1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/31/2016*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE...UPDATED 03/16/16 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLUG WIRES, VELOCITY BELT, DIP STICK, AND VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE FIRE OCCURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ

I GOT A RECALL FOR MY CAR [XXX] DEC 2015,THAT I MIGHT GET A ENGINE FIRE IF I DONT GET THIS UPGRADE DONE. I WISH I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THIS NEWS 3 MONTHS EARLIER BECAUSE I DID HAVE A ENGINE FIRE 3 MONTHS A GO ID#IS15V701 THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,177. .UPDATED 07/13/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, UNTIL THE DEALER WORKED ON IT. THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND BOLT GROMETS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/31/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN IT EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND IN THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO REPORTS AVAILABLE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED A RELATED RECALL EXPIRED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE CAR HAD A RECALL 2 YEARS AGO WHICH I OBEYED, THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT FIRE ON THE ENGINE, BUT EVEN AFTER I ATTENDED THAT RECALL 2 YEARS AGO, MY ENGINE STILL CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE ARE MANY CASES LIKE THIS ONE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGES INCREASED AS WELL. A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED AND THE CONTACT USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FULLY DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,288.

MY 1997 GRAND PRIX RANDOMLY STARTED ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE. 911 WAS CALLED AND FIRE PUT OUT. I SALVAGED CAR BUT NOW I WONDER IF IT WAS MANUFACTURING FAULT. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MY CAR AND FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THAT. *TR

I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, STOPPED MY CAR AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY INTERIOR AIR VENTS. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND GRABBED MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CARSEAT. WE RAN FROM THE CAR AND WATCHED THE SMOKE START GETTING WORSE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD. THEN FLAMES STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BURNT DOWN TO METAL. THE FIRE DEPT. SAID THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY OIL THAT'S WHY THEY WERE UNABLE TO PUT IT OUT. WE ASSUMED IT WAS FAULT ON OUR BEHALF SO WE DID NOT REPORT IT TO OUR INSURANCE. JUST TODAY I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE #09047. STATING THAT AN UNDERHOOD FIRE MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON EXHAUST...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ADDING OIL TO THE ENGINE, SOME OF THE OIL DRIPPED ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE AFTER THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVED WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

I WAS THE OWNER OF A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE AND PRIOR TO RECEIVING WORD FROM GM ABOUT A RECALL ON THESE PARTICULAR CARS FOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT RELATED FIRES... MY CAR WAS LOST IN A FIRE. PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE THERE WERE NO KNOWN ISSUES, NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH, NO STRANGE NOISES,SMELLS ETC. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 MINUTES... A ROUTE I HAD TAKEN MANY TIMES IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR, SMOKE APPEARED AND AFTER 20 MINUTES PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF AT A SERVICE STATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE BUILDING OF THE SERVICE STATION WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND WHEN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE COMPANY WAS UNDERGOING LIQUIDATION AND COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,844.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED HER ANTIFREEZE WAS LOW AND FILLED THE OVER FLOW TANK AND DXCOOL ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TO BE THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD HOSE WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THE VEHICLE EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RULED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM OIL ON THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,050.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL 08V118000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING MAY BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM. HE WAS CURRENTLY AWAITING A RESPONSE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SAFETY RECALL 09047. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE AT A GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS IN STORAGE. THE CONSUMER READ WHERE A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *JB

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAD AN ENGINE FIRE IN OCTOBER 2007 AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CALLED PONTIAC ON MAY 21, 2008 AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE AND SHE WAS TOLD NO. *JB

RECALL NOTICE FOR 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX (09047). CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE FIRE OCCURRED TWO YEARS AGO AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP KEPT TELLING HIM THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. *NJ RECALL 02V293000. *JB

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. JAN. 31 2007 ENGINE FIRE , VEHICLE BURNED IN PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK . TOTAL LOSS. NOW GM HAS A RECALL FOR ENG COMPARTMENT FIRES ON THIS VEHICLE . GM'S ESIS DIVISION SENT ME A LETTER SAYING THAT OHIOS PROPERTY DAMAGE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS 2 YEARS . HOW CAN THIS APPLY WHEN THE RECALL WAS JUST ISSUED? *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE CAR JUST CUT OFF AT THE TURNING LIGHT BEFORE I GOT TO MY HOUSE. IT STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. I THOUGHT IT MAYBE OVER HEATING. SO I POPPED THE HOOD OPEN THINKING IT WOULD STOP SMOKING BUT IT GOT WORSE. SO I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SO I RAN AND GOT WHAT I CAN OUT OF MY CAR WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE TALKING TO 911. WHILE I WAS DOING THAT, A MAN WAS DRIVING BY STOPPED AND GAVE ME A FIRE EXTINGUISHER SO I PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE TRUCK CAME A MIN LATER. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS. *TR

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAD AN UNDERHOOD EXPLOSION AND FIRE - REF. RECALL #90046. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *JB THE CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING ON REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 05/18/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER THE DEALER PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE, THE BOLTS ON THE AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE COMPRESSOR WAS HANGING FROM THE ENGINE AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STEERING. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPRESSOR FALLING OFF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER DENIES BEING AT FAULT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-25 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 WAS SENT OUT AFTER THE FAILURE TO WARN CONSUMERS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD IGNITE INTO FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 153,636.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE COULD IGNITE INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 162,000.

