My first new car was a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire GT that I purchased from Arrow Pontiac of Mount Holly, New Jersey. Now, four years later, I have finally hit my wits end. After dealing with malfunctioning windshield wipers, burnt out power window motors, paying $250 to fix my heater/air conditioner that would only work on high, fog lamps that died within a year, a replacement muffler that the dealer wanted to charge $1200 for plus more annoying rattles then I can even begin to describe, my rear brake lights stopped working and the dealer informed me that I now have to pay $75 to replace two faulty light sockets that melted.

Yes, you read that correctly. My Pontiac Sunfire has two brake light sockets that melted. Both my local dealership as well as the national customer service representative I spoke with stated that this happens quite often to Sunfires depending on their age and mileage. Amazingly, the Pontiac CSR I spoke with named Nick did not sound surprised that this would happen to a four year old car and repeatedly insisted that this is not considered a manufacturer's defect.

I don't know about you, but there are certain repairs I expect to have to make as my car ages. Things like brakes, tires, shocks, mufflers, etc. are to be expected, but I am baffled as to how a piece of my car melting from normal use can not be seen as a defect.

Well, apparently, melting sockets weren't the only thing wrong with my brake lights. (You'd think that having pieces of your car melt away would be enough, but we can't forget that Pontiac knows all about driving excitement!) After replacing the sockets, the dealer came to the conclusion that there was also a malfunctioning switch in my turn signal level which was preventing the rear brake lights from functioning. So, while I was originally upset by the initial estimate of $75 to replace the defective, melted sockets, just imagine what was going through my head when I learned the total repair bill for this latest electrical glitch would be well over $250! (That would be $115 for parts, $120 for labor and $14 tax... how can these people sleep at night knowing that they charge more to install the parts then they're worth?)

At this point, I plan to write General Motors about the numerous electrical problems I've encountered with my car. Along the way, it is now my goal to inform the public about how Pontiac products are not only constructed poorly, but how General Motors will not stand behind their cars after the warranty expires and they become virtual money pits as the needless repair bills begin mounting. Please stop back over the next few weeks as I roll out the full site and begin spreading the word as to why your hard-earned money is best spent on a non-Pontiac or General Motors car.

Sincerely,

Interesting links to check out while I'm putting together the full site:

From Complaints.com
1997 Pontiac Sunfire - engine seized at 47,000 miles - engine must be replaced
2000 Pontiac Sunfire - differential pin had snapped and blew off the transmssion cover
2002 Pontiac Aztec - serviced 14 times - most important problem is intermittent braking problems - paid $ 23,000 for car that is unsafe to drive
2001 Pontiac Grand Am - problems with hard starting since first day of purchase - 7 failed attempts to fix
2001 Pontiac Grand Am - defective windshield, leak in floor, master cylinder replaced, a/c problems, gas fumes inside car
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT - catalytic converter replaced at 37,000 miles - transmission rebuilt at 50,000 miles
2001 Pontiac Grand Am SLE V6 - completed over $ 9,000 of warranty work - very upset with Pontiac
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT - transmission rebuild at 47K, CV joint at 54K, steering rack at 59K and at 63,000 miles the power window motor replaced
2001 Grand Am GT - tires make loud noise - dealer refuses to replace the tires
2000 Pontiac Grand Am - power window regulators failed - dealer quoted $ 240 for each window plus labor to fix
2000 pontiac grand am - rotors replaced twice - steering shakes
Pontiac 99 GrandAm GT1 Intakes Leaks by 90,000 miles
Pontiac Grand Am GT1 - vibrations, braking problems, poor service
1999 Grand Am SE - been in the shop for repairs 7 times since April, 2000
1999 Pontiac Gram Am SE - 41,000 miles - replaced water pump, power steering pump, intake gasket, wheel sensors - had front end problems
1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GT - had to replace intake manifold "plenum" at 80,000 miles
1999 Pontiac Grand Am 3.4L V6 - leaking coolant from intake manifold gasket
1998 Pontiac Grand Prix - many troubles, repairs with windows, window motors
1999 Pontiac Grand AM - 64,000 miles - intake manifold leaking - told $ 750 cost to fix
Long Pontiac of Chattanooga, TN - Pontiac dealership service department - trouble with car repair
Superior Pontiac Cadillac, Flint, MI - upset with service received on Pontiac Aztek
1999 Pontiac Grand Am - transmission problems with the 4 speed automatic
1998 Pontiac Grand prix GT - sealed tie-rod end (left side) premature failure at 52,364 miles
Villiage Pontiac, Naperville, IL - customer told to pay $ 1,000 for an estimate
GM Pontaic vehicle - gaskets wore out at 60,000 miles