NHTSA Complaint #10862525 — 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TECHNICIAN OPENED THE HOOD AND A BIG EXPLOSION OCCURRED AND SMOKE APPEARED OUT OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT VALVE COVER EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. MEANWHILE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,088.