I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS MORNING FROM GM ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL ON MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ABOUT AN UNDERHOOD FIRE AND THAT I NEED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A PONTIAC DEALER. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY CAR OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE NEAREST DEALER IS 35-40 MILES FROM US AND GM REFUSES TO PAY THE TOWING CHARGES AND I REFUSE TO PAY THEM OR DRIVE THIS CAR 35-40 MILES. IS GM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOWING CHARGES? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HE WAS EXPERIENCING WAS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000, EXCEPT HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A 3.8L SUPERCHARGEED V-6 ENGINE. THEREFORE, THE REMEDY DOES NOT COVER HIS VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AND SMELLED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER OF 2008. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE COMES TO A HARD STOP. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT THE CONTACT DESCRIBED BECAUSE NO OIL WAS LEAKING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO AN ENGINE FIRE THAT OCCURRED IN A DRIVEWAY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V6 ENGINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR HER VEHICLE ON MAY 4, 2009. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PRIOR FAILURES WITH THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE DEALER EXCEPT FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 163,000.

1997 GRAND PRIX FIRE IN ENGINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHEN PROCEEDING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD COME OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED A SETTLEMENT OF $11,080. HE WAS NOT INFORMED OF WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AND REJECTED THE OFFER BECAUSE THE SETTLEMENT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. HE THEN FILED A CLAIM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

I HAVE A 1997 GRAND PRIX GT N/A 3800 ENGINE WITH ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT ROCKER PANEL GASKET HOWEVER THE RECALL ONLY COVERS THE S/C'D VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE THERE IS ENGINE OIL SITTING ON THE TOP OF THE MOTOR, ALSO THERE IS OIL BUILT UP ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ONE SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMING FROM THIS LOCATION I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE AN ENGINE FIRE WITH THIS LEAKING OIL. *TR

MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT 3.8LITER NOT SUPERCHARGED CAUGHT FIRE AND WHEN WE TRIED TO GET PARTS THE JUNK YARD HAD 2 THEY ALSO HAD CAUGHT FIRE GM DID A RECALL ON SUPER CHARGED NOT REGULAR 3.8 LITERS CARS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND SENSORS ON THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SHE HAS EXPERIENCED OIL LEAKAGE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILED GASKET. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER MODEL GASKET WAS TOO OLD AND THERE WAS A NEWER ROCKET COVER GASKET NEEDED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC AT MIDAS STATED THAT DROPS OF ENGINE OIL WERE BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

IT WAS AROUND 7:30 PM IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO HIS FRIENDS HOME DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE. WE WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MILES PER HR AND WERE NEARING THE FRIENDS HOME WHEN SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED INTO THE FRIENDS DRIVEWAY AND MY SON OPENED THE HOOD TO TAKE A LOOK AND FLAMES CAME OUT, MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. HE DOUSED IT WITH DIRT FROM THE GROUND. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL PARTS, UNDERHOOD, AND ENGINE AREA. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, BUT ISSUES CONTINUE TO ARISE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR IS NOW PARKED AS MORE REPAIRS ARE NEEDED. I WAS TOLD TO EXPECT OTHER PROBLEMS TO SURFACE BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE GASKET AND SPARK PLUGS. HE CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE AT THE DEALER, THEY CLAIMED THAT THE REPAIR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REGULAR MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT MADE ANY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT IS UPSET THAT THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT RETURN HIS CALLS OR HELP HIM RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

I PARKED MY 1997 PONTIAC AT WAL-MART ONE DAY AFTER WORK. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE 30 MINUTES LATER, IT WAS ON FIRE, SURROUNDED BY 2 FIRETRUCKS. IT WAS BURNED BEYOND REPAIR. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AFTER BEING PARKED FOR TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. BOTH A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

THIS ENGINE FAILURE TOOK ME BY SURPRISE. I CAN'T SAY THERE WAS A SINGLE EVENT THAT GAVE A GLIMPSE OF WHAT WAS IN STORE FOR ME. LUCKILY, FOR ME, THANK GOD, THAT I HAD JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE AT MY JOB SITE AND GONE INTO MY WORK BUILDING;ALSO, MY CO-WORKERS THAT PARKED THEIR VEHICLES NEXT TO MINE HAD MADE IT SAFELY TO THEIR JOBS. WITHIN ONLY APPROXIMATELY 11 MINUTES THE "TIME BOMB" BURST INTO FLAMES. *TR

