NHTSA Complaint #10904629 — 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

PURCHASED A USED 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX FOR MY SON IN 2003 WHEN HE TURNED 16. DURING A SHORT TRIP HOME FROM A LIVESTOCK JUDGING CONTEST IN THE SPRING OF 2005, HE HAD PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE HIS ENTIRE ENGINE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS IN A RURAL AREA AND BY THE TIME FIRE PERSONNEL GOT TO THE SCENE, THE ENTIRE CAR HAD BEEN BURNT UP IN FLAMES. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR OR TWO AFTER THE INCIDENT WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM IDENTIFYING THE EXACT PROBLEM WE HAD ENCOUNTERED. AFTER NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH GM WANTING SOME SORT OF RESTITUTION THEY DENIED OUR CLAIM BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAD THE CAR FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE OR ANY PICTURES. WE DID HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF THE TOW TRUCK AND THE WEST BROOKLYN IL FIRE PERSONNEL BUT WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT. OVER THE COARSE OF THE YEARS THEY KEEP SENDING US RECALL NOTICES ON THE SAME VEHICLE WANTING US TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. WE JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE WITH THE INFORMATION ON WHO TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH WHICH IS WHAT HAS PROMPTED THIS COMPLAINT LETTER.