Used 1999 Pontiac Grand Am Consumer Reviews
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Take my advice!
Where do I begin??? Four months after I bought the car, the power steering went out on me. I have had the power window motor replaced. The alternator is also new. The water pump had to be replaced. And twice now I have had to replace the headgasket. ( Which ran me in the neighborhood of $2,000 EACH time.) The brakes had to be replaced within the first year. And right now it is in the shop because I am having trouble with the transmission. I will never again buy a Pontiac. Plain and simple!!!
Its Still Fun
Right from the start I loved the pickup this 6 cylinder car gave me. I've driven it for seven years and it still has that same pep. Ramping onto highways and accelerating down the road are done with confidence.
- SE2 SedanMSRP: N/A1,522 mi away
Great Grand Am
I have not had any problems with this car and I have had it for over 3 years. Of course I take great care of it too.
Don't Waste Your Money
This car was always at the garage. The car left my wife stranded two times due to the alternator dying and the automatic transmission needing rebuild at 45,000 miles. We also experienced the same problems as the other owners. (Warped brake rotors, Fan would not work on 1,2 or 3, Fuel injectors needed replaced after 2 years, and cracked interior molding) Better get the extended warranty, you are going to need it with this car!!!
Problems All Over
Where do I start. I purchased this car in 2000 and was initially happy with it. Then after 8000 miles the front brake pads were worn and badly warped. With brand new ones installed, I lasted another 22000 miles,while the rear shoes and drums never wore. The dealers response was don't ride the brakes. I downshifted every opportunity and with 90% highway miles, that never really was a problem. So after about 6 adjustments and rotors I purchased slotted rotors. 48000 miles and no problem. Brake bias problem some engineer overlooked I assume. 2 water pumps, starter, intake manifold gasket,etc. With all the preventative maint. done one can wonder what would happen if you slipped on one service.
Fun to drive, but some issues
This overall has been a great first car! The car was my sisters' and when she got a newer Grand Am, she gave hers to me. The car is a lot of fun to drive, it has a lot of pick up with the V6, but has some mechanical issues. In the time that we've both had it we've replaced the passenger window motor, the passenger window, front breaks, a couple sensors here and there, it needs a new engine belt, the drivers' brake light had to be replaced and some other repairs here and there.
The problems are just starting
I just reached the 38000 mark and am replacing the window regulator ($300). I have filled my coolant twice in the last 3 months. My brakes make this noise that can't be fixed (a rubbing like noise). I have thoroughly enjoyed my car up until this point. After looking through these reviews and the similar problems I'm thinking about getting rid of it now.
Get2workwithoutgoinbroke
I have had my Grand Am three years on 110102. Have had no engine or elec problems.Door panel peeled back due to sun damage,( Live in 100 degree summer weather), and was replaced no/chg under warantee, have not had a problem since replacement.Car has 49,300 miles on it and still kicks for a V4,no rattles or squeeks. Do not care for the seat releases for letting passengers out of back seat area, they stick too much,hard for older kids and adults to get in and out of, broke off both front seat belt holders from pulling on them ..suggest 4 door instead of coupe for back seat rider use.
I have a question.
I have only had this car about a month. I love it a lot. The low traction light comes on even when it is dry out. It is only brief, it doesn't stay on the whole time, but it comes on when it has no reason to. It still works when it is supposed to. I just need to find out if I should have this checked or if it is normal. Can anyone help me?
99 Grand Am... love it, and hate it.
The car looks fantastic. Drives great, and it's fast...it's gotten me a ticket or two. i fell in love with it until about a month after i had it. it hit 100,000 miles about a month ago. it over heats, leaks coolant,and has a security light problem. Often, it only starts when it feels like it. I get stranded on a weekly basis. Also, when the car gets hot, it goes haywire; i lose power steering, i can't accelerate the car, and although the car is still on, it appears to shut down completley....while i'm still driving it!
