NHTSA Complaint #752953 — 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM

VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF AT 6:01AM (MDT). KEY WAS NOT IN IGNITION NOR WAS IGINITION SWITCH ENGAGED. VEHICLE CRANKED FOR APPROX. 4 MINUTES WHILE OWNER ATTEMPTED TO DISCONNECT BATTERY. FOLLOWING APPROX 4 MINUTES OF ENGINE CRANKING VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN. OWNER THEN ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF GARAGE IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER OCCURRENCE. VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. OWNER ALSO NOTICED STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO NOT DISENGAGE FROM PARK DUE TO TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. IGNITION SWITCH IDENTIFIED AS FAILURE (PART RETAINED BY VEHICLE OWNER). WHILE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, OWNER HAS SERIOUS CONCERN REGARDING FIRE POTENTIAL TO VEHICLE AND SURROUNDING STRUCTURES IF FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT A TIME WHERE VEHICLE HAD BEEN UNATTENDED OR UNNOTICED.