1996 Pontiac Grand Am Consumer Reviews Page 2

pontiac

Written by: lisa on 07/28/2005

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

I bought this car with 108,000 miles on it and it has 144,000 on it now and it still runs GREAT...I have had a few brake problems but other than that it has been a great car:)

Favorite Features

Comfort

Suggested Improvements

They need to work on putting better brakes on these cars!!!!

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

Report It

Don't buy this car

Written by: wgowern on 06/29/2005

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 2 Dr SE Coupe

Review

My car had 3 recalls. The dealer didn't have the parts for one of them & I had to come back. The car failed less than a week after purchase(new). It was an electrical failure in the steering column. It was fixed and the same failure occurred less than a week later. There was several other failures (mostly electrical) over the 7 years I owned this car. Most of the plastic parts cracked or fell off,the dash panel cracked & the mirror fell off. Finally the computer failed and various other electrical components burned up (real smoke). The car repairs would have been much more than the car was worth so it went to a junkyard at 37000 miles. In a word it was a pile of junk.

Favorite Features

Nothing favorite about this junkheap

Suggested Improvements

Make cars that last beyond the warranty.

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

Report It

well-well

Written by: jules on 05/12/2005

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

American car, American quality but 28 MPG is impressive. In average $100 maintenance per month and you will spend it all for sure. I have 140K miles but still running well. Forget regular gas, it doesn't like it.

Favorite Features

smooth ride, 28 MPG!

Suggested Improvements

brakes, suspension, power windows

Report It

the best lemon

Written by: pmt on 02/19/2005

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr GT Sedan

Review

I bought the car in the beginnig of 2003 @ 101k. For the last year I had to repalce the starter, alternator, clutch, windshield and water pump (that killed me, over $500 for a simple water pump, problems with A/C. At 104k the transmission died and I junked the car. The worst reliability ever.

Favorite Features

5 speed, powerful engine

Suggested Improvements

almost everything, extremely bad design.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

Report It

Don't Ever buy Pontiac

Written by: Rodney Rollins on 02/16/2005

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr GT Sedan

Review

Car was a disaster from the first year owned. 12 visits to the shop for brakes, mirror knob kept falling off, and visor. I have gone thru 3 radiators, 4 alternators, 2 starters, then it was determined there was a recall on the starter switch, after years of turning key repeadetly on to start, it is determined to be a fire hazard, and needed immediate recall. You think that might have something to do with all the electrical problems. 1 month after fixing the switch the starter went out again, and Pontiac refused to believe the faulty starter switch was to blame. I have since had the seat fail (my wife who is 120 lbs drove this car), and finally the engine gave out at 106k miles.WONDERFUL

Favorite Features

NONE This car is a nightmare! So is the dealership and Pontiac.

Suggested Improvements

Go Bankrupt

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

Report It

Decent Car, has some repairs

Written by: tito12384 on 11/12/2004

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 2 Dr SE Coupe

Review

This car was pretty good to me. Bought it off my brother with 97k, who bought it 2 years before with 70k. Overall was a great looking car until I totalled it (just over 104k). When I bought it, I had to replace the fuel tank, which had a leak. Then found a rusted hole in the firewall, which was a pain to fix. Never had electrical problems. My brother had to replace the fuel injectors shortly after he bought it, and ever since then it kind of hesitated when first started. After about a minute it was fine. Has good acceleration for a 4 cyl. Fun to drive. The ets button definately needs to be in a better place, very easy to hit with either hand or knee.

Favorite Features

Interior looks sharp, pretty quick. Pretty reliable overall (for me anyways). Pretty good stock sound system. Seats comfortable. Fun to drive, fast car.

Suggested Improvements

Better placement of ets button, easier to install aftermarket sound system (entire dash needs to be taken apart. Folding seats, need some better quality parts.

Report It

nice ride!

Written by: GA driver in GA on 11/01/2004

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 2 Dr GT Coupe

Review

only bought the car two weeks ago for $1900 with 98k on it. have had good experiences with pontiacs in the past. previous car was a 90 model w/ 170k on it.pick-up is greaT. HANDLES EXTREMELY WELL. paint is excellent. shifter is kinda funky. 5 speed w/ four cylinder will be a gas saver.150 ponies is good for a GM 4 banger.clunking from drivers side front, probably suspension or cv joints.

Favorite Features

i love the factory stereo. 6 speakers. sunroof is grerat. looks are killer. car is phat all around.intimidates people apparently, as i am often challenged by high school punks.

Suggested Improvements

light under the hood. an option to turn off the auto locks and lights. shifter could be better.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

Report It

'96 4dr Grand Am GT, 2.4L, 5-speed

Written by: RavynX on 10/03/2004

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr GT Sedan

Review

I've had this car now for almost 4 years; I purchased it back in 2000 @ 72k miles (it's now at 115k miles). It has basically been my first car ever and it's been a blast for this first 2.5 years. That's when trouble started to hit near 90k miles. I've replaced the transmission AND then fully rebuilt it a year later; also master and slave cylinders went out on me recently. Coolant leaks and water pump failures. Replaced the alternator twice already and many more repairs. I've basically spent over $5000 in repairs this year. I'm planning on selling it for a more reliable car in the next few months. Other than that, it has a great ride, nice sound to the 2.4L engine, and good seats.

Favorite Features

The 2.4L engine is nice & has great acceleration. The 5-speed is also very nice and makes it more fun to drive.

Suggested Improvements

Needs better build quality and better reliability. That's it.

Report It

Nothing but problems

Written by: minnesotagirl on 10/02/2004

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

This car looks so sporty-sure hope it will help it sell fast!!! Bought it one year ago for 3000.00, have put in over 1500.00 with another 1000.00 needed. AC compressor failed, water pump, power steering lines and hose, intake gasket, plenum gasket, valve cover gaskets and o-rings, alternator all needed replacing. Now has some suspension problems. Need I say more?

Favorite Features

great looks.

Suggested Improvements

Send Pontiac engineers to Japan to learn how the "real" car-builders do things! Simply can't afford to keep owning American made cars!!

Report It

bad idea

Written by: kps on 10/02/2004

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr GT Sedan

Review

I paid six tousand for the car and put in 4000 worth of engine repair work into the car

Favorite Features

fog lights

Suggested Improvements

everthing needs to be re thought

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

Report It