NHTSA Complaint #10204812 — 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

2002 GRAND PRIX GT LEAKS COOLANT AT UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 31,000 MILES. UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED THUS ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INSIDE AND ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED FOR ANY CONTAMINANTS. GM TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE GASKET WAS REPLACED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED GASKET. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY GENERAL MOTORS (NHTSA 10006144) AND THEIR SOLUTION IN 2003 WAS TO ADD COOLANT PELLETS AND TO CHANGE THE NUTS ON THROTTLE BODY. IN MY OPINION, IF THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE GASKET BEFORE THE RECALL, THE COOLANTS PELLETS WOULD HAVE ONLY PROLONGED THE TIME IT TOOK FOR THE GASKET TO TOTALLY FAIL. THUS FORCING THE CUSTOMER TO PAY TO FIX A KNOWN DEFECT SINCE THE CAR IS WAS NO LONGER UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. *JB