NHTSA Complaint #10838954 — 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT REACHED FOR THE PILE OF SNOW NEARBY AND USED IT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THERE WAS NO ANSWER WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000.