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Pontiac GTO Strut Problems

142 messages,  Last post on May 17, 2010 at 7:02 PM

You are in the Pontiac GTO Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac GTO, Engine, Suspension, Coupe

Messages Page 3 of 15

#16 of 142 Strut Problem by terried

Jul 19, 2006 (11:13 am)

I to have a 2006 pontiac GTO not sure of the manufactured date but after having it for 2 days the struts blew. I was told it may be 2 days to 2 weeks before they could get parts.
 
I've very disappointed and of course didn't expect this out of a new car.. yes its covered under the warranty but now it makes me wonder if the car is going to be dependable. with all the problems I have read on different fourms about the struts I think there should be a recall.
 
I'm just sick over this.

#17 of 142 Add another one to the list... by zrokewl299

Jul 23, 2006 (6:56 pm)

I just dropped my GOAT off yesterday... I do not have a full diagnosis yet but I suspect it is a strut problem... Does anyone elses GTO bounce around on the highway like a boat?

#18 of 142 Re: Add another one to the list... [zrokewl299] by wswone

Jul 24, 2006 (5:10 am)

Replying to: zrokewl299 (Jul 23, 2006 6:56 pm)
Has anyone received an explanation from their dealer as to Pontiac acknowledging that they have a problem? As of Friday my dealer could find nothing on it other than the many hits on the internet from owners looking for help.

#20 of 142 leakiing struts by roadrunner70

Aug 05, 2006 (4:38 pm)

mike, thanks for the updated information. my main concern, if i have leaking strut bushings, which at the moment i do not, is that even if i don't mind putting in aftermarket strut bushings, if this occurs during the warranty period, why should i have to pay for the labor. if gm can't supply the replacement parts, then they should step up on this. willthey?? thanks. rr70

#21 of 142 Strut leakage by dmsdesign

Aug 05, 2006 (7:26 pm)

GM will pay to replace the leaking sturts. The issue is how long do you want to wait for them. If they are leaking you shlould nto drive the vehicle. the strutsleakage is progeressive and wil get on your brakes and suspension components
 
Some deaelrs out there will allow Pedders struts to be installed but you have to pay the difference. l. I wuld strongly recommend this if
your dealerhsip allows it. the GM struts are crap, even if they do not leak
 
mike
dms

#22 of 142 GTO A/C Compressors by b4z

Aug 08, 2006 (9:48 am)

Compressor went out in my '04 and there are none in Detroit.
Called fred beans pontiac just to make sure my dealer was on the up and up and they said there are only about 30 in the whole country.
Let's see, 40,000 GTOs produced and only 38 compressors at dealerships throughout the country.
That can't be right.

#23 of 142 Strut Problems by coyle311

Aug 08, 2006 (3:47 pm)

I also had both struts blow. Purchased on 6-30-06. Noticed puddle on 7-1-06. Still waiting for repairs as of 8-8-06. Called Pontiac several times and asked to have my warranty extended as I have not driven car except to dealership since 7-2-06. They state that this is not possible. They offered me oil changes, but I declined. Has anyone contacted an attorny about this? This is a huge safety issue, and Pontiac is acting like it's not happening, still selling faulty GTO's.

#24 of 142 Strut problem by silvanov

Aug 11, 2006 (7:48 pm)

I spent two hours speaking to my local dealer and GM today. My call reached "escalated status" in call center lingo and I was able to talk to a mid level supervisor. If I understood correctly, the supervisor said that ~300 sets of struts are on back order. I've been waiting two weeks for my struts and they said that I will have to wait 2-3 additional weeks for parts. I demanded a rental and they agreed to pay $42 a day for a rental provided it was a GM vehicle.
 
When I asked why a dealership would allow me to leave with a hazardous vehicle, they did not have an answer. Likewise, GM was also unable to explain why there has not been a recall, or why my dealership which had at least two other GTOs come in before mine with the same problem did not phone me to suggest I come in to have the struts inspected.
 
As for the nature of the problem GM stated "the wrong fluid" was used to fill the strut.
 
If you have defective struts GM owes you a rental until the car is fixed. As for the 2-3 week delivery, my guess is that they are having to manufacture new struts. It takes 18 hours for a plane to fly from Australia to the US, not 2-3 weeks. As for the GTOs in dealership lots, my guess is that they will get any available struts first since they can not be sold in good faith with potentially defective struts.
 
I have also been reviewing state statutes regarding lemons. In my state, GM has 30 working days to repair the car or they will have to enter arbitration. At that point I will ask for a full refund. Given the unprofessional behavior of GM up to this point, an arbitrator might agree with my request.
 
I am exceptionally disappointed in GM. Last year I bought a Bonneville GXP and in the first two months, it need to have the transmission rebuilt because it failed the second day I had the car; And two weeks later, due to heat, the rear edge of the fender and the front edge of the front door expanded a sufficient amount so that the front door edge jammed against the fender. It spent ~10 days in the body shop while this problem was being addressed.
 
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
 
I'll keep you posted.

#25 of 142 Some tidbits by hammen2

Aug 16, 2006 (8:40 am)

Just found this discussion.
 
The problem was that Monroe Australia changed strut oil from Shell to something else. Factor in the GTO being built in Australia, and taking upwards of 3 months from assembly to arrive at dealerships, and this problem did not become known. GM did not see the pattern of failures because dealerships were not filling our repair reports correctly - DMSdesign here on this site was instrumental in getting this problem recognized by GM.
 
Replacement parts have been manufactured and are in transit. Unfortunately, I believe this "in transit" may be by boat - not sure if gas-charged struts are allowed to travel by airplane, especially in the current terror-concern climate.
 
GM has sent a bulletin to dealers regarding this issue. It is NOT safe to drive the car - in addition to control/accident avoidance issues, the strut oil also eats bushings and removes undercoating... continuing to drive the car would be very bad. Dealerships should be, at a minimum, putting you in a rental car. If not, call Pontiac CAC.
 
I suspect that GM will do a full recall once they have parts. Of course, we'll see if dealerships will then actually replace the affected parts (cars built mid-January until May 5, 2006) on unsold cars sitting on the lot.
 
If you've been waiting awhile, you might push your dealership/GM to put aftermarket parts on your vehicle. Pedders (http://www.peddersusa.com) sells such parts. Some folks have paid the difference between the GM price and the Pedders price, others have been successful in getting their dealers/GM to put the Pedders on at no upcharge...
 
Good luck to those of you who have this problem. I agree that GM should have stepped up to the plate more on this (everything seems to be on a case-by-case basis). And, it would be nice if dealers would read their bulletins, and understand that this problem is serious and that customers should not be driving their cars...

Messages Page 3 of 15

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