1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Electrical Problems

NOTE: I HAVE FILED A SAFELY COMPLAINT BEFORE WITH THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE ON NOV 9, 2020 REFERENCE NUMBER: 11373799. AND NOW DUE TO SAFETY NEGLIGENCE FROM THE INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT OF THE NHTSA ..EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE EXTREMELY HOT OIL THAT'S DRIPPING OFF THE EXTREMELY HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT'S LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVER STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND ALSO LEAKED INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE PISTON TO SLIT INTO NUMEROUS PIECES THEN VIOLENTLY BEING SHOT BACK AND FORTH STRIKING THE CYLINDER WALLS VIOLENTLY THEN BREAKING THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND OIL PAN, THEN SPILLING HOT OIL ON THE I-105 HIGHWAY AT HIGH WAY SPEED COMING UP ON A FORK, LOST OIL COMPRESSION AND STALLING OUT WITH HEAVY THICK CAN'T SEE IN MORE THEN 5 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU GREY/BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH ENDS OF THE VEHICLE. ALMOST COSTED ME MY LIFE

NHTSA ID

11395511

Incident

Feb 7, 2021

Mileage

210,500 mi

THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL ON THE MANIFOLD WHICH STARTED A FIRE AND ELECTRICAL SOME OF MY SENSOR CONNECTORS AND NOT WORKING.. THE FIRE STARTED AFTER I PULLED IN TO DRIVE WAY AND I CAN FEEL FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR THAT THE ENGINE WAS GETTING REAL HOT SO I POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ON THE MANIFOLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325035

Incident

May 15, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX TO THE TIRE SHOP IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND TOTALLY DAMAGED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11118306

Incident

Jul 7, 2018

Mileage

200,000 mi

ON THE 10TH OF JUNE IN 2016 DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, I NOTICED A WHITE COLORED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR. IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE SMOKE CONTINUED. POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW A FIRE ON THE MIDDLE/ FRONTFRONT OF THE MOTOR. THE FORE WAS COMING FROM THE COVER ON THE TOP OF MOTOR.

NHTSA ID

10874017

Incident

Jun 10, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,800.

NHTSA ID

10845847

Incident

Nov 3, 2015

Mileage

155,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, WHEN THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE INFORMATION SYSTEM IN THE DASHBOARD WOULD FAIL WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,300. UPDATED 04/08/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/16/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10817591

Incident

Jul 18, 2014

Mileage

52,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10811204

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

136,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STOPPED WITH NO CODE. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE NEXT WEEK, THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN WITHOUT ANY CODE. BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL STOP AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609466

Incident

Jun 3, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

AT 4:06 PM ON NOV. 04,2013, MY WIFE PARKED IN A LOCAL WALMART PARKING LOT. SHE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. BYSTANDERS STARTED YELLING FOR HER TO EXIT THE CAR. ONE BYSTANDER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, LOCATED 1.25 MILES AWAY. MY WIFE EXITED THE CAR CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEN CALLED ME WITH HER MOBILE PHONE BY THE TIME THE FIRE ENGINE ARRIVED, THE PLASTIC PARTS ON TOP OF AND AROUND THE ENGINE HAD BEEN DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I ARRIVED FROM FOUR MILES AWAY, AND AFTER SURVEYING THE DAMAGE, I CONSIDERED THE DAMAGE TO EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE CAR. I CALLED A LOCAL TOWING SERVICE AND THEY TOWED THE CAR TO MY HOME. THE CAR HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BEFORE THE FIRE. I AM 77 YEARS OLD AND MY WIFE IS 74 AND OUR MEMORIES ARE FAILING. I THINK WE RECEIVED A POST CARD NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL, BUT I THINK IT WAS FOR A STEERING PROBLEM: NOTHING RELATED TO ANY DANGER OF AN ENGINE FIRE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GENERAL MOTORS CHOSE TO NOT NOTIFY US BY REGISTERED MAIL OF THE IMMINENT DANGER OF A FIRE. . *TR

NHTSA ID

10552219

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

Mileage

141,407 mi

AFTER LEAVING WORK ON FRIDAY MAY 17, 2013 I WENT TO COMPLETE SEVERAL ERRANDS BEFORE DRIVING TO THE NEAREST GYM. UPON MY ARRIVAL I NOTICED A SCENT WHICH I BELIEVE WAS COMING FROM MY CAR THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT OF THE GYM, PARK THE CAR, TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR. AFTER DOING SO, I WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD SUCH AS MY ELECTRICAL WIRING AND SPARK PLUGS. I HAD A SAFETY RECALL ACT (REPAIR) PERFORMED ON MY CAR IN FEBRUARY 2013 BY A GM DEALERSHIP, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS COMPLETELY SAFE AND WOULD GIVE MY CAR LONGEVITY ACTUALLY DID THE OPPOSITE. I FILED A CASE WITH GM REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-A-ROUND AS OF MAY 20,2013. I'M VERY UNHAPPY WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE THUS FAR AND NEED ASSISTANCE IN ADDRESSING THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514114

Incident

May 17, 2013

AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS EXTINGUISH WHEN HEATER FAN SWITCH SELECTED TO POSITIONS 2,3, OR 4. *TR

NHTSA ID

10426425

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

65,700 mi

I HAVE A 1997 GRAND PRIX GTP SUPER CHARGER AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE TODAY,WITH MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON IN THE CAR! ITS A GOOD THING THAT WE ALL GOT OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE IT TOTALLY WENT UP. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE AND STATED IT WAS FROM SOMETHING LIKE THE WIRING, AND THEN I FOUND OUT YOU GUYS HAVE A RECALL ON IT BECAUSE OF THIS REASON! IM VERY UPSET! *TR

