1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING EVERY TIME SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, SHE NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH INTAKE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING AND THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A SURCHARGE ENGINE. PONTIAC STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,801 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,788. UPDATED 4/7/08 *CN UPDATED 04/07/08 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE OIL VALVE COVER LEAKED AND CAUSED THE SPARK PLUGS TO CATCH FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO DOUSE THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, A MECHANIC REPLACED THE PLUG WIRES. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK VALVE COVERED GASKETS WERE LEAKING, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. GMC STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE HIS VEHICLE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

I DRIVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. MY CAR WAS PARKED NEXT TO A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE GRAND PRIX CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD SPREADING TO MY CAR. MY CAR AND THE GRAND PRIX TOTAL LOSS. READING ON THE INTERNET SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WONDERING WHY THIS PROBLEM NOT ADDRESSED BY PONTIAC. I KNOW THEY TAKE NO CREDIT BUT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE IN TWENTY MINUTES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A TRIP, AND SHORTLY AFTER FILLING MY CAR UP WITH GAS, I HEARD A 'BANG', AND THE ENGINE BAY BURST INTO FLAMES. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I PULLED OVER, AND BY THE TIME I ACTUALLY STOPPED THE CAR, THE FIRE WAS ALREADY ENTERING THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME I EXITED THE CAR, THE FRONT HALF WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. BY THE TIME I WALKED AROUND 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN THE FIRE. SO FAR IT IS UNCERTAIN WHAT ACTUALLY CAUSED THE FIRE, AND IT IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, AS THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS HAPPENED, AND IF MY KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME. THE FIRE SPREAD VERY, VERY FAST... I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS TROUBLE FREE, AND THIS CAME AS A COMPLETE SURPRISE. I AM EVEN MORE UPSET NOW, BECAUSE I FOUND OUT THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP, INFACT, THERE ARE A LOT OF REPORTS IDENTICAL TO MY OWN. GENERAL MOTORS REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, AND COULD EASILY GET SOMEONE KILLED. *TR

OUR 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP HAS RUN FINE SINCE OUR PURCHASE IN JUNE OF 2006. IT WAS IN EXTREMELY GOOD CONDITION, 1 OWNER CAR. MY SON DROVE IT TO WORK ON 2/25/08 AND 15 MINUTES LATER IT WAS ENGULFED WITH FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTALIZE NO RED LIGHT INDICATION OR NO SMELL OR ORDER. JUST PARKED IT AT WORK THEN 15 MINUTES LATER IT WAS ON FIRE. *TR

20 MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PAINT SHOWED MORE DAMAGE ON DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. LOCATION OR CAUSE OF FIRE UNKNOWN. 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP. STREAMWOOD IL POLICE REPORT NUMBER 0801613 PHONE 630-736-3700 CHRISTOPHER CLARK FIRE DEPT BATTALION CHIEF 630-736-3655. *TR

THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. I DROVE IT ABOUT FIVE MILES TO PICK UP MY BROTHER AND GO PLAY BASKETBALL. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS IN THE 30'S AND I PARKED THE CAR IN AN ASPHALT PARKING LOT. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THE POLICE CAME INTO THE GYM AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. WHEN I WENT OUT, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE, THE CAR HAD BURNED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TRUNK. EVERYTHING INSIDE WAS MELTED OR BURNED. IT HAS BEEN MONTHS SINCE ANY WORK WAS DONE ON THE CAR EXCEPT FOR NEW TIRES AND AN OIL CHANGE. USUALLY THESE KINDS OF FIRES ARE ELECTRICAL. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ELECTRICAL WORK DONE ON THIS CAR IN THE 6 YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED IT. *TR

I HAD BEEN HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER ABOUT A 45 MINUTE DRIVE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP OUTSIDE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BOOM. I LOOKED OUT WINDOW A SAW THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN AUGUST OF 2007 FROM FRIENDS AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE. IT APPEARS THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE HOOD WAS MELTED TO AND FIRE PERSONAL HAD TO PRY IT OPEN TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. BATTERY IS STILL INTACT. MY CAR IS DESTROYED AND I AM NOW CARLESS. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. TEN MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000. UPDATED 02-07-08. *KB