10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 56,843 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
My 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp had an engine fire as I was pulling into parking area at work. As I swiped my car, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I did not pull into the parking garage as I usually do so that I could check to see what was the problem. I popped the hood and the back of the engine near the firewall was on fire. I backed away and called 911. Police and fire department responded within minutes, but by that time, car from the dashboard forward was engulfed. Fire was put out with foam material and car was towed. I did not have fire or theft on the vehicle. I promptly called the insurance company to inform them of incident and dropped the car from the insurance. I signed the title over to my mechanic. I purchased the car in Feb of 2,000 with about 30,000 miles. It was a good car until the fire. It had the 3.8 liter supercharged engine. No other problems prior to event. At that time, the car had about 140,000 miles on it. Only major work done was trans was replaced in Mar of 2005 with 108,000. If you need copy of police report, please advise.
- Kearny, NJ, USA
I own a Pontiac Grand Prix 97, 3.8. I have come to have a problem with my car overheating due to my manifold intake gaskets. I recently went to the shop to have them fixed and the shop owner told me this is the defect from the dealer which is costing me a lot of money to be fixed. The owner says he gets a lot of the Pontiac GM cars that also have the same issue. I would like if someone can look into this. I also was on your website and noticed that you had this also on your defect investigations. I would very much appreciate if you can look into this for me and the other owners of these cars.
- Berkeley, IL, USA
The contact stated while driving on the freeway at 55 mph the vehicle stalled. He managed to pull off to the side of the road, and turned the vehicle off, then back on and proceeded to drive the vehicle home. He took the vehicle to an independent repair shop. They found the intake manifold was leaking. No repairs were made.
- Laurel , MD, USA
While driving intake manifold leaked coolant fluid. Dealerships mechanic had been notified, but the mechanic did not resolve the problem.
- Muskegon, MI, USA
Intake manifold gasket failed. As a result a coolant leak occured and an engine failure was almost a result. The heater failed in 5-20 degree weather. My mechanic informed me that this was a common problem that should be classified as a design flaw.
- Lawrence, KS, USA
Low coolant indicator light illuminated. Dealer replaced the lower intake manifold gasket.
- Chillicothe, OH, USA
Egr valve made of cheap plastic. Headlight lens falling off car. Faulty hydraulic modulator and exhaust system.
- Carol Stream, IL, USA
Consumer noticed while driving vehicle overheated. Technician diagnosed the intake plastic manifold being cracked. Dealer notified.
- Madison, WI, USA
The muffler broke off right at the engine
- Romulus, MI, USA
- Clifton Park, NY, USA