1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH HAS CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE. THE DAMAGE WAS UNDER THE HOOD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS LOCATED. HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NHTSA#08V118000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING AND TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE STATING THAT THEY HAD TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE THEY COULD REPAIR THE DAMAGED THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY HAD TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FROM ANOTHER DIVISION DUE TO THE FIRE AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE 30 TO 60 DAYS BEFORE HE WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THE DEALER REGARDING THE REPAIR. FOR SIX MONTHS, THE CONTACT HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE REGARDING THE FAILURE AND APPROVAL FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AGAIN BUT THEY...

I CONTACTED GM ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V118000 AND THEIR CORRESPONDING GM RECALL NO. 07035. THE SERVICE REP ADVISED ME THAT THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I EXPLAINED TO THE REP THAT NEITHER HE OR I COULD GUARANTEE THAT IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY. MY ENGINE IS SEEPING OIL OUT WHERE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL AND IS POOLS UP IN THE ENGINE AND IF I DID HAVE TO STOP FAST OIL WOULD CERTAINLY FLY FORWARD ONTO THE EXHAUST. I CAN ALSO SEE THE RUBBER GASKET PIECES BREAKING DOWN WHERE IT LOOKS AS IF THE OIL IS LEAKING FROM. I ONLY NOTICED THIS WHEN I TOOK OFF THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER TO INSPECT A FUEL LINE. I SIMPLY WANT IT NOTED THAT THEY MAY HAVE RECORDED IT AS BEING FIXED BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY IF THE CONDITION STILL EXISTS. *TR

OUR SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOOD AND DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR. HE COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP COMPLETELY BUT DID GET IT SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO JUMP OUT. THE FIRE DIED DOWN A LITTLE BUT FLARED BACK UP, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT IT OUT. THE POLICE WERE CALLED BUT DIDN'T MAKE A REPORT BECAUSE THEIR WASN'T A ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED A LOUD POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 250,000.

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, THE FIRE SPREAD. DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED ON A DAY IT WAS RAINING. I PULLED INTO A REST AREA. THAT WAS WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. *TR

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX RECALL ID NHTSA: 08V118000. I HAD THIS REPAIR DONE AS REQUESTED. BUT MY COMPLAINT TO THE DEALER WAS THAT IF THE FRONT ONE IS FAILING, PUTTING OIL ON THE MANIFOLD TO CAUSE A FIRE. THEN WHY ARE THEY NOT REPLACING THE BACK ONE? MY GTP IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE BACK GASKET, DRIPPING ON THE PLUGS, WIRES AS WELL AND IS DRIPPING ON THE MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST PIPE. IT ALSO IS SMOKING AND HAS A BURNING OIL SMELL. WHY WERE THEY BOTH NOT REPLACED? *TR

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

I HAD PARKED MY CAR OUTSIDE MY PARENTS' HOME AND I WAS INSIDE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. SOMEONE CAME AND TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. MY 1997 GRAND PRIX WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD NOT HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH IT, I HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY. IT JUST CAUGHT FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO YOU AND I HAVE JUST READ ON MSNBC THAT GM IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND PARKED IT IN A PRIVATE LOT. I WENT INTO WORK AND ATTENDED TO MY JOB FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. AFTER 30 MINUTES, A FRIEND INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE FOR MYSELF, AND I FOUND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY ARRIVED AND WERE EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR SIGNS OF A FIRE BEFORE I LEFT MY CAR TO GO INTO WORK, AND I STILL DO NOT KNOW HOW IT STARTED. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ENGINE FIRE, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT IT TOTALLY DESTROYED THE ENGINE ITSELF. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE CLAIM IS STILL BEING PROCESSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. FOUR MINUTES LATER, HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. MORE SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR SHORTLY AFTER AND THEN FLAMES IGNITED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT GRABBED THE WATER HOSE LOCATED IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ROCKER COVER GASKET AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 236,000.

I WENT TO WORK FEBRUARY 21, 2008. WITHIN 10 MINUTES THEY WAS ANNOUNCING MY LICENSE PLATE OVER THE INTERCOM. THE SECURITY OFFICE MET ME ON MY WAY DOWN AND SAID MY CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THAT THEY TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME BUT IT WAS A BAD FIRE AND IT WAS NOTHING EITHER ONE OF THEM COULD DO. MY CAR HAD TO BE JUNKED. EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000.