Great All Around Car
My wife and I bought this car used (rental). To our surprise the four cyl. version was just as powerful at a lower price. Some of the interior bits are less than perfect (cupholders??), but shouldn't deter someone from buying the car if they don't have to have a drink with them all the time.
Take heed!
I am very torn with this car. Replaced rotors at 27K miles that were overtorqued at manufacture. Had to pay for a complete brake job even though the rotors caused premature wear on the pads. Same dealership would not replace my bad radio. Glad that I purchased the extended warranty. Had to use it twice in the last month at 55K miles for almost $3000 in repairs. Both front bearings have been replaced as has strut mount and rack and pinion and a rear control arm. Complained to Pontiac Corp and have basically been told, sorry, at 60,001 miles when my warranty runs out, I'm screwed. HOWEVER, when my car is not in the shop or on it's way to the shop, I love it.
Go with Toyota
'99 GrandAm purchased used in Feb. '01 in excellent condition (per my mechanic) since, the power windows have been replaced, the water pump, trouble with the breaks, the power mirrors don't work, and the cooling fan sensor has been replaced. It sure looks nice, but overall it's not worth the trouble. I'm buying a Toyota.
1999 Pontiac Grand Am
Excellent vehicle to drive. I love the handling and performance of this vehicle. I have had to replace the front brakes 3 times in 87,000 miles.The brake calipers have been replaced once. Lots of city driving. The idle air control sensor went bad at 70,000 miles. Reccommend Goodyear eagle GT tires for great handling. The cup holders are a waste need to be relocated to a more user friendly area.
I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!
Great car! I wish it had more aftermarket support and some extra hp from the factory though. Turns heads constantly. At 45,000+ miles, it's only had basic maintenance and the rotors replaced once. Fuel economy could be better but you can't help but speed in this car, so it will suffer. I average anywhere from 20-25mpg. I was leery to buy this car in 99 because it was the first year for the redesign, but it has never disappointed me! Kudos to GM for this one.
Fast and Furious
I love my Grand Am. I love the acceleration for a 4dr midsize sedan. With 170 hp underneath the hood, it has decent power to go along with a decent ride.
Owned long time
I have owed this vehicle for a long time. It look goods nice interior design except for cup holder placement. The vehicle is reliable overall but requires intake manifold gasket replacement every 2-3 year. Back window motors stop working at 100k miles. Front brakes do all the work. Car has good ride a control on road. Major engine issue at 165K if you don't count gasket replacement mention above every 2-3 years.
Do not buy into the certified
I bought a 1999 grand am certified car with 22,000 miles in Aug of 2002. I thought I had got a great buy for 12,000. I was wrong. I found out that I had to replace the intake manifold gasket at a cost of $600.00. I did some researching and found out that this is a common problem with these cars. of course they had to do other things that the intake caused total in repairs coast $890.00. intake manifold normally last a lot longer than 4 years and 40,000 miles in most other cars.
PGT
I bought this car after my 97 Pontiac was totalled. I was absolutely in love with the look of this car and had always wanted it, so I was pretty excited to get it. The outside still looks sporty, but I have had some major problems with the body. First, I live in MN and while parking I hit a snowbank and the front bottom of the bumper broke off. Cheaply piece of plastic! Then I had someone hit me and couln't open my passenger side door, finally the paneling broke off on a drive home on the interstate. Maybe I just have bad car luck. As for the maintenance I haven't, luckily, had to replace anything major. It is almost at 140,000 and I just recently replaced my serpentine belt and tensioner.
Fun to drive with minor problems
I bought my Grand Am GT1 with 40,000 miles. It's the nicest car I have ever owned so far even better then my 95 Camaro. Lots of power through out the power curve. But around 50,000 miles I started experiencing the typ. rubbing brake noise, tire pressure light comes on(tires are fully inflated),CD player display doesn't work, fan setting 1-3 don't work, new battery, leaks water if parked at a angle (3 inched of water by my gas peddle),paint is pealing between my door window and back window, Other then that it has been a good car.
