NHTSA Complaint #10664159 — 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

MAILING CHRISTMAS PACKAGES AND STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH GAS. WENT INSIDE TO USE RESTROOM, CAME BACK OUT AND AS I APPROACHED THE CAR, I SMELLED AN UNUSUAL ODOR. GOT IN, STARTED IT, NOTICED SMOKE COMING UP ON OUTSIDE OF WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE. SINCE I WAS PARKED NEXT TO THE GAS PUMPS, I ELECTED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE AND PULL FORWARD AWAY FROM PEOPLE AND GAS PUMPS, YELLED AT EMPLOYEES TO CALL FIRE DEPT. AS BY THIS TIME THE SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME THE FIREMEN ARRIVED, THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES (I TOOK 3 PICTURES TO SHOW PROGRESSION OF THE FIRE) THAT WAS SO HOT THAT PARTS WERE MELTING ONTO THE ASPHALT. THE FIREMEN HAD TO USE A CROWBAR TO OPEN THE HOOD TO GET TO THE FIRE. I THINK THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AS THE FIRE HAPPENED EXACTLY AS OTHERS DESCRIBE - NO PROBLEMS RUNNING, NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE BY WAY OF WARNING LIGHTS. I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT I DIDN'T PULL IT INTO OUR ATTACHED GARAGE AT HOME. *TR