NHTSA Complaint #10100381 — 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM

I REPLACED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN MY PONTIAC GRAND-AM (2002) AT A COST OF $700. THE PROBLEM WAS WELL-KNOWN AMONGST THE MECHANICS I SAW AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT GM HAD NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS AND THAT THE QUALITY OF GASKET USED WAS QUITE POOR. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND RAN INTO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS COMMON TO THE V-6 3.1L AND 3.4L ENGINES. IT CAUSES RAPID OIL LOSS AND COOLANT LEAKS. THIS MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. MY CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND THIS DAMAGE HAPPENED OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. I WAS TREATED RATHER RUDELY BY PONTIAC AND OFFERED NO HELP. THIS ISSUE IS RIPE FOR A CLASS-ACTION OR RECALL SCENARIO. VERY DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER AND CAR. HIGH COST OF REPAIRS FOR A TWENTY DOLLAR GASKET. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT WAS STRANDED. *JB