2000 Pontiac Grand Am suspension problems

“SIMILAR TO: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE03031 MY 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM SUSPENSION FRONT:SPRINGS COIL SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY ARE BROKEN. CAUSES ISSUES WHEN TURNING AND DRIVING. I NOTICED THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS AND WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RETALIATION SO THAT THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO FIX? I PLAN TO HAVE THEM FIXED IMMEDIATELY DUE TO UNKNOWN CONSEQUENCES. *TR”

“FILE DATE 5/2/2000 MFR. INVOLVED GENERAL MOTORS CORP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 00V116000 MFR. CAMPAIGN # 00041 COMPONENT AFFECTED SUSPENSION:REAR # VEHICLES AFFECTED 23 DEFECT VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM TO THE LEFT REAR KNUCKLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS DURING ASSEMBLY. CONSEQUENCE THE BOLT COULD BACK COMPLETELY OUT OF THE JOINT AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL. CORRECTIVE ACTION DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THIS BOLT. ------------------------------ I HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARING ON THE LEFT REAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, THAT THIS DID NOT APPLY TO MY 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE, . EACH BEARING IS $ 300- 400, BUT I HAVE NOT HAD TO REPLACE IN OTHER BEARINGS EXCEPT THE LEFT REAR. COULD THE ABOVE RECALL AFFECT THAT WHEEL BEARING, AND HOW MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE THAT IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ON MY CAR, COULD THERE HAVE BEEN MORE OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION OF THIS VEHICLE? ALSO WHEN BREAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE NEW LEFT REAR BRAKE SHOE CRACKED IN HALF AS A RESULT OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAVING ISSUES. *TR”

“ON 5/15/08 @ 4:30 P.M., OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM, ON I-40 WEST IN DURHAM CTY, NC. TRAVELING APPROX. 70 MILES PER HR, SHE REMEMBERS ONLY A SUDDEN PULL TO THE LEFT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. LOSING CONTROL, SHE SWERVED 150 FT. BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE CONCRETE WALL BARRIER. CONTINUING ANOTHER 50 FT. THE CAR FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LEFT SHOULDER. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. A WITNESS TRAVELING BEHIND OUR CAR REPORTED THAT THE CAR JUST STARTED TO "FISHTAIL". THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED BY THE OFFICER AT THE CRASH, AND LATER BY MY HUSBAND AND THE INSURANCE EXAMINER, AND WERE FOUND TO BE INTACT, FULLY INFLATED AND WITHOUT EXCESSIVE WEAR. A SEARCH ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION A RECALL IN CERTAIN MODELS OF THE 2000 GRAND AM INVOLVING THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAIL ARM TO THE LEFT REAR KNUCKLE BOLT. UPON REPORTING THIS INFORMATION TO STATE FARM INSURANCE, THE ADJUSTER INCLUDED THIS COMPONENT IN HIS FINDINGS. HE REPORTED THAT NOTHING "APPEARED" OUT OF PLACE. A SINGLE SNAPSHOT OF THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS SUBMITTED IN SUPPORT OF HIS FINDINGS. MR. JOHN GARCIGA, A STATE FARM ADJUSTER, ADVISED US…”

“I WAS STARTING TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT HAD SNAPPED AND FLUNG ITSELF INTO THE TIRE. WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED INTO A SEVERE CRASH AND COULD HAVE KILLED SOME ONE. NOW I MUST REPLACE THE STRUT TOWER AND THE COIL SPRING. *TR”

“RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE CAUSING SPRING TO COME OFF STRUT SEAT AND DROP DOWN AND GO INTO TIRE WHICH CAUSED TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND ALMOST TO LOSE CONTROL OF CAR. PART # OF SPRING IS 22132945. *TR”

“CAR PULLED OUT OF GARAGE AND ROAD AROUND BLOCK. EXTREME GRINDING NOISE. SMOKE FROM FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. PULLED CAR BACK INTO GARAGE TO INVESTIGATE. PASSENGER FRONT COIL SPRING CRACKED AND RUBBING AGAINST TIRE CAUSING TIRE DAMAGE. *NM”