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Pontiac GTO Reliability and Maintenance Costs

54 messages,  Last post on Dec 22, 2012 at 6:53 PM

You are in the Pontiac GTO Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac GTO, Auto Repair, Coupe

Messages Page 2 of 6

#8 of 54 Re: Pontiac GTO 2005/2006 How reliable have they been? [jtaco] by nomoregmjunk

Sep 13, 2006 (6:04 pm)

Replying to: jtaco (Aug 09, 2006 9:10 am)
You need to research the 06 GTO defective strut problems. I bought an 06 GTO on July 5. The Struts failed shortly after delivery. Car was stuck at the dealer for 31 days before they finally repaired it. The sordid tale of my experience with the dealer is too long to relate here. I am convinced GM knew the car was defective when I bought it. Noone with GM, or the dealer, has even tried to allay my concerns regarding the reliability of the vehicle, or assure me that GM will coninue to support the vehicle. My expectations, to be dealt with honestly and fairly, were apparently too high. I conducted my own research on the defective strut issue - I could not trust anything the dealer or GM told me. I researched the Alabama Lemon Law statutes and filed the documents necessary to protect my rights. I am currently making GM repurchase the vehicle - the GM internal paperwork for repurchase takes ~3 weeks. The car is currently collecting dust in my garage. The frustrating thing is, I still like the GTO, but forcing repurchase appears to be the only viable recourse to protect my interests. I too was intrigued by the GTO performance, room and comfort, but GM simply does not deliver adequate quality and support to realize the potential of the car. What happens when something else fails, say in several years after warrantee and lemon law protections expire? Will GM maintain any replacement parts inventory? Will any replacement parts have to come on a slow boat from Austrailia? I love vehicles. I am constantly evaluating and ranking vehicles to determine what I may buy next. The GTO was a bad selection. This experience has completely soured me on GM. I have removed all GM products from my vehicle database. I will never consider purchasing another GM vehicle. I will relay my experience to all friends and colleagues. I understand now why GM is failing. 0% financing and 100,000 mile warrantees mean nothing if the vehicles are defective and the service and support lacks basic integrity and competancy.

#9 of 54 See more about the strut issue here: by claires HOST

Sep 13, 2006 (9:53 pm)

Pontiac GTO: Strut Problems

#10 of 54 Re: Pontiac GTO 2005/2006 How reliable have they been? [nomoregmjunk] by tripowergto

Sep 15, 2006 (4:31 pm)

Replying to: nomoregmjunk (Sep 13, 2006 6:04 pm)
My 04 has had perfect reliability. The 06 failing front strut issue has been readily known about for months and is a simple(albeit inconvient)issue to repair. It sounds more like you've had a difficult dealer to deal with then a true GM/GTO issue. Federal law mandates an auto maker MUST provide all parts for a given vehicle for at least 10 yrs.
 
The GTO is a FANTASTIC automobile. Too bad your unfortunate incident has soured your chances of ever enjoying it. GOOD LUCK!!

#11 of 54 Re: Pontiac GTO 2005/2006 How reliable have they been? [tripowergto] by nomoregmjunk

Sep 16, 2006 (10:44 pm)

Replying to: tripowergto (Sep 15, 2006 4:31 pm)
As I said, I still like the GTO. It actually handles pretty good, now that it has FUNCTIONING FRONT STRUTS! The handling of the defective struts issue by the dealer, Pontiac, and GM is completely unacceptable. First they tried to convince me that the car was okay to drive, with essentially no functioning front shock absorbing systems. They said they knew nothing about any GTO strut problems. They told me on eight different occasions, over 4 weeks, that struts would be delivered - they just could not seem to get them shipped from the warehouse. Everyone I interfaced with was either dishonest, or grossly incompetent. Without the Internet I may never have learned the truth. To this day, Pontiac/GM has never even bothered to respond to my inquiries. I am a reasonable, fairly easy going guy. All they ever had to do was level with me, and what tell me what they were going to do to fix it. It just seems that GM does not want my business anymore. I don't understand, because I love cars and spend allot of money on them (you should see my garage). At this point, forcing repurchase is a matter of principle. I just wish they would hurry up and complete the repurchase so I can buy something else. I bought the GTO for my daily driver. I am now thinking about an Accord V6 6MT for that purpose. I'll wager Honda wants my business.

#12 of 54 05 goat, reliable so far by elias

Oct 19, 2006 (8:33 am)

i've got an 05 M6, 26000 miles so far. it has been reliable. stereo needed an early replacement, and there was too much negative-camber via the factory alignment - i noticed that at 15000 miles. GM paid for an alignment, but it took dealer a week to accomplish it!

#13 of 54 06 reliable so far by roadrunner70

Oct 20, 2006 (5:23 pm)

06 purchased in march no issues at all, but small squeek in steering column. i don't intend to allow dealer to work on this. to no more junk, all i can say is spend some time on other message boards. everyone who owns an 06 toyoto 4 runner has huge vibration problems and toyota won't even addmit is there. the strut issue was bad, but at least it is know, admitted and corrected. that is more than you can say about many other cars with very serious problems. the truth is, is that each manufacturer as problem cars. the gto in my opinion, is not one of them. the bad struts and bushings were addressed. further, even if a radious bushing blows, the fix is very straightforward. i would rather have that kind of problem any day of the week. rr70

#14 of 54 Re: 2004 GTO water leak [mick1] by mick1

Aug 10, 2007 (5:40 pm)

Replying to: mick1 (Sep 03, 2006 8:15 am)
update to`water leak, it was finally fixed late last year , carpeting replaced, now I love this car!

#15 of 54 05, 35k, about to go out of warranty, all good by elias

Aug 10, 2007 (5:51 pm)

so far so good. one of the best cars i have ever owned, out of MANY. one flaw is no built=in sirius radio.
oh, the GAS CAP ratchet/seal failed and no service-engine code happened even though I drove for weeks with an unpressurized tank, and wasting a couple mpg. dealer gave me a new cap under warranty in 5 minutes on a saturday and i was on my way no appointment necessary.
also i love the fact that i got a letter from pontiac telling me to check the oil at every fuel stop if i drive like a maniac with massive rpms and engine-braking. meanwhile, it consumes zero oil - 15k extended-service mobil 1.

#16 of 54 Re: 05, 35k, about to go out of warranty, all good [elias] by mick1

Aug 12, 2007 (10:24 am)

Replying to: elias (Aug 10, 2007 5:51 pm)
Hey, I just received a letter from GM 2 days ago that said they are extending the warranty to 10yrs/120kmiles for the GAS CAP! Now the car is a keeper.

#17 of 54 Re: Pontiac GTO 2005/2006 How reliable have they been? [silvergoat] by cappgoat

Nov 01, 2007 (11:31 am)

Replying to: silvergoat (Aug 09, 2006 12:08 pm)
I have just been reading here of some negative comments regarding the 2004-2006 GTO. I bought a 2006 in September of '06 and have nothing but rave reviews from my own experience. Yeah, I had to have the front struts replaced and there have been little things that I have asked the dealer to do, but that is mostly due to how picky I am about ANY car I own. I am sure if I bought the falsely praised Toyota I would be to the dealer as much demanding things be corrected. I have owned Pontiacs of one form or another since 1977 and have nothing but praise for the cars. They are typical American vehicles, yes. But I put 230k on a '77 Grand Prix I bought used and it was still hauling ass when I finally let it go in 2002! Hated to see it go but I had bought a '98 Grand Prix (a SWEET car) and the old fella was just sitting around. I preferred to see him go off on his own and think of him still serving someone well.
 
Back to my GTO. The quality is a quantum leap from previous GM's I have owned (and GM is about the only brand I have owned since '77, save the VW Rabbit diesel and the lone '88 Toyota Camry wagon. What a piece of crap!)
 
I have what must be the best Pontiac ealer in the world, Sewell Pontiac here in Dallas. I have NEVER had one issue with their service and I had a Trans Am that had issue from day one. But their service made the experience with my favorite but flawed little T/A enjoyable anyway. So, it all comes down to the quality of the dealership.
 
To answer whether GM will back up the GTO, YES! With the advent of the G8, which comes from Holden as well, the availibility of parts and service will continue...not to mention it is the law!
 
So for those who wanna bad mouth the orphan GTO, go ahead....I will drive off and leave you in a cloud of dust and love every minute of it!!!

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