NHTSA Complaint #722648 — 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM

CHRISTMAS EVE 1999 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ACCESS ROAD A LOUD BOOM WAS HEARD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE TO POWER. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABOUT 200 FEET FROM A GAS STATION. WE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO THE GAS STATION. AT THIS TIME I SAW AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. AS HE RAN INTO THE STORE TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, A MAN FROM THE FIREWORKS STAND NEXT TO THE GAS STATION ARRIVED WITH AN EXTINGUISHER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. HE HAD SEEN US COMING DOWN THE ACCESS ROAD WITH BIG BALL OF FIRE UNDER THE CAR. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS THAT A PISTON GAVE OUT AND AS THE ENGINE BEGAN FAILING OIL BEGAN TO DRIP ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR SOME OTHER COMPONANT CAUSING THE FIRE. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. WE NEED TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE. THE DEALER ESTIMATE IS $6500.00. THIS IS JUST THE LATEST MECHANICAL FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE SPENT OVER $4,000.00 IN REPAIRS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *AK