I had a 1999 Grand Prix GT and a couple of days ago I had a few errands to run before work. After driving around and making a few stops in maybe an hours timeframe, I headed to work and parked the car. When I got out it smelled a little hot, but when I looked at the front end, I noticed some snow in front of the grille and just assumed that there was not enough air flow and that was what I smelled. I walked on in and within 5 minutes I had a call that my car was smoking. By the time I went outside, black smoke was rolling out from under the car and its hood! Coworkers tried to use fire extinguishers while we waited on the fire truck. The hood had to be cut open by the fire dept since the cable had already melted and would not open when we pulled the latch. Flames consumed the entire engine compartment and as the pictures show, it is a total loss! Unfortunately it was paid for and I only had liability left on it... this could have been horrible! Until I read about other people experiencing the same thing, I thought the engine just overheated but was unsure why nothing registered inside the car before I got out?! There was absolutely no smell inside or fluctuation in gauges at all... GM should do something about this problem.

I had just paid off my car and was elated that I did not have any car payments and my car was in great shape! So I thought. Two weeks later my car burnt. I have always maintained my cars very well. Every 3000 miles I change the oil and all the other necessary fluids ... etc. The car did not show any signs that it was overheated. No oil light came on etc. After it had been parked for 5 minutes the neighbors came to my door and told me my car was on fire. It burnt the entire front of my car.

Pontiac should be totally responsible for this!!!! I understand now that there is an investigation going on about this very problem. I intend to hold Pontiac for full blame and that they did not notify me (and other people with this model & make) that this was a very serious potential problem. Someone could have been injured or worse!! If the car had not been parked in the front of my house the house could have very easily caught on fire!!

yeah, the same thing happened to me, about 3 hours ago, I parked my car and walked into the building to go into work. Within minutes, the switchboard at the hospital called and said that my car was on fire. When I walked outside, all I seen was flames. Luckily the fire department was close by and was already on the scene. Everything under the hood was a total loss. I am going to contact Pontiac first thing in the morning about the problem. What's so bad it my car is paid off and has been for some time and I only have liability. So I'm screwed!!!!!!

There is something wrong here. What does it take for Pontiac / GM to acknowledge a problem and reimburse people for their loss? Death? There have been too many Pontiac - Grand Prix -GM 3800 Series engine fires.

Within 5 minutes of parking my car (1999 GTP) in Feb of 2003 it burned to the ground. There were no malfunction indications, not over heated and ignited while I walked away. Fire Marshal and independent investigator said the fire originated in the engine compartment, near the drivers head lamp area. It had a bumper to bumper GM policy in effect as well as full insurance.

Pontiac laughed when I called. The GM insurance underwriter called me an idiot and hung-up.

Then my insurance company tried to have me accused of arson. Even though their investigator could not find anything.... Why? Take the publics money and at the first sign of trouble hide billion dollar companies behind politicians and the laws designed to protect us?