The security light has been going on and off since I bought the car used back at the end of June. I went to go pay a bill shut the car off paid the bill and returned back to the car. I went to put the key in the ignition and the car would not turn on and the security light was blinking. I then had to have it towed to the dealership and they told me that the passlock sensor was at fault and they had to replace the sensor assembly and ignition sensor which ended up costing me almost 600 bucks!

- Gainesville, FL, USA

I put the key in the ignition and turn it to the start position but it wouldn't start. There is a work around that is detailed in the 2002 Pontiac Grand Am owner's manual on page 2-18 that says "after attempting to start the engine, if the security light flashes or stays on, wait ten minutes with the key in on until the light goes off. Then turn the ignition to off before attempting to start the engine again." I did that and it worked but it shouldn't be necessary. The car should start right away. This is the second time this has happened to me but it isn't an isolated incident. There have been many other people that have had this problem and this website includes comments from other people who have had this problem: townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.F0F6220/0 this failure has not been corrected yet.

- El Dorado Springs, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that the engine on his vehicle, at times, will not start. The owner stated this is a safety issue due to not being able to move his vehicle if needed. The weather or the temperature of the engine makes no difference. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but they cannot diagnose they failure. The failure mileage 19,000. The current mileage was 39,653. Updated 11/03/10. Updated 12/22/10 the consumer stated the problem was the passlock security was defective which caused the vehicle not to start. Updated 12/30/10

- Burton , MI, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the anti-theft system would engage without warrant. The doors would automatically lock and the anti-theft system alarm would engage without warrant. The dealer advised the failure was not a safety issue. The contact had experienced the failure before and the dealer replaced the ignition cylinder and reset the theft system. There were no additional repairs performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 85,000.

- Kent, OH, USA

I have a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am that has a defective turn signal relay, or emergency flasher. Sometimes the signal will work, sometimes not, which is pretty dangerous when driving on the freeway. I have researched this issue on the internet, and see that GM is aware of this problem with their vehicles. I called the 1-800-620-7668 and was told no recalls were on my car. It is a safety hazard.

- Battle Ground, WA, USA

2002 Grand Am there has been a short in my multifunction switch for quite some time. That's what the dealership told me it was. When I took it to them and I was aware of the tsb but they said it was not covered because it's not a safety issue. Something linked to that is clicking in the dash. If I depress the hazard button 1/2 way it stops but I can't exactly drive around like that. It's not constant and as far as I can tell the signals are working fine when I use them.

- Grafton, WI, USA

Safety light on in 2002 Pontiac Grand Am. Key has trouble turning over at times. Has to do with security in ignition. If key is not inserted just right after key is worn down after using in car a while, the car thinks there is something wrong and tries to shut down like it is trying to be stolen and it can leave you stranded. I can not get the security light to go off and at times the key does not work properly.

- Hartselle, AL, USA

2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT - fails to start every time. Security passlock issue. If the vehicle doesn't think it's the right key in the ignition it will not start. The solution is to sit and wait for 15 minutes for the security light to go off. After spending hundreds of dollars replacing parts this still happens. This problem is widespread and needs to be fixed by GM.

- Warren, RI, USA

Pass lock prevents car to start.

- Pompton Lakes, NJ, USA

About a year ago car wouldn't start. Had it towed and the service garage replaced the ignition assembly and did a security update. About 2 weeks ago car wouldn't start tried jumping, nothing. Security light on dash was blinking. Researched on computer and found out if you turn key on for fifteen minutes then try to start the car it will start. Well I tried this and it worked. Leaving the key on for fifteen minutes resets the security system on the car. My car has started for the last 2 weeks. I called the dealer and they said they can't disarm the security system and there were no recalls for my car. Maybe this is what the garage did a year ago and charged for a new assembly because I still use the original key. Please help because I am not alone and this problem really confuses the repairman according to the web site I found this easy fix on.

- Phillipsburg, NJ, USA

At times when I am driving my 2002 Pontiac Grand Am I will see smoke coming from my steering wheel, I think it has something to do with the clicking sound I hear that won't stop.

- Tustin, CA, USA

At times when I am driving my 2002 Pontiac Grand Am I will see smoke coming from my steering wheel, I think it has something to do with the clicking sound I hear that won't stop.

- Chicago, IL, USA

2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT - problem with security/passlock system. Can not depend on this car starting. Will start one day & next day will not. Have reset the security system countless times and finally after last reset will still not start. I am a single, working mom who receives no assistance from government agencies, child support, etc.; works everyday; still paying on this car which only has 84,000 miles on it. Can't afford another car payment, but also can't get this car to start to even drive off a cliff, muchless to dealership to trade in. I am just fed up with this vehicle and after reading numerous similar complaints on forum, can't believe GM hasn't issued recall. Can't something be done? no wonder GM is going under. No one wants to buy their products due to the quality and dependability.

- Panama City, FL, USA

I have a 2002 Grand Am GT. I drove it off the lot new with 34 miles on it. I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. The low oil sensor has been replaced 3 times. The gasket intake valves were leaking causing my lifters to melt together. I had to have the lifters replaced in the engine at 70,000 miles. Being that my salesman worked with me, all I had to pay was the cost of labor. That was still $1000. At 81,000 I had to have a new catalytic converter put in. One year later I have been told that I need another new catalytic converter. I have also had trouble with the blinkers and brake lights as others have written. My security light has also just started coming on. I have had nothing but GM vehicles up to this point, as have the rest of my family. I even had family that worked for GM. I had a Grand Prix before this, and it was great. However, I will never, ever, buy another GM vehicle for as long as I live. They do not produce a product that they will stand behind. No wonder they need a bailout!

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

The security light on the dash comes on constantly, and the driver side door the window will not go up or down.

- East Liverpool, OH, USA

No injuries yet, no crashes yet, and many incidents of my patients being run thin. My car is has gotten worse and this problem has been going on for the past 17 months at-least I have not been writing every-time down because it is a inconvenience. Not only to me but my work and emergency also. I just hope that my child is not seriously hurt one day and my car wont start. I currently own a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT. The security system is making the car where it will not start and the security alert light that is located on the console is on continuously. I have a friend that her car is doing the same but is at a more advanced stage than mine.. and her car actually shut off on the road while the car was in motion. My car is not to that stage today. The manual says to rest the system by allowing the car to sit in the on position for at-least 10 mins where mine is taking 13-15 mins. And allow the system to reset. The car is currently not starting at-least twice a day. And one time the car actually did not start. My dad put in a new battery and that did not correct the problem. I am at a loss, the car is deteriorating fast and there is no recall for this issue with the security system/pass-lock. There are many people with the same issue. I feel like GM is taking advantage of the situation just to make a buck, and they need to be held responsible for this issue that is occurring with all GM vehicles. Please help! I am going Monday to the dealership to have a price quoted.

- Abilene, TX, USA

2002 Grand Am GT passlock system. On October 3, 2008 when I tried to reset the oil light on my vehicle turned the ignition key to on, vehicle wouldn't start. This has happened least five times within the last year. I've either had to replace the ignition cylinder or the passlock system. Each time this happened I've had to have the car towed.

- Dothan, AL, USA

There is a very distracting clicking sound in the dash, as if the blinkers are running, but they are not. Sometimes it's a fast constant clicking sound, sometimes it's a slow clicking sound, but it's always there. Very annoying.

- Beavercreek, OH, USA

I have a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am. The problem started 4 months ago. When I put on the turn signal smoke will start coming from under the plastic cover behind the steering wheel. I pop up the cover and observed that the smoke is coming from inside a sealed mechanism that is behind the steering wheel. It started doing it more often and as soon as the blinker goes off the smoke will stop. I called a Pontiac dealer and was told that they had no information or recalls for this issue but that they will check it for $39.95 I am afraid that the car might just catch on fire one of these days. Can you provide me with some guidance who to call? the date below is the last time it happens. But like I said before, it started occurring more often.

- Lawton, OK, USA

I bought my 2002 grandam when it was a year old with 22,000 miles on it, I'm the second owner. I had problems within a few months. Smoke came from the steering column and there was a clicking noise in the dash. Then the blinkers didn't work right...would only work randomly...took it to the place where I bought it and they replaced the turn signal arm...still having trouble to this day with the blinkers. A few months ago the car wouldn't start...it was turning over but it wouldn't actually start. Repair shop replaced fuel pump, didn't solve the problem but the car ran for a few weeks and then it wouldn't start again. Repair shop said the passcode security/ignition sensor had to be replaced. They did it, and it worked for about 3 months and the other day the car wouldn't start, same thing as the first time. I called the local Pontiac dealership and all I said when the mechanic answered was "I have a 2002 grandam and it won't start" without hesitation or any other information he asked me "was the security light on"" I said "yes! how did you know that"" he said it's a very common problem w/ these cars and the only thing to do is have the passcode sensor replaced but there's no guarantee that it won't happen again because they have no way of bypassing the security/passcode system. Well, I told him I already did that a few months ago, so he said a temporary fix for right now is to put the key in the ignition and turn it to acc, wait 10-15 minutes and it should start, but this is temporary. Well, it did work and has for the last few days but I know it will happen again and I'm worried that I'll get stranded or left helpless someday. It's ridiculous to have to deal with this problem and keep putting money into a problem that there's no solution to. I loved this car when I first got it and now I hate it and will never buy another Pontiac again. I'm so disappointed.

- Clarksville, TN, USA