NHTSA Complaint #10489591 — 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

ON 12/23/2012 AT 7:15PM WE JUST ARRIVED HOME & PARKED OUR 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX IN OUR GARAGE. ABOUT 3 MINUTES LATER MY DAUGHTER WENT INTO THE GARAGE & CAME TO GET ME TELLING ME OUR GARAGE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. I TRIED TO RELEASE THE HOOD BUT IT DID NOT RELEASE. I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO DRIVE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE IT TURNED OVER BUT DIDN'T START. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. THE GEAR SHIFT MOVED IN NEUTRAL POSITION BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. MY BROTHER IN LAW AND FAMILY JUST HAPPENED TO COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE EVENTS. HE HOOKED A CHAIN TO THE CAR AND DRUG IT OUT OF OUR GARAGE WITH HIS 4X4 TRUCK. THE DRIVERS WINDOW WAS BROKEN TO REGAIN ACCESS TO THE CAR AND TRY THE HOOD RELEASE AGAIN. THE HOOD WOULD STILL NOT RELEASE. A PRY BAR WAS USED TO FORCE THE HOOD OPEN. BUCKETS OF WATER WERE CONTINUALLY THROWN ON THE CAR DURING THIS ENTIRE EVENT. ONCE THE HOOD WAS OPEN THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR