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Pontiac Gto Suspension Front Safety Report | Jan 20, 2005
Reported on Jan 20, 2005
| HISTORY: THE 2004-2005 PONTIAC GTO IS AN IMPORTED VERSION OF THE AUSTRALIA HOLDEN MONARO. THE HOLDEN MANARO COMES FROM THE FACTORY WITH 235/45R17 TIRES, TIRES THAT ARE GENERALLY 235MM (9.25 ) WIDE. HOWEVER, WHEN PONTIAC SPECS THE GTO FOR THE US, THEY FINALLY DECIDED ON A 10MM WIDER TIRE, A 245/45R17 BF GOODRICH G-FORCE KDWS TIRE. NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR US IMPORT THOUGH. CURRENT PROBLEM: THE LARGER TIRE CAUSES RUBBING ON THE FRONT STRUT, NAMELY AND MORE COMMONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY A RUBBING MARK ON THE STRUT BODY AND MANY TIMES WEAR MARKS ON THE TIRES THEMSELVES. IN SOME CASES, FRONT SUSPENSION BINDING HAS OCCURRED. IN OTHER CASES, TIRE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. THIS IS DUE, IN FACT, TO THE INCREASE IN SIZE OF THE TIRE THAT PONTIAC HAS CHOSEN TO PUT ON THE IMPORTED VERSION. SEVERAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND IT HAS BEEN SPECULATED THAT PONTIAC IS AWARE AS WELL. FUTURE PROBLEMS: TIRES ARE NOT ALL THE SAME SIZE. ONE 245/45R17 TIRE CAN BE SMALLER OR LARGER DEPENDING ON THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE. THERE IS A STRONG POSIBILITY THAT WHEN A CONSUMER REPLACES HIS/HER WORN FACTORY TIRES WITH ANOTHER SET OF TIRES, OF THE SAME SIZE , THAT THEY WOULD BE EVEN LARGER AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. IN LIGHT OF THE FORD-FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEMS, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE RESEARCHED. PLEASE NOTE: DEALERSHIP LOT CARS WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT DEMONSTRATE THIS PROBLEM AS THEY WILL NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE RUBBING.*AK | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Gto |
| Manufactured by: | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | |
| Was a death reported? | |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | NORMAN OK |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 6G2VX12G74L |
| Mileage: | 2000 miles. |
| Speed: | |
| Number of cylinders: | 8 |
| Vehicle type: | RWD |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS Fuel injection. |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | BOB MOORE PONTIAC |
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