ENGINE FIRE. *TR

MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP OVER HEATED LAST MONTH AND IT HAD AN ENGINE FIRE. PREVIOUSLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN IT HAD AN ODD OILY/ELECTRICAL SMELL BUT NOTHING APPEARED TO BE WRONG. I WAS STUCK IN SOME SNOW AND WHILE I WAS GETTING IT OUT IT APPARENTLY OVERHEATED. I MADE IT OUT ON TO THE MAIN ROAD AND LESS THAN THIRTY YARDS LATER, IT CAUGHT FIRE. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GET THERE, AND AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT SALVAGEABLE OF MY CAR. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DEMOLISHED AND THE INTERIOR HAD STANDING WATER FROM BEING EXTINGUISHED. BASICALLY, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AT THAT POINT, I HAD NO CAR AND THE INSURANCE DID NOT COVER WHAT HAD HAPPENED. *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 1997 GRAND PRIX WHEN IT STARTED TO KNOCK AND KILLED ON THE WAY INTO THE WALMART PARKING LOT. SHORTLY AFTER COMING TO A STOP HE NOTICED SMOKE AND THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND AFTER BREAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PUT THE FIRE OUT. AMOUNT OF DAMAGES UNKNOWN. *TR

BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THE OIL WAS FULL OF COOLANT. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A COMMON" PROBLEM ,AND HE HAD CHANGED SEVERAL UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 3.8 V6 ENGINES SEVERE CASES, INCLUDED CHANGING UPPER AS WELL AS LOWER GASKETS ,AND HEAD GASKETS DUE TO COOLANT LEAKS. ON A FEW OF THE CARS THE DAMAGE WAS BEYOND REPAIR, AND NEEDED NEW ENGINES DUE TO SEVERE COOLANT LEAKS. THE UPPER INTAKE PLENUM HAD MELTED, RESULTING IN A COOLANT LEAK, COOLANT IN THE OIL, AND VICE VERSA. HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER OIL CHANGE A WEEK LATER TO GET THE REST OF THE GUNK OUT, AND WILL HAVE TO BRING IT IN AGAIN NEXT WEEK TO CHECK FOR ANYMORE TRACES OF COOLANT IN THE OIL. IF FOUND WILL HAVE TO POSSIBLY CHANGE THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET, AND POSSIBLY HEAD GASKETS....

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE LIGHT ON DASH BEGAN TO FLASH AS I SLOWED TO READ IT, THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS JUST GOING TO TRY TO RESTART IT WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS GOING TO GO GET MY HUSBAND WHO WAS A LITTLE OVER A HALF MILE AWAY. I REACHED INSIDE THE DRIVERS DOOR TO PUT ON THE FLASHERS AS I DID THIS I HEARD A SIZZLING NOISE AND THE FLASHERS DID NOT ENGAGE. I STARTED RUNNING TO GET HELP AND WHEN I LOOKED BACK I SAW EMBERS DROP FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BY THE PLUG WIRES. I GOT TO A PHONE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED JUST AS VISIBLE FLAMES COULD BE SEEN FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB UPDATED 3/20/08

I HAVE A 1997 GRAND PRIX WITH A 3.8 LITER V6 THAT HAS A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE CAR LEAKS ABOUT A QUART OF COOLANT A MONTH AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE QUICKLY IF I DON'T HAVE IT REPAIRED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT LOSS OF COOLANT COULD LEAD TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. DOING SOME RESEARCH, I SEE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT IS REQUIRED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW RATHER THAN WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER WEAR.

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

CURRENTLY, THE CLEARCOAT IS PEELING OFF THE CAR. LAST SUMMER, THE WINDOW MOTORS DIED. REOCCURING, IS THE AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEM. -IT DOESN'T WORK.

NOTICED SEVERAL AREAS WHERE THE PAINT SEEMS TO BE PEALING ON THE CAR

I PUT A $1,000 ON A CAR THE TRANMISSON IS DEFECTED THEY CLAIM THE FIXED IT BUT DID NOT AND THE AIR DO NOT WORK/ TODAY THE CAR CUT OFF ON ME AND DID NOT START SO I LEFT IT BESIDE THE ROAD SO THE DEALERSHIP CAN PICK IT UP THIS IS A USED CAR

THIS IS THE WORST AUTOMOBILE I HAVE EVER OWNED. IT IS NICKEL AND DIMING ME TO DEATH. BOTH BACK WINDOWS ARE BEING HELD UP IN PLACE BY STICKS THAT I HAVE PROPED UNDER THEM. THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW I PAID $300 TO HAVE REPAIRED. THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME AND I HAD TO DISH OUT $500 TO GET THAT REPAIRED, GM RECALLED IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THAT, THANK GOD I GOT SOME OF MY MONEY BACK FOR THAT REPAIR. THE PASSENGERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF $75 TO REPLACE THAT. I AM PRESENTLY WORKING ON THE BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INDICATOR WHICH I JUST CALLED THE DEALER FOR A PRICE ON THE PART AND AM TOLD IT WILL BE $224.07 FOR THE PART AND PROBABLY $115 FOR THE LABOR. THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL I HAD MY WIFE TAKE IT TO THE SHOP FOR THEM TO TAKE...