99 Pontiac Grand Am GT (4-Door)
Overall a good vehicle. I had a little problem with the rotars having to be turned once a year (the severe vibration during braking let you know it was time)but, hopefully that is fixed now. Other than that I have had no problems with the car. Smooth ride and great handling.
i love my car
Had this car since 1999. Original owner. Replaced alternator once, brakes twice and had some work done on catalytic converter. Also passenger side mirror fell off pretty easily. Enough bad though. I love this car. I'm very hard on vehicles and this one has held up really well. 120,000 miles, most are in town. Pretty good gas mileage, about 33 mpg. Handles great in snow and ice. Very comfortable on long trips. Heating and cooling system is wonderful. Lots of storage. Drives really well on back/country/mountainous roads, including dirt, gravel, and mud.
Highly Under-rated vehicle
I have owned my car for almost 3 years now. I have only had three things in need of repair at the shop - the driver's side window, a gasket leak (caused by me), and new brake rotors. Otherwise, with regular maintenance, this car has been a reliable and consistent performer. Excellent pick- up, great handling, decent fuel- economy from a domestic V6, and styling that still turns heads. They didn't skimp on interior features either - the seats are comfortable, even on lengthy trips, and passengers aren't crammed in as an afterthought. The sound system is solid, and the A/C is still icey-cool.
Time to trade it in!
I bought my 1999 Grand Am GT1 new. This car is all about small things breaking all the time. I got a lot of things fixed under warranty. Unfortunately, a lot of things broke when it went out of warranty. The brakes continue to be a problem. I need new pads every year and am on my 3rd set of rotors.On the brighter side, I have close to 100,000 miles and she still runs like a champ. This car is so much fun to drive.I don't think any car is worth what you pay for it, but I am happy I bought this car. If you are thinking of buying this car, please make sure you like to work on cars and do lots of brake jobs!
The best car I have ever owned
We just recently bought a 1999 Grand Am SE. The performance of the 3.4 liter V- 6 engine is phenomenal! The sporty look, and feel of the Grand Am is perfect as well. It handles exceptionally well, and taking corners at higher rates of speed is as easy as blinking your eyes. But the Grand Am doesn't stop there. The ETS system makes the Grand Am an even better car to drive. For those tough steep grades, or snow and ice covered roads, you'll be thankful that the Grand Am has incorporated such a valuable asset! I have never been happier with this car, and I am a proud owner of a Pontiac!
Problems from day one...literally!
I loved the look of this car when I first bought it May 2004. Outside and inside had great looks, but found out how cheaply made it is over time. The dashboard is pealing up by the window, the bumpers are very flimsy...able to move when washing car! About a week after purchased i moved the seat higher and would not go back down. Car overheated 2 times within first 3 mths! Thank goodness for warranty! My blinker has been blinking for over 6 mths now non stop. The light isn't on, just the sound, the mileage display and clock/radio are messed up. The display shows distorted numbers. The gas mileage is horrible...about 220 miles per tank! My AC broke 3mths ago $1,000 to repair, not even worth it
I love It so far!
I bought My 1999 Grand Am not too long ago and I love it so far. It runs very well on the highway. I needed something reliable when my 88 Chrysler New Junker (new yorker) broke down on the highway. I put over 60 miles a day on a car so i needed something reliable and I like what i'm seeing so far. I love the fact that I can pass someone effortlessly. Great Car!
The POS that refuses to die
Have has my Grand AM since 2007. Was given to me by my parents who bought the car in 1999 with 12,000 mi. The car has always had regularly scheduled maintenance and now has almost 130k mi. I overhauled the engine at around 120k due to a spun #2 rod bearing. The 2.4l has marginal oil supply and this is fairly common. As far as doing major repairs, the car is relatively easy to work on. The interior in this car was the absolute worst of any I have ever owned - it started to fall apart when the car was only a few years old. Power windows all broke. Central locking and climate control switches broke. Vinyl peeling off the door panels. Dash warped. Seat padding breaking down.
