NHTSA Complaint #10182049 — 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

I HAVE A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP SUPER CHARGED V6 THAT CAUGHT FIRE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2006. AFTER DRIVING BACK TO WORK ON A SATURDAY EVENING, I PARKED THE CAR JUST OUTSIDE OUR ENTRANCE. MY FIANCE AND I SAT DOWN TO EAT DINNER NEAR THE ENTRANCE, AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES NOTICED A FOG DRIFTING BY THE ENTRANCE DOORS. WHEN WE TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WHITE FOG, WE REALIZED IT WAS SMOKE AND CALLED THE ANN ARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WE'RE ON THE WAY. AFTER HANGING UP THE PHONE, A BURST OF FLAMES EXITED OUT THE FRONT WHEEL WELL. I IMMEDIATELY GRABBED A DRY-CHEM FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND RAN OUTSIDE TO SPRAY UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. IT PUSHED THE FLAMES BACK, BUT THE FLAMES RETURNED ALMOST INSTANTLY EVEN STRONGER. I SPRAYED ANOTHER FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT IT HAD LITTLE EFFECT. AT THAT POINT I DECIDED TO GET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRST TO ARRIVE WAS A POLICE OFFICER WHO STOOD BY AS WE WAITED FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS. WHILE WAITING, THE HOOD POPPED THE LATCH FROM THE PRESSURE BUILD-UP. ONCE THE FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED, THE FIREFIGHTERS USED AN AXE TO OPEN THE HOOD, AND TWO OTHER FIREFIGHTERS STOOD OVER THE FLAMES WITH THE HOSE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. AFTER THEY WERE FINISHED, THE FIRE INSPECTOR TOOK A LOOK AT THE ENGINE TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE AND TOOK A FEW PICTURES. MUCH OF THE FRONT END OF THE CAR MELTED, AND THE BLACK MELTED PLASTIC WAS CLEANED UP BY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER. THANKFULLY, I STILL HAVE THE CAR INTACT AND PARKED IN THE BACK LOT BEHIND MY FAMILY'S RETAIL STORE IN ANN ARBOR, MI. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO OFFER MY CAR TO WHOMEVER IS HEADING UP THIS INVESTIGATION OR EVEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM GM AS IT APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT SAME SITUATION AS THE OTHER GTP OWNER'S COMPLAINTS. THE CAR HAS BEEN UNTOUCHED, EXCEPT FOR DUCT TAPING THE BUMPER BACK ON SO IT DOESN'T LOOK BAD BEHIND OUR STORE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. *JB