Ownership Cost for 1996 Pontiac Grand Am GT
Estimated: $21703 over the next 5 years
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $984 | $472 | $413 | $374 | $335 | $2578 |
| Insurance | $1451 | $1502 | $1554 | $1609 | $1665 | $7781 |
| Fuel | $1444 | $1488 | $1540 | $1601 | $1674 | $7747 |
| Maintenance | $40 | $253 | $137 | $225 | $1038 | $1693 |
| Repairs | $91 | $323 | $353 | $487 | $612 | $1866 |
| Taxes & Fees | $24 | $24 | $24 | $24 | $24 | $36 |
| Total Ownership Costs | $4035 | $4041 | $4001 | $4299 | $5327 | $21703 |
| Model year | COMPONENT | Complaint |
| 1999 | ENGINE | MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST MADE IT INTO THE CITY AFTER A 1 AND A HALF HOUR DRIVE. AFTER DRIVING AROUND TOWN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OUR CAR, 99 PONTIAC GRAND AM, SHUT OFF. WE SAT FOR A BIT AND TRIED IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BUT IT KEPT DOING IT SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WE THOUGHT IT OVERHEATED BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ 200 DEGREES. HE CHANGED BOTH O2 SENSORS, CAM SHAFT, ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, PUT ON A USED FUEL PUMP. WE WERE THINKING THAT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP, BUT ARE UNSURE. THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WE HAVE CAME UP WITH ARE THE FUEL PUMP SINCE IT'S USED, THE CADILLAC CONVERTER BECAUSE IT SMELLS BAD AT TIMES, LIKE WHEN WE GO UP HILL, OR AS I WAS READING ALL THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE WERE HAVING WITH THERE 99 PONTIAC GRAND AM VEHICLES, WOULD BE THE INTAKE GASKET OR THE ABS LIGHT THAT GOES OFF AND COMES ON WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND I NEED HELP. *TR |
| 1996 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I STARTED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING APPROX 10MPH WHEN THE CAR DIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AFTER RESTART, IT DID IT AGAIN. THEN, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD FUEL PUMP. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE PONTIAC ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT WAS KEEPING IT FROM STARTING. WHEN YOUR KEY STARTS GETTING WORN AND ROUNDED OFF, (AS MOST KEYS DO AFTER SOME USE!) THE THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS YOUR CAR UP. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ECU, IGNITION SYSTEM, KEY TUMBLER, OR A COMBINATION OF THE SAME, AND REPROGRAMMING IT, WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF 1000.00 THIS ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS PREVENTING ME FROM USING MY LAWFULLY OWNED CAR! THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP REPLACE DEFECTIVE PONTIAC PARTS. AN ANTI THEFT SYSTEM SHOULD BE A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO KEEP CROOKS FROM BOOSTING YOUR CAR, NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL COST THE OWNER MORE MONEY LATER WHEN THEIR KEY WEARS DOWN! WORSE YET, IF THE CAR IS DISABLED ON A HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, YOU RISK KILLING YOURSELF OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD! THIS HAS GOT TO BE A SAFETY VIOLATION AND A RED FLAG FOR A RECALL. I'M GOING TO PROBABLY SELL THIS RAT-TRAP FOR SCRAP/CRUSH VALUE TO A JUNK YARD AND BUY ANOTHER CAR, SO ALTHOUGH THIS COMPLAINT WON'T BENEFIT ME, HOPEFULLY MY COMMENT WILL HELP SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR POS PONTIAC. *TR |
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