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Pontiac Grand Prix Structure Safety Report | June 16, 2002



Reported on June 16, 2002


REAR LEFT AND RIGHT CARRIAGE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH RETAINERS, CAUSING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SPLIT AND THE ENGINE CRADLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND. PONTIAC ADMITS RESPONSIBILITY AND ALSO AGREED TO PROVIDE WORK ACCORDING TO WARRANTY I.E. PONTIAC WILL ABSORB THE COST OF REPAIR. WORK DONE BY RUSS AT WOBURN, MASS. PONTIAC. THE GM REP SPOKE WITH MY HUSBAND SEVERAL TIMES, INDICATING PONTIAC'S RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT THE WORK WAS BEING DONE AS A RECALL. HOWEVER, WHEN THE WORK WAS COMPLETED AND THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP, GM'S FINAL WORD WAS HANDED DOWN AND THEY REFUSE TO ABSORB THE COST (800-762-2737 FILE #S19313957). THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $620.00 (WHICH INCLUDES AN INFLATED TOW CHARGE OF $115.00 -- THE ACTUAL COST OF THE TOW ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER IS $65.00). MY NORMAL DRIVING HABITS TAKE ME 15 MILES TO AND FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, IF THIS HAD HAPPED ON A WEEKDAY AND I WAS TRAVELLING AT MY USUAL AVERAGE RATE OF SPEED OF 70 MPH I WOULD BE HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DEAD. I EXPECT TO BE FULLY COMPENSATED FOR THIS FAILURE AS A GOOD FAITH GESTURE THAT PONTIAC STANDS BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES EVEN AFTER 10 YEARS. IT APPEARS THAT THE BOLTS LOOSENED THEMSELVES FROM THE CARRIAGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT, WHICH PONTIAC IS RESPONSIBLE TO CORRECT BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FALLING ONTO THE GROUND, THIS WAS A DEPENDABLE, EXCELLENT RUNNING VEHICLE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE BOLTS FAILED. YOUR INTERVENTION IS APPRECIATED.*AK
Make: Pontiac
Model: Grand Prix
Manufactured by: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Year: 1990
Was a crash reported?
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: DANVERS MA
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 1G5WP14V7LF
Mileage:
Speed: 25 MPH
Number of cylinders:
Vehicle type: FWD
Vehicle fuel: GAS N/A.
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
Previous Report:Tires Next Report:Power Train Automatic Transmission

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