Silver Bullet
Hey. This car is great. Bought used and wondering how they messed up the cruise, but it gets great gas mileage for a six, like 345 miles to a 12 gallon tank, plus is just all out comfortable. I will get an 04 next year before they change it to the G6.
Satisfied Buyer
I got my car in 2011 knowing it had a blown head with coolant leaking and rust in the water res. I got the car for $400 after talking the seller down 200. With income tax and a friend and myself doing the repairs to the car, we replaced intake manifold, shaved the heads, egr value, brake pads, water res, some tubes, and a few other things for well under 1k and now the car runs like new. I consider it a steal. Later the security bypass went haywire but the car is over 10 years old so I googled it. Was as simple as taking the radio out, cutting the car on, and cutting a wire...problem fixed. My next project is window regs and a/c compressor and mirror then the car will be fully restored.
this is a good 2.4 car
This car is actually a good car. Yes I've had my problems with it but what used cars don't you. When I bought it it had a major problem that the company fixed. But after that minor problems. It is by far the most powerful 4cycl engine I've driven.
Pontiac, a beast of a car
Bought the car used. The guy had it sitting for a year. I had to replace driver window motor, and lil odds and ends, but engine fired up right away. Driving for almost 2 yrs now, must say, found the common problem with the window motors, have to replace driver again soon. But I am very hard on my cars, cold starts, aggressive driving, stupid moves, off-road (dirt roads and old fire roads), put it in a ditch once at 90 km/h. This car never misses a beat, there is a lot of little stuff that go wrong, lights are gone on the radio, window motors, some interior stuff is falling apart but after only buying it for $1500 and putting nothing else into it. I got no complaints at with this little beast
Great Car
The looks, performance and safety of this car are great. You need to keep up with regular maintainance or it can cost you. Gas milleage could be better but the fun handling can sometimes give you a lead foot.
Great car
This has been an excellent car for me. The only times it's been in to be repaired were after it was hit in accidents. Regular maintenance is easy and has carried this car a long way.
Nothing but problems
Fun to drive but the car had problems from the beginning. The tires went flat. Radio stopped working. Cooling system had several issues, the last being a leaking intake manifold. Drivers side power window need replaced. And several other little things.
I LOVE THIS CAR!
I love this car! It's fun to drive, feels like you are driving a race car or you are in a cockpit. Looks great and I constantly have people telling me it's a cool car. I have had no problems whatsoever with this car and it has 78000 miles and still going.
Trouble with this car
We have had nothing but problems with this car. 1 month out of warranty, it required a new alternator. We have had to replace a gasket for the transmission fluid. Power steering is going. The fan for heat/AC has been replaced - and currently doesn't work on the lowest two speeds. We will not be purchasing a Pontiac for a long time, if ever.
Best frist car i've ever had.
I love it!!! My 99' Grand Am has 98500 miles on it. Still purrs like a kitten. Looks brand new and I love it. Words can't explain how much i love this car. It's by far the coolest car at work. 99000 and still drives like a race car. There is nothing wrong. It's in perfect cond. And i got it for a steal. ($5.000) I would recomend This car to any kid or parent as a first car. Thanx..
Excellent Car
Our Grand Am was used but you can't tell. This is an excellent car, and we would'nt change a thing.
First Car
Bought off a private party. Got best deal anyone I know has ever gotten on a car (about 4 percent under TMV). Great car for short runs or highway driving. Love the V6. Have had no major problems so far other than the pwr windows which if need fixed will be under ext. warranty. Previous owner took great care of the car & had all records so I may have better luck than others w/this car. Only real complaint is that GM needs to makae the gas tank bigger to accomadate the V6. Fuel economy is right what where it should be. Can't wait to get it in the snow. No other big problems with the electornics or mechanically. Only big bill was scheduled maitenance.