ON THE DAY INDICATED MY 2YR OLD AND I WERE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED WITH IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS AND I MAINTAINED ALL NEEDED SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE EXPLODED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE. IT WAS A COLD MORNING ,AND ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO STARTING THE VEHICLE. *AK

ANOTHER MOTORIST WAVED ME TO PULL OVER; THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD. REPAIR SHOP SAYS" IF ITS ANY CONSOLATION IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURUR" WELL ITS NOT ANY CONSOLATION ,IT COST ME $600 TO FIX A DESIGN FLAW?

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, IT EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB...*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED FOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS MECHANIC FOUND THAT ENGINE HEAD CRACKED. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL, AND OIL SENSOR LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. *AK

VERY LARGE AND QUICK SPREADING FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS TOTALED. *LA

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AT A STOP OR AT 30-40 MPH. VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE CONSUMER HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT INFORMED THE CONSUMER HIS VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY AND DID NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT AND STILL WISHES TO RECEIVE. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: OIL PAN LEAKED-REPLACED GASKET ASSEMBLY, AND THE END SEALS OF THE RACK AND PINION LEAKED, WHICH WERE REPLACED. MR SCC *JB

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. IN JANUARY OF 2003 THE CAR STARTED DYING WHILE DRIVING IT AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. IT ALSO HAS TWICE STOPPED WHEN I AM GOING SLOW ON A LARGE LOOPING ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE. EACH TIME THE CAR WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN AND RUN FINE. THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING THE CAR IS GOING TO DIE. I FIRST NOTICED IT DIED WHEN I WA NO LONGER ABLE TO STEER THE CAR, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING IS GONE. IN FEBRUARY 2003 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT. I WAS CHARGED $36.25 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I ASKED WHAT I SHOULD DO SINCE THE CAR KEEPS STALLING AND...

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE LOCKS UP AND THEN SHUTSDOWN. WAS CAUSED BY FILTER BEING CLOGGED. REPLACED PART, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK

DEALER'S SEVICE MAN STATED THERE IS LEAKAGE FROM THE LOWER AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND RECOMMENDS REPLACING GASKET AND UPPER MANIFOLD. I DON'T BELIEVE A CAR WITH ONLY 33,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM LIKE THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NLM

MY 1997 GRAND PRIX WITH A 3.1 L ENGINE WAS CONSUMING COOLANT FOR A FEW MONTHS. ON DECEMBER 6 2001 I NOTICED COOLANT IN THE OIL.I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE THOUGHT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN.HE TOLD ME TO GO TO PONTIAC TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE HEAD GASKETS.WHEN I WENT TO MY LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS.I WAS FURTHER INFORMED BY A REPRESENTIVE AT PONTIAC THAT IT WAS PROBABLY NOT THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING BUT RATHER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHIUCH THEY SEE ABOUT 10 TIMES A WEEK IN THESE ENGINES.A OBVIOUS DEFECT WHICH GM IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT.MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND INDEED IT WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY INTO THE ENGINE.THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR JUST OVER 600.00 DOLLARS. PONTIAC HAS DONE NOTHING TO TRY AND...

DIFFICULTY STARTING AND RESTARTING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES CUT OFF 5-10 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS STARTED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER'S SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT OIL PUMP COVER MAY CAUSE HIGH OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE TO MISFIRE.*AK

CONSUMER'S STOPPED VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND CONSUMER GOT KNOCKED OUT FROM INHALING AN IRRITANT THAT IS IN THE AIR BAG, CONSUMER CONTINUES TO HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS. *SLC

ENGINE'S MAIN REAR SEAL LEAKED OIL. ALSO, OIL PAN WAS LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME IT WOULD FAIL TO WORK. HAS HAPPENED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AROUND 8 MONTHS LATER. EACH TIME THE MECHANIC INDICATED THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

ACCORDING TO DEALER - OIL FROM DIP STICK DRIPPED ON ENGINE AND IGNITED! PONTIAC AUTHORIZED AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND REPAIRS, BUT REFUSES TO RELEASE INFORMATION RELATED TO CAUSE, SAYS IT IS PROPIETARY. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/CONTROL VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN THE BACK MOTOR MOUNTS FELL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO DROP APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES. THIS IN TURN PULLED THE STEERING COLUMN APART, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING.