1997 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints

1997 GRAND PRIX FIRE IN ENGINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHEN PROCEEDING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD COME OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED A SETTLEMENT OF $11,080. HE WAS NOT INFORMED OF WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AND REJECTED THE OFFER BECAUSE THE SETTLEMENT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. HE THEN FILED A CLAIM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX RECALL ID NHTSA: 08V118000. I HAD THIS REPAIR DONE AS REQUESTED. BUT MY COMPLAINT TO THE DEALER WAS THAT IF THE FRONT ONE IS FAILING, PUTTING OIL ON THE MANIFOLD TO CAUSE A FIRE. THEN WHY ARE THEY NOT REPLACING THE BACK ONE? MY GTP IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE BACK GASKET, DRIPPING ON THE PLUGS, WIRES AS WELL AND IS DRIPPING ON THE MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST PIPE. IT ALSO IS SMOKING AND HAS A BURNING OIL SMELL. WHY WERE THEY BOTH NOT REPLACED? *TR

I HAVE A 1997 GRAND PRIX GT N/A 3800 ENGINE WITH ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT ROCKER PANEL GASKET HOWEVER THE RECALL ONLY COVERS THE S/C'D VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE THERE IS ENGINE OIL SITTING ON THE TOP OF THE MOTOR, ALSO THERE IS OIL BUILT UP ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ONE SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMING FROM THIS LOCATION I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE AN ENGINE FIRE WITH THIS LEAKING OIL. *TR

FIRST OF ALL I LOVE MY GRAND PRIX. I HAVE HAD BOTH BOTH HEAD LIGHT LENS FALL OFF WITHIN A MONTH OF ONE ANOTHER. YOU CANT PURCHEASE THE LENS YOU NEED TO BUY THE WHOLE UNIT FORM PONTIAC. REPLACED MY SELF EACH UNIT WAS ABOUT $100. GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP IN GARAGE WAS ABOUT $350 PLUS A TOW. ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH BLOWER MOTOR WORKS ON 5 ONLY. LIGHTS WILL ONLY WORK WHEN BLOWER MOTOR IS OFF OR ON 5. REPLACED BLOWER RESISTOR AND DID NOT HELP. 2 ELECTRCAL WIDOW PROBLEMS. ALTERANTOR PROBLEM APPROX $350 NORMAL WITH GM. ALL ISSUES UNDER 80,000 MILES. IT APPEARS MOST PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. VERY DISAPOINTED GM DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT WITH LOYAL GM OWNERS. THE FIRE ISSUE IS VERY CONCERNING I WILL BE TAKING MY GT TO DEALER SOON. *TR

WHEN USING WIPERS, WIPER WOULD STOP WORKING AND WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, HAD TO PULL OVER AND PUSH WIPERS DOWN MANUALLY BECAUSE WIPERS WOULD NOT GO BACK DOWN TO NORMAL POSITION I HAD TO DRIVE WITH NO WIPERS, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS NOW WIPERS DON'T WANT TO WORK AT ALL. CALLED GM RECALL NUMBER AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND WAS TOLD MY 1997 GRAND PRIX WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. FOUR YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AND OTHER ASSOCIATED PARTS AT THE COST OF $852.12. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

I HAD PARKED MY CAR OUTSIDE MY PARENTS' HOME AND I WAS INSIDE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. SOMEONE CAME AND TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. MY 1997 GRAND PRIX WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD NOT HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH IT, I HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY. IT JUST CAUGHT FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO YOU AND I HAVE JUST READ ON MSNBC THAT GM IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND PARKED IT IN A PRIVATE LOT. I WENT INTO WORK AND ATTENDED TO MY JOB FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. AFTER 30 MINUTES, A FRIEND INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE FOR MYSELF, AND I FOUND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY ARRIVED AND WERE EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR SIGNS OF A FIRE BEFORE I LEFT MY CAR TO GO INTO WORK, AND I STILL DO NOT KNOW HOW IT STARTED. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ENGINE FIRE, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT IT TOTALLY DESTROYED THE ENGINE ITSELF. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE CLAIM IS STILL BEING PROCESSED. *TR

MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT 3.8LITER NOT SUPERCHARGED CAUGHT FIRE AND WHEN WE TRIED TO GET PARTS THE JUNK YARD HAD 2 THEY ALSO HAD CAUGHT FIRE GM DID A RECALL ON SUPER CHARGED NOT REGULAR 3.8 LITERS CARS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE TURNED OFF THEY REMAIN DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPERS FAIL TO REST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSTALLED A NEW WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, WHICH ONLY TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE RECURRED BECAUSE THE DEFECT WAS IN THE LINKAGE, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V348000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,900.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND SENSORS ON THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SHE HAS EXPERIENCED OIL LEAKAGE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILED GASKET. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER MODEL GASKET WAS TOO OLD AND THERE WAS A NEWER ROCKET COVER GASKET NEEDED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC AT MIDAS STATED THAT DROPS OF ENGINE OIL WERE BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL OUTAGES A MONTH AGO WHICH INCLUDED THE HEADLIGHTS, BLOWER MOTOR, AND GAS SENSOR. MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUTOFF BY THEMSELVES AS WOULD MY BLOWER MOTOR, PERIODICALLY. I NOTICED THAT IT CORRESPONDED TO WHAT LEVEL MY BLOWER WAS PUT ON. LEVEL 5 WOULD KEEP THE SYSTEM ON BUT LEVELS 1-4 WOULD PROMOTE THE OUTAGES. I HAVE HAD THE BLOWER MOTOR AND BLOWER SWITCH REPAIRED ON MY CAR NOT MORE THAN A YEAR AGO BUT YET I AM EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER BLOGS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE POSTED PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PONTIAC WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO MINE. I SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST MONTH. *TR

DRIVING FROM THE HIGHWAY TO THE CITY AS NORMAL LIKE EVERY WEEKEND IN MY ONLY VEHICLE A 97 GRAND PRIX GTP, PULL INTO A DRIVE THROUGH AND GET TO THE WINDOW AND PLACE MY CAR IN PARK. WAIT FOR MY CHANGE AND ORDER THEN TRY TO PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE FROM THE PARK POSITION- AND IT WON'T MOVE! I GOT A FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OF "ROAD RAGE" FROM OTHER PEOPLE YELLING AT ME AND CALLING ME NAMES TO GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN I CAN'T! MY SHIFTER IS STUCK IN PARK (AND YES MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE.) LUCKILY 15 MINUTES LATER STILL STUCK IN THE DRIVE THROUGH I NOTICE A BUTTON TO THE RIGHT OF THE GEAR SHIFTER CALLED A SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SO I STICK A PEN DOWN IT AND FINALLY I CAN LEAVE. GET HOME, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND IT WON'T RELEASE MY KEY! SO NOW THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T GO TO THE OFF POSITION. TRY TO LEAVE AGAIN AND THE ONLY WAY MY CAR WILL SHIFT FROM PARK IS IF I STICK SOMETHING DOWN IN THE HOLE FOR THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON. SEEING THE KEY DOESN'T COME OUT I'M CONSTANTLY PARANOID ABOUT SOMEONE SEEING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STEELING MY VEHICLE! EVERY TIME I USE MY CAR I HAVE TO USE THE RELEASE BUTTON AND LEAVE MY KEY IN THE IGNITION! I'M TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP IT'S GOING TO COST ALMOST $400 TO FIX THE IGNITION LOCK SOLENOID (TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEY) AND TO FIX THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID (TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT WITH OUT SHOVING A '!@#$% PEN IN A HOLE!) MIND YOU- THE $400 DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR!!!!!! THE SAD THING IS- I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND LITERALL

IT WAS AROUND 7:30 PM IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO HIS FRIENDS HOME DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE. WE WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MILES PER HR AND WERE NEARING THE FRIENDS HOME WHEN SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED INTO THE FRIENDS DRIVEWAY AND MY SON OPENED THE HOOD TO TAKE A LOOK AND FLAMES CAME OUT, MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. HE DOUSED IT WITH DIRT FROM THE GROUND. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL PARTS, UNDERHOOD, AND ENGINE AREA. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, BUT ISSUES CONTINUE TO ARISE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR IS NOW PARKED AS MORE REPAIRS ARE NEEDED. I WAS TOLD TO EXPECT OTHER PROBLEMS TO SURFACE BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD PRIOR TO THE FIRE, BUT THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. FOUR MINUTES LATER, HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. MORE SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR SHORTLY AFTER AND THEN FLAMES IGNITED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT GRABBED THE WATER HOSE LOCATED IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ROCKER COVER GASKET AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 236,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE GASKET AND SPARK PLUGS. HE CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE AT THE DEALER, THEY CLAIMED THAT THE REPAIR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REGULAR MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT MADE ANY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT IS UPSET THAT THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT RETURN HIS CALLS OR HELP HIM RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

