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Pontiac Grand Prix Steering Electric Power Assist System Safety Report | Apr 23, 2007



Reported on Apr 23, 2007


DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL 2007, I NOTICED MY 2005 GRAND PRIX GT WAS MAKING A SORT OF WHIZZING NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATED. I NOTICED THIS NOISE WAS PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED WHEN I TURNED. ON APRIL 13, 2007, I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL. I WAS ALARMED TO FIND THAT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO FLUID! I ADDED FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR IMMEDIATELY AND DECIDED TO CHECK THE GAUGE AGAIN ,THE NEXT MORNING. UPON DOING SO THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO BE ACCEPTABLE. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO TRACK THE RATE OF LEAKAGE --- AGAIN ON SUNDAY, APRIL 15, THE FLUID LEVEL SEEMED OK. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE AIRPORT THAT SAME DAY AND LEFT IT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK WHILE I WAS ON BUSINESS. I PICKED IT UP ON SUNDAY NIGHT, APRIL 22 AND DROVE IT HOME (30 MILES) WITH NO TROUBLE. ON MY WAY TO WORK THE MORNING OF MONDAY, APRIL 23, SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY CAR -- SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE VARIABLE EFFORT STEERING, SERVICE ABS. AT THE MOMENT THESE LIGHTS APPEARED, STEERING BECAME *SEVERELY* DIMINISHED! IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND DRIVE THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO SHOP WHERE THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID IN 2 PLACES. THE HOSES AND PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON APRIL 24. ON MY WAY TO WORK ON APRIL 26, THE LIGHTS RETURNED AND AGAIN, I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER. CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY SENSOR (LINKED TO THE POWER STEERING) ON ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS. THAT SENSOR HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED. TO HAVE THIS KIND OF EXTREME DEGRADATION AND FAILURE ON SUCH A NEW VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CLEARLY A QUALITY DEFECT. *TR
Make: Pontiac
Model: Grand Prix
Manufactured by: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Year: 2005
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: MURFREESBORO TN
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):
Mileage: 62000 miles.
Speed: 50 MPH
Number of cylinders:
Vehicle type: FWD
Vehicle fuel: GAS Fuel injection.
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location: RINKE PONTIAC WARREN MI
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