOUR. AFTER TWO MILES THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE RAN FINE, PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR CAUSED A NOW LOUDER NOISE AND VIBRATION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND REPORTED A HEAVY METAL FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PROVIDE NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW 3.5 YEARS AGO. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 3 YEARS) THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 26,550 MILES WAS NOT A FACTOR. PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PUT THE OWNER IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER, WHO SAID HE WOULD WORK WITH THE OWNER IF HE WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TO THE DEALERS FACILITY. WHEN ASKED WHAT WORK WITH THE OWNER MEANT. THE DEALER VOLUNTEERED THAT ALTHOUGH THE REPAIR AT THE DEALERS FACILITY MIGHT COST MORE THAN AT THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS FACILITY, THE DEALER MIGHT BE WILLING TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. BECAUSE THE WORK AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOP HAD ALREADY COMMENCED. THE OWNER DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DEALERS OFFER. DT | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Grand Prix |
| Manufactured by: | General Motors LLC |
| Year: | 1999 |
| Was a crash reported? | |
| Was an injury reported? | |
| Was a death reported? | |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | LA GRANGE IL |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 1G2WP52K5XF |
| Mileage: | |
| Speed: | 5 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | |
| Vehicle type: | FWD |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS N/A. |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
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