I PARKED MY 1997 PONTIAC AT WAL-MART ONE DAY AFTER WORK. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE 30 MINUTES LATER, IT WAS ON FIRE, SURROUNDED BY 2 FIRETRUCKS. IT WAS BURNED BEYOND REPAIR. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. *TR

97 GRAND PRIX, 3.8L HIGH OUTPUT ENGINE,4T65E 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SE MODEL 4 DOOR. TRANSMISSION WAS AT FIRST HESITANT TO GO INTO REVERSE AT 100,000 MILES. AROUND 125,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL MOVEMENT WHILE PUSHING THE CAR IN REVERSE. IN OTHER WORDS YOU CANNOT MOVE THE CAR IN REVERSE AT ALL, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND IN NEUTRAL. SHOP TOLD ME I HAD A BROKEN REVERSE SHIFT FORK. TRANSMISSION SERVICE CENTER ADVISED THAT THE CAR'S USED VALUE DOES NOT WARRANT THE REPAIR COST OR PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AFTER BEING PARKED FOR TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. BOTH A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM A RECALL AND GM IS NOT TAKING ACTION FOR IT. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL INVOLVING POTENTIAL UNDERHOOD FIRES. IT IS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP. I RECEIVED THE "CUSTOMER ADVISORY LETTER" 3-4 WEEKS AGO STATING THE CAR WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I CALLED THE GM SUPPORT LINE AT 800-762-2737 TO FIND OUT WHEN THE ACTUAL RECALL WOULD COMMENCE, AS I HAVE INDEED SEEN PUFFS OF OIL SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD APPEAR UNDER HEAVY BRAKING. I TOLD THIS TO THE GM REP. THE REP STATED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR OR WHEN THE ACTUAL RECALL LETTER WOULD GO OUT. SHE SUGGESTED I HAVE THE REPAIR DONE AND "PAY FOR IT YOURSELF", SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT "IF THERE IS A RECALL". I STATED REPEATEDLY WHY WOULD I PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A SAFETY RECALL. THEY THEN CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY AND STATED I COULD BRING THE CAR TO A DEALER AND "IF IT INDEED HAD THE CONDITION, THEY WOULD FIX IT", BUT IF IT DID NOT, "YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE". I AGAIN STATED I WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING OUT OF POCKET FOR A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL. GM'S SUPPORT PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE A VERY UNCONCERNED, DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD MY CONCERNS AND FOR THIS RECALL. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SOMEONE FROM YOUR AGENCY GET THEM MOTIVATED. *TR

THIS ENGINE FAILURE TOOK ME BY SURPRISE. I CAN'T SAY THERE WAS A SINGLE EVENT THAT GAVE A GLIMPSE OF WHAT WAS IN STORE FOR ME. LUCKILY, FOR ME, THANK GOD, THAT I HAD JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE AT MY JOB SITE AND GONE INTO MY WORK BUILDING;ALSO, MY CO-WORKERS THAT PARKED THEIR VEHICLES NEXT TO MINE HAD MADE IT SAFELY TO THEIR JOBS. WITHIN ONLY APPROXIMATELY 11 MINUTES THE "TIME BOMB" BURST INTO FLAMES. *TR

I RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY INFORMING ME OF A GM RECALL FOR MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 3.8L V6 W/SUPERCHARGER CONCERNING ENGINE FIRES BECAUSE OF A LEAKY GASKET. I HAD A SIMILAR OIL LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED MUCH SMOKE AND SMELL. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ROCKER ARM GASKETS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT GM IS RECALLING MY CAR TO FIX THE FRONT GASKET LEAK AND NOT THE REAR GASKET LEAK. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT MY REAR GASKET LEAK WAS MUCH WORSE THAN THE FRONT LEAK AND WAS DRIPPING DIRECTLY ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAD NO IDEA THIS COULD EVER CATCH FIRE. I SAW DOCUMENTED PICTURES OF ANOTHER BURNED GRAND PRIX ON THE INTERNET TODAY AS I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE TODAY. I WAS UTTERLY SHOCKED. AND WHEN I HEARD GM IS ONLY GOING TO FIX THE FRONT GASKET, I KNEW I HAD TO OPEN UP A COMPLAINT. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN THE NEXT VICTIM OF GM'S INACTION. MY PROBLEM WAS FIXED ON 4/24/07 BUT PRIOR I DROVE THE CAR AND WOULD PUT UP WITH THIS SMELL UNTIL I SAW THE SMOKE ARISING WHILE I WAS AT A DRIVE-THRU RESTAURANT. GM ALSO IMPLIES IT WAS RELATED TO HEAVY BRAKING. WELL THAT MAY BE TRUE INITIALLY, BUT ONCE IT STARTED LEAKING IT NEVER STOPPED. YOU MUST FORCE THEM TO FIX BOTH GASKETS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN A FIRE BECAUSE OF THEIR DESIGN FLAW. I PAID $44.47 FOR BOTH GASKETS AND THAT WASN'T WITH GM'S VOLUME PURCHASING DISCOUNT. SO THE DIFFERENCE IS $20 DOLLARS. I CANNOT BELIEVE GM IS ONLY FIXING HALF OF THE PROBLEM, BUT YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED AND FORCE THEM. ANY OF YOUR ENGINEE

ENGINE FIRE. *TR

I WENT TO WORK FEBRUARY 21, 2008. WITHIN 10 MINUTES THEY WAS ANNOUNCING MY LICENSE PLATE OVER THE INTERCOM. THE SECURITY OFFICE MET ME ON MY WAY DOWN AND SAID MY CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THAT THEY TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME BUT IT WAS A BAD FIRE AND IT WAS NOTHING EITHER ONE OF THEM COULD DO. MY CAR HAD TO BE JUNKED. EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. *TR

MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP OVER HEATED LAST MONTH AND IT HAD AN ENGINE FIRE. PREVIOUSLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN IT HAD AN ODD OILY/ELECTRICAL SMELL BUT NOTHING APPEARED TO BE WRONG. I WAS STUCK IN SOME SNOW AND WHILE I WAS GETTING IT OUT IT APPARENTLY OVERHEATED. I MADE IT OUT ON TO THE MAIN ROAD AND LESS THAN THIRTY YARDS LATER, IT CAUGHT FIRE. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GET THERE, AND AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT SALVAGEABLE OF MY CAR. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DEMOLISHED AND THE INTERIOR HAD STANDING WATER FROM BEING EXTINGUISHED. BASICALLY, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AT THAT POINT, I HAD NO CAR AND THE INSURANCE DID NOT COVER WHAT HAD HAPPENED. *TR

MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP HAD AN ENGINE FIRE AS I WAS PULLING INTO PARKING AREA AT WORK. AS I SWIPED MY CAR, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I DID NOT PULL INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AS I USUALLY DO SO THAT I COULD CHECK TO SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I POPPED THE HOOD AND THE BACK OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL WAS ON FIRE. I BACKED AWAY AND CALLED 911. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED WITHIN MINUTES, BUT BY THAT TIME, CAR FROM THE DASHBOARD FORWARD WAS ENGULFED. FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH FOAM MATERIAL AND CAR WAS TOWED. I DID NOT HAVE FIRE OR THEFT ON THE VEHICLE. I PROMPTLY CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO INFORM THEM OF INCIDENT AND DROPPED THE CAR FROM THE INSURANCE. I SIGNED THE TITLE OVER TO MY MECHANIC. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEB OF 2,000 WITH ABOUT 30,000 MILES. IT WAS A GOOD CAR UNTIL THE FIRE. IT HAD THE 3.8 LITER SUPERCHARGED ENGINE. NO OTHER PROBLEMS PRIOR TO EVENT. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR HAD ABOUT 140,000 MILES ON IT. ONLY MAJOR WORK DONE WAS TRANS WAS REPLACED IN MAR OF 2005 WITH 108,000. IF YOU NEED COPY OF POLICE REPORT, PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

