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Pontiac Grand Prix Steering Safety Report | Sept 10, 2008
Reported on Sept 10, 2008
| I HAVE A GENERAL MOTORS 2005 GRAND PRIX. IT HAS DEVELOPED A 'KNOCKING' SOUND WHEN DRIVING. THE SAME NOISE CORRESPONDS WITH BUMPS YOU CAN FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER. THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, REMOVED THE FRONT TIRES AND DID A COMPLETE EXAMINATION OF THE FRONT END . THEY REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I CALLED PONTIAC'S CUSTOMER HOT-LINE OUT OF THE BACK OF THE OWNERS MANUAL. THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THEY DID STATE THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR TO THE STEERING COLUMN. I ASKED FOR THAT INFORMATION IN WRITING. THE PHONE OPERATOR SAID HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE THAT TO ME. I ASKED FOR HIS SUPERVISOR. HE PROMPTLY HUNG UP ON ME. I CALLED BACK. I OPENED A NEW CASE #71-663-678745. THE OPERATOR INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION VIA AN AUTHORIZED DEALER . WE CONFERENCE CALLED WITH BOB BROWN CHEVY. THEY SAID THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WOULD CHARGE ME $89 TO DIAGNOSE IT...EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER - THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED..AND GM WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THEY DON'T WANT TO RECALL THE PRODUCT. BOB BROWN CHEVY GAVE AN 'OFF THE CUFF' ESTIMATE OF $300 TO REPLACE THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN EXTENSION. IF IT HAS A KNOCKING SOUND AND CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS NOW UNSAFE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER GM CAR UNTIL I AM SATISFIED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WON'T BECOME UNATTACHED AND ALLOW THE CAR TO VEER TO THE SIDE AT WILL. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CARS ARE AFFECTED, OR IF ANY CRASHES HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN DOZENS OF CARS FROM ALL TYPES OF MANUFACTURERS - EITHER OWNED OR RENTED. *TR THE REPAIR INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER COLUMN EXTENSION ARM. UPDATED 11/07/08. *JB | |
| 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: | CLIVE IA |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 2G2WS522151 |
| Mileage: | 66290 miles. |
| Speed: | 10 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Vehicle type: | |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS Fuel injection. |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
| Previous Report:Structure | Next Report:Service Brakes, Hydraulic |