10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 45
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 247,925 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.
The contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving approximately 35 mph, black smoke appeared from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The contact shut off the vehicle to stop the smoke. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the cause of the failure was undetermined; however, the technician stated that the engine seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. Updated 10/21/16
- Roanoke, VA, USA
1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle fire and exhaust manifold recall notice. The consumer stated he no longer owns the vehicle, since the fire occurred a year ago.
- Ottawa, OH, USA
The contact owned a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. While parked, the vehicle caught fire. The local fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000. Updated 03/04/16 updated 03/10/16.
- Kimball Township, MI, USA
When I first got my car in 2012, had to take it back to place, because it cut off/ stalled. Bought as is. Had warranty for 3 months. They did not honor it. It has been one problem, after another. With this car. Since the day I bought it.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
I left my house for the first time that day went three blocks stop for the stop sign it went in flames from the beginning of the motor all the way in my backseat I was driving probably 5 minutes doing the speed limit an coming to a stop sign an I stopped then in flames I called 911 and they put the fire out and they had they had to call a tow truck the car wasn't drivable afterwards one more. Now they want me to pay $350 for the tow an 2days of it being there.
- Stockton, CA, USA
Since the beginning of June, the car has shut off while my son has been driving it six times. He has been on the interstate, on our local roads, etc. The car will start right back up. It is scary for a newer driver or anyone for that matter to be driving on the highway and the car just shut off.
- Hagerstown, MD, USA
There was a loud boom and flames came to the windshield from under the hood. I pulled the car over and jumped out to safety. The engine burned and the front of the car was destroyed. Everything under the hood was destroyed. The brakes were also destroyed. The ignition didn't work but I was able to get the key out. There was no power the car.
- Marrero, LA, USA
Car was driven less than 2 miles. Parked and when returned 15 minutes later troy NY fire dept had hood up and put out a small fire under engine cover. They said it appeared to be electrical in nature. This car had a recall issued and work completed to correct a engine fire issue on 9/24/2010 at 172,221 miles. I contacted Pontiac and they gave me a case # and said they would take a look at the car. A couple of weeks later they sent me out a denial letter stating that nys only requires a 4 year from in service date warranty and that I was well past that timeframe. My concern is that their recall did not remedy the situation and that the work was completed before I even put three thousand miles on the car.
- Scotia, NY, USA
The contact owns 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. While parked, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact opened the hood and noticed flames. The contact used water to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was then inspected by an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated that the failure may have been caused by a fuel leak. The vehicle was previously repaired under the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the failure may be related to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
- Monticello, AR, USA
The car damaged the plenum three times, this cause multiple missfire until the car wont start; there is corrosion on spark cables, damaged the coils. All power window machinery and/or motors also damaged.
- Barranquitas, PR, USA
Engine fire, approximately 5 minutes after car was parked. Fire company called to extinguish fire.
- Wilmington, DE, USA
The contact owned a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and shut off for a few minutes when it engulfed into flames. The fire department appeared on the scene to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent repair shop. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileages were unknown. The VIN was unavailable.
- Lillington, NC, USA
Vehicle began to run rough. Then immediately lost power steering and stalled. The engine died followed by flames from under both sides of the hood. No smoke was seen before the fire began. No lights came on to indicate a problem. In no time, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. The car was a total loss.
- Pana, IL, USA
On Sunday morning July 3, 2011 I drove my wife's 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix $13.57 mile from my home to get some lab work done. Afterwards I dove $12.77 mile to the gas station and filled the car up with gas $49.50 to be exact, then drove home 1.80 miles total trip $28.14 miles. I parked the car in front of my home as I always do next to my 1993 Cadillac Seville. I went into the house to change for church and approximately 10 minutes later my son call out to me saying dad the car is smoking!! I went to the door and I saw the car was smoking and then fire shot out from under the front of the car and engulfed the engine. My wife called 911 and told them that the car was on fire and it has a full tank of gas (my neighbor also called 911). My wife then said to move away from the windows and door just in case the car blows. While moving back we saw the blaze from the Grand Prix spread over to the Seville catching the right side tire on fire. By this time the fire and police were on the site. The Grand Prix burned from the front hood to the back seats before being contained, and the front windshield was cracked and front right quarter panel on the 1993 Seville was burnt badly including the right tire, the turn signal lights and head lights. I'm simply out raged that my insurer will not cover my Seville for the damages done by no fault of mine. Something needs to be done. I had two perfectly running vehicles until Sunday morning and now I'm down two. My insurance company has indicated that they will pay for the Grand Prix but pull out a clause in my policy saying that damage to property while it is owned by you is not covered!, but if someone else's vehicle would have been damaged, then it would have been covered. This is no fault of mine and I've always pay my insurance on time and I'm robbed in the end... where is the justice"!?!" I have always owned GM and I'm now rethinking that!
- Thompson's Station, TN, USA
Early Monday morning got into car as normal to go to work, turned the key to start and immediatly there was a loud thump then smoke started pouring out of hood area, I opened the hood and the engine was engulfed in flames, the noise was so loud it woke my family in which they called the fire department by then I had already ran to my boat to retrieve my fire extinguisher to put the fire out, luckily I had the extinguisher and was able to cancel fire department call and put the fire out by myself, now I am awaiting estimate from mechanic to see if engine can be salvaged or if it is a total loss
- West Chazy, NY, USA
The contact owns a 1999 Pontiac grand prx. The contact was driving approximately 20 mph and approaching a traffic stop when the engine exhibited an abnormal increase in rpms. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or inspection. On a separate occasion, the exact same failure occurred and the engine stalled before then independently restarting. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure persisted. The failure mileage was 131,752.
- Rancho Cucamonga , CA, USA
1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. Attorney sent letter on behalf of consumer stating consumer is seeking property damage for loss of vehicle which caught fire prior to the date that a recall was issued in May 2010.
- Pikeville, KY, USA
The contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for five minutes and when he returned, smoke was emitting from the hood. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. The vehicle was totaled. The repairs for recall 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling) were performed ten days before the fire. The current and failure mileages were approximately 170,520.
- Marrero, LA, USA
The contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving at speeds of 45 mph, the vehicle began smoking from under the hood. The contact pulled into a local gas station and when opening the hood, found that the engine was on fire. The fire was extinguished by three off-duty firefighters. The contact was not injured. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. The manufacture was contacted and the contact was awaiting a response from the manufacture to determine what to do with the vehicle. The contact was unable to confirm if the vehicle was destroyed or was able to be repaired. The cause of the fire was yet to be determined. The failure and current mileages were 150,000.
- Wattingers Fall, NY, USA
- Michigan City, IN, USA