NHTSA ID

10401165

Incident

May 16, 2011

Mileage

104,352 mi

1997 GRAND PRIX GTP. CONSUMER STATES DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER MODULE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILED, OTHER COMPONENTS FAILED AS WELL. INCLUDING THE HEATER, FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER, THE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER, AIR CONDITIONER AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER, THAT THE PARTS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM GM OR THEIR ALTERNATE SUPPLIERS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10359772

Incident

Jul 28, 2010

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX IGNITION KEY FAILURE. THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF PONTIACS WITH THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH,KEY WILL NOT TURN CAR ON,I HAVE TO PUSH GEAR SHIFT FROM LOW TO PARK NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET KEY TO START CAR ,THEN AGAIN TO RELEASE KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH.THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT EFFECTS PONTIACS 1996,97,98,99,2000,2001,2002. MANY THOUSANDS OF PONTIAC CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280597

Incident

Jul 12, 2009

Mileage

99,750 mi

MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL OUTAGES A MONTH AGO WHICH INCLUDED THE HEADLIGHTS, BLOWER MOTOR, AND GAS SENSOR. MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUTOFF BY THEMSELVES AS WOULD MY BLOWER MOTOR, PERIODICALLY. I NOTICED THAT IT CORRESPONDED TO WHAT LEVEL MY BLOWER WAS PUT ON. LEVEL 5 WOULD KEEP THE SYSTEM ON BUT LEVELS 1-4 WOULD PROMOTE THE OUTAGES. I HAVE HAD THE BLOWER MOTOR AND BLOWER SWITCH REPAIRED ON MY CAR NOT MORE THAN A YEAR AGO BUT YET I AM EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER BLOGS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE POSTED PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PONTIAC WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO MINE. I SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250020

Incident

Oct 3, 2008

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD PRIOR TO THE FIRE, BUT THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10235206

Incident

Jun 22, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM A RECALL AND GM IS NOT TAKING ACTION FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226525

Incident

Feb 17, 2008

WENT TO TURN MY CAR ON AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING PERFECT. I JUST HAD MY EMISSION TEST DONE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WITH THE HELP OF MY BROTHER, PUT IT OUT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218972

Incident

Feb 3, 2008

Mileage

149,000 mi

VEHICLE PARKED 10 MINUTES WHEN FIRE DETECTED, REPORTED AND EXTINGUISHED BY LOCAL FD, ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10213983

Incident

Jan 5, 2008

Mileage

194,000 mi

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER PARKING. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT WHICH STATED CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL. ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTAL LOSS. HOOD DAMAGED BY FIRE DEPARTTMENT. TO GAIN ENTRY., PAINT MELTED. CAR IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. NO REPAIRS OR CHANGES MADE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10196076

Incident

Jul 6, 2007

Mileage

179,000 mi

POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL HAS FAILED 3 TIMES ON MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE FIRST TIME WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY IN 1999. THE DEALER REPLACED WITH ANOTHER DELCO BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME WAS JUNE, 2004, DELCO WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY SO I REPLACED WITH WAL*MART EVERSTART BATTERY. THEN, IN AUGUST, 2005, THE BATTERY POSITIVE TERMINAL BROKE AGAIN. THIS TIME, BATTERY ACID DESTROYED A VACUUM THAT CONTROLS THE INSIDE HEATER VENTS RENDERING HVAC ADJUSTMENTS INOPERATIVE. I HAVE READ OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THIS BEING SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE BATTERY CABLE. I HAVE ASKED GM AND MY GM DEALER AND HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY CABLE. GM CLAIMS NO AWARENESS OF THIS BEING AN ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136356

Incident

Aug 16, 2005

Mileage

35,900 mi

FIRST MY KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING STUCK UP IN THE RELEASE BUTTON THINGY TO GET IT TO RELEASE THE KEY. NOW THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS YOU DEPRESS THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON. THANK GOD I KNEW ABOUT THE BUTTON BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK OVER 100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME WITHOUT ANY HELP IN SITE. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME THAT WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I'M SURE MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10121935

Incident

May 21, 2005

CONTACT STATES: HAS A 1997 GRAND PRIX, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY; THE BLOWER FANS WOULD ALMOST ALWAYS GO OFF, AND HAD NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FIXED. STATED THAT IT TURNED OUT IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10119577

Incident

Nov 7, 2004

Mileage

37,398 mi

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON MOST OF THE TIME. GOES OFF OCCASIONALLY, THEN COMES BACK ON. PROBLEM STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO. HAD COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS DONE SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS CAR, BUT THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. OIL CHANGES ARE MADE EVERY 3,000 MILES, RADIATOR FLUID IS CHANGED WHEN NEEDED, SENSORS ARE CHECKED AND REPLACED WHEN NEEDED. ENGINE IS KEPT IN EXCELLANT CONDITION. ANY IDEAS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100944

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IGNITION TURNED OFF. A UNDERHOOD FIRE OCCURRED, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING, PLASTIC AND RUBBER PARTS WERE TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE. AND AFTER THEIR INVESTIGATIONS, THEY COULD NOT FINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I DO NOT SEE A RECALL FOR THIS SITUATION ON YOUR WEBSITE. DO I HAVE AN RECOURSES?. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100934

Incident

Aug 21, 2004

Mileage

86,340 mi