NHTSA Complaint #10435976 — 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

MY FORMER VEHICLE, A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, HAD A SAFETY RECALL TO PREVENT "ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE." I HAD THAT RECALL FIXED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2011. ON OCTOBER 23, 2011, I DROVE IT FROM WORK TO HOME, APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES. MYSELF AND PASSENGER PARKED, AND TOOK A FEW THINGS INSIDE. WE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, LIKE PLASTIC AND A FAINT ELECTRICAL SMELL, AND THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS BURNING TRASH, AS I HAD NEVER SMELLED THAT FROM MY VEHICLE BEFORE. I WENT RIGHT BACK OUT TO GET SOMETHING, AND SAW SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD, AND SAW THE GLOW OF FIRE; WE GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN PART ON THE PLASTIC HOOD COVER OVER THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF SHUFFLING IT AROUND AND CALLING FOR PARTS. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, INCLUDING OTHERS LIKE MYSELF, WHOSE ENGINE CAUGHT AFTER FIXING THE RECALL. THERE ARE ALSO SUGGESTIONS THAT THE PART FIXED ON THE RECALL IS NOT THE TRUE ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM. THEN AGAIN, GM'S FIX FOR THE OIL SPLASHING OVER THE MANIFOLD IT IS TO PUT ON SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND I HESITATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING, POSSIBLY WITH PASSENGERS, WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. *TR