THE CAR, A '97 GRAND PRIX WITH A V-6 ENGINE, HAD JUST BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY AND SOMEONE CAME IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER AND SAID "YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE" THE PERSON WAS ALREADY ON THE PHONE WITH 911. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED 10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR ALONG WITH ALL OF MY CDS AND OTHER ITEMS WERE A TOTAL LOSS AND I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK MY BLOOD PRESSURE AND IT WAS 210 OVER 130 AND TRIED TO GET ME TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE DRIVE WAY COVERED WITH A TARP AND THE GARAGE STILL HAS THE SIDING HANGING DOWN WHERE IT MELTED FROM THE HEAT. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT EVEN THOUGH A DEPUTY SHERIFF WAS PASSING BY AND STOPPED AS THE WINDOWS AND TIRES EXPLODED. *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 1997 GRAND PRIX WHEN IT STARTED TO KNOCK AND KILLED ON THE WAY INTO THE WALMART PARKING LOT. SHORTLY AFTER COMING TO A STOP HE NOTICED SMOKE AND THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND AFTER BREAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PUT THE FIRE OUT. AMOUNT OF DAMAGES UNKNOWN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000.

WENT TO TURN MY CAR ON AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING PERFECT. I JUST HAD MY EMISSION TEST DONE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WITH THE HELP OF MY BROTHER, PUT IT OUT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

ON THE DAY INDICATED MY 2YR OLD AND I WERE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED WITH IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS AND I MAINTAINED ALL NEEDED SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

VEHICLE PARKED 10 MINUTES WHEN FIRE DETECTED, REPORTED AND EXTINGUISHED BY LOCAL FD, ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DESTROYED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN HIS STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT, OTHERWISE HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED DUE TO AN INTERNAL ERROR ON THEIR BEHALF. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT DEALER/MECHANIC, THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REIMBURSE THE CONTACT, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMIT TO THEIR INTERNAL ERROR. THE FAILURE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 235,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER PARKING. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT WHICH STATED CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL. ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTAL LOSS. HOOD DAMAGED BY FIRE DEPARTTMENT. TO GAIN ENTRY., PAINT MELTED. CAR IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. NO REPAIRS OR CHANGES MADE.*AK

BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THE OIL WAS FULL OF COOLANT. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A COMMON" PROBLEM ,AND HE HAD CHANGED SEVERAL UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 3.8 V6 ENGINES SEVERE CASES, INCLUDED CHANGING UPPER AS WELL AS LOWER GASKETS ,AND HEAD GASKETS DUE TO COOLANT LEAKS. ON A FEW OF THE CARS THE DAMAGE WAS BEYOND REPAIR, AND NEEDED NEW ENGINES DUE TO SEVERE COOLANT LEAKS. THE UPPER INTAKE PLENUM HAD MELTED, RESULTING IN A COOLANT LEAK, COOLANT IN THE OIL, AND VICE VERSA. HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER OIL CHANGE A WEEK LATER TO GET THE REST OF THE GUNK OUT, AND WILL HAVE TO BRING IT IN AGAIN NEXT WEEK TO CHECK FOR ANYMORE TRACES OF COOLANT IN THE OIL. IF FOUND WILL HAVE TO POSSIBLY CHANGE THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET, AND POSSIBLY HEAD GASKETS. IF DAMAGE WAS REALLY BAD, NEW ENGINE. IF THIS IS SUCH A "COMMON" PROBLEM GM PUTTING A PLASTIC PART WOULD BE INSTALLED. WHY WAS THERE NO RECALL ON IT? I HAVE CHECKED MESSAGE BOARD AFTER MESSAGE BOARD AND THIS PROBLEM WAS WIDE SPREAD.. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STUCK FITTING THE BILL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

I PARKED MY 97 GRAND PRIX GTP AT THE OTTAWA AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 27, 2007 AND WENT INTO THE BUILDING. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER I HEARD SOMEONE YELL MY NAME AND THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING. WHEN I GOT TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND FIRE AROUND THE TIRES AND BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. THREE OF MY CO-WORKERS TRIED PUTTING OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT COULD NOT GET THE HOOD OPEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO PRY OPEN THE HOOD WITH A BAR. THE ENGINE SMOKED AND BURNED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. THE FIRE FIGHTERS CUT OFF THE BATTERY IN CASE OF FURTHER FIRE IGNITING. THE FIRE DID NOT SPREAD TO ANY OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE BACK OF THE LOT. ALSO FIRE DID NOT SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE CAR DUE TO THE QUICK ACTION OF FIRE AND RESCUE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