The fun to drive universal Grand Am
I love my Pontiac Grand Am se coupe. This car is great on gas on average I get 32 mpg or better on the highway. It is also very fun to drive it takes curves excellent and the ride for the most part is smooth.The display panels are also nice because they are easy to read and the cd player is easy to get to without having to take your eyes off of the road. The space in the car is another great thing. I have fit four guys there golf clubs and small luggage in the car for a weekend golf trip. I highly reccomend this car to anyone looking for an afforable 2 door car.
DRIVES GREAT WHEN NOT IN THE SHOP!
This car is a mixed bag. When it's running, it's a great car. But I have had sooo many problems with it. I bot it from Hertz with 28,000 mi. Now has 59,000. I've had to replace brakes 2 x's (and they still feel weird), 2 altenators, 2 batteries, water pump. The door hinge is broken, the winshield washer tank leaks. There is an oil leak and transmission fluid is leaking. Just traded it in - couldn't take all the time & money in the shop.
Research this car first!!!!
I loved this car (bought new) but problems began immediately after my warranty ended. I understand that certain things will need maintenance, but not this many things at 40,000 miles! I have since read about other GT owners with the same list of problems (mainly 1998-2002 GT's)and just want other potential buyers to be aware because I wasn't.
Grand Am GT V6 - Going Stron
Bought from a friend in 2005 who bought it new; it had ~50000 miles when i purchased it. Now has ~130000 on it. Replaced window motor, head gasket, alternator, brakes, rotors, rim leaking, shocks, etc... Typical for this car and similar to other posts. But, car drives great and if you keep RPMs under 2000, you can expect 'ok' gas mileage. Everything still works, so no valid reason to trade it in, although it isn't work too much now. Will keep driving until the wheels fall off. If you are considering buying, try to get it cheap and make sure you go through these reviews to determine if any of these typical problems have been fixed. Mine is red, so looks good still when it is buffed
1999 Grand Am 4 dr Sedan
I had a car reck and a 1996 Grand Am saved my life. Iwould also trust my life with a 1999 Grand Am 4 dr Sedan.
Something to Think About
I thought of 3 good things to say about the '99 that I own. It is a reliable car. It starts right up in the winter. It still turns heads (even for all the wrong reasons!). It has some good speed. However, I have had to bring it into the dealer 3 times for the same problem. The windows keep falling off track. Working windows are important. I have found that the apoxied plastic clips on the windows seem to come "unglued" or brittle in extreme temps. I have also had to change the brakes, rotors, and belts that should last. I am not completely dissatisfied, but I will think twice before I purchase another one. My only advise with this car is if you use your windows a lot, pass on this car.
So-So
The Grand Am SE is a beautiful car and it handles great on dry roads. It doesn't perform the greatest when the roads, or especially RR tracks, are wet. I've had a lot of little things wrong that have cost about $400 to fix with 30,000 miles on it, which I think is too much.
Great car
Great car but the cupholders need some help
Birthday Gift
So I got this car for my 16 birthday and with 150,000 miles on it. It now has 185,000 miles on it. I love this car because its kinda fast and has great styling. However, it is not practical for me because I commute 40+ miles a day and there for it uses way to much gas I find this to be a very durable car due to the three wrecks in a month span and its still going strong however I cant wait to get a different car hopefully with better gas millage to bad Pontiac didn't work on that
Love it!!
bought this car about 2 years ago, first car i've ever held over a year. well past the 75,000 mile mark now. I keep it on the highway. it handles well, it hugs curves and corners. i must say you should be an experienced driver to own one of these or else you can't fully appreciate it. great braking even when brakes are needed, and even for a 4-cylinder, great acceleration. i've only been beat by a really souped up cobra w/manual transmission (i have automatic). the body design has made my friends envious, and one of my enemies had the nerve to buy one after seeing mine! he got a 2002 though, which isn't as cool.