AIR BAG PROBLEM LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS AND NOW I FIND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR MY CAR BUT ONLY FOR NEWER CARS LIKE 2006 IF I REMEMBER WHAT I WAS TOLD A FEW YEARS AGO. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS. THE CONTACT STATED ON FEBRUARY 3, 2007 WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE SHE NOTICED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING, THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 99,000. THE CONTACT PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE, AND IT ALL LEAKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE CONTACT DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BLOWER FOR THE HEATER ONLY BLEW COLD AIR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE FEBRUARY2006. SHE HAD IT REPAIRED. HOWEVER, IN MAY 2006 IT FAILED AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE LIGHT ON DASH BEGAN TO FLASH AS I SLOWED TO READ IT, THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS JUST GOING TO TRY TO RESTART IT WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS GOING TO GO GET MY HUSBAND WHO WAS A LITTLE OVER A HALF MILE AWAY. I REACHED INSIDE THE DRIVERS DOOR TO PUT ON THE FLASHERS AS I DID THIS I HEARD A SIZZLING NOISE AND THE FLASHERS DID NOT ENGAGE. I STARTED RUNNING TO GET HELP AND WHEN I LOOKED BACK I SAW EMBERS DROP FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BY THE PLUG WIRES. I GOT TO A PHONE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED JUST AS VISIBLE FLAMES COULD BE SEEN FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB UPDATED 3/20/08

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE EXPLODED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE. IT WAS A COLD MORNING ,AND ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO STARTING THE VEHICLE. *AK

I OWN A PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 97, 3.8. I HAVE COME TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING DUE TO MY MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKETS. I RECENTLY WENT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE THEM FIXED AND THE SHOP OWNER TOLD ME THIS IS THE DEFECT FROM THE DEALER WHICH IS COSTING ME A LOT OF MONEY TO BE FIXED. THE OWNER SAYS HE GETS A LOT OF THE PONTIAC GM CARS THAT ALSO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE IF SOMEONE CAN LOOK INTO THIS. I ALSO WAS ON YOUR WEBSITE AND NOTICED THAT YOU HAD THIS ALSO ON YOUR DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME AND THE OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CARS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR # 02V286000, FOR THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION, AT THE SERVICE DEALER. THE BEARING WAS REPLACED, BUT DUE TO AN UNAVAILABLE TOOL, THE RACK AND PINION WAS NOT REPLACED AS THE CONTACT HAD BEEN INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. THE RACK AND PINION PROBLEM HAD BECOME A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING ON MY GRAND PRIX. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY RECALLS. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP IN MARCH 2006. I WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE GRAND PRIX. I CALLED PONTIAC AND TOLD THEM I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL BUT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAD IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE TIME FRAME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO TURN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DUE TO THE LAST 8 CHARACTERS OF THE VIN, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 02V286000 REGARDING STEERING:RACK AND PINION. THE STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT, BUT THE POWER ASSIST FAILED FOR RIGHT TURNS. THE FAILURE WAS MORE PRONOUNCED AT 3 MPH, WHEN BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING SPACE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR ALL RIGHT TURNS. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

ANOTHER MOTORIST WAVED ME TO PULL OVER; THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX EXPERIENCING SAME CONSEQUENCES AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 02V286000 OR GM RECALL # 02049. LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN STEERING LEFT THAT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, STATES VIN# DOES NOT SHOW RECALL. CALLED PONTIAC, THEY TOO STATE NO RECALL. PAGE 3 OF RECALL PARTS BULLETIN ON THIS WEBSITE PLAINLY LISTS 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S MANUFACTURED IN FAIRFAX BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAK POINTS VF200001-VF359118. THE LAST DIGITS IN OUR VIN# FALLS WITHIN THAT RANGE. VF305818 PLEASE HELP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND LOWER, THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. THERE WAS ALSO A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACING. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 02V286000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN.