2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V701000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be serviced because it was an older vehicle, and the dealer informed the contact that the recall part had been discontinued. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was then taken to Christian Brothers Automotive, where it was serviced, and the contact was informed that engine oil was leaking onto the exhaust manifold. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,500.

NHTSA ID

11692342

Incident

Oct 9, 2025

Mileage

38,500 mi

On May 27th 2023 just three days ago I went to start my car but it would not start, I tried two times then I smelled gas so I let it sit over night then the next day my friend went out to start it for me and it made a loud bang and the intake manifold exploded causing a fire and debris went everywhere, my is lucky he got away from the when he did or he would have been injured maybe even killed from the flames. I did not take any photos or report to anyone, a neighbor heard the load bang and came out to see if anyone was ok. There were no warning signals that appeared to my knowledge. There were 200,000 miles on the vehicle at time of the incident.

NHTSA ID

11524339

Incident

May 27, 2023

I had just drove about 30 miles home and when I arrived my engine was was smoking a little more than was usual because of oil burn off. So I popped the hood and a fire started in the back of the engine where I was having problems previously with the power steering pump. Obviously when I opened the hood it helped the fire and it grew. Took 30 minutes to put out. Car is now out of commission and I don't know what to do.

NHTSA ID

11487499

Incident

Aug 30, 2022

I was driving a red 2002 Pontiac. While sitting at a stop sign and the driver of a 2012 Ford Fiesta was going 55-60 MPH and ran in the back of my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11446831

Incident

Nov 30, 2021

The night of the incident I was driving to my brother's house when I pulled over lifted the hood it burst into flames

NHTSA ID

11441669

Incident

Nov 24, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAD PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A TUNE-UP, OIL CHANGE AND NO FAILURE CODES FOUND. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE MECHANIC, SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING THROUGH THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY AND A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED SHE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY USING WATER AND GATORADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS IN THE EXHAUST AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING AFTER THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *DT

NHTSA ID

11311691

Incident

Feb 23, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL IS ACCUMULATING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. DURING HARD BRAKING/TURNING, THIS OIL CAN SPILL OFF THE ENGINE ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST.

NHTSA ID

11300235

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

97,000 mi

BOUGHT THE CAR IN APRIL OF 2017. HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION. A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD WAS DRIVING CAR AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND IT TURNED HALFWAY TO THE LEFT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT. RACK AND PINION BUSTED. REPLACED RACK AND PINION AGAIN PLUS STRUTS AND THE CAR WILL MAKE POPPING SOUNDS WHEN TURNING STEEERING WHEEL. THE FRONT END OF MY CAR HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH REPLACED TWICE. SCARY TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11287812

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

200,000 mi

II HAD A NO ENGINE CRANK-NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS, INTERMINTENT START. CWAS PARKED NAD NOT MOVING. THE PROBLEM I CAUSED BY THE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND PASS KEY SYSTEM. GM HAD THIS PROBLEM IN 2004 ON THE COLBOLT. 6DEATHS DUE TO LOSS OF ENGINEPOWER, STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR,TILL IGET IT REPAIRED. I AM THE ORIGIONAL OWNER WITH 40000 MILES USE.

NHTSA ID

11266767

Incident

Oct 3, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGINE, SAFETY HAZARD, INEVITABLE EMISSIONS FAILURE. MANY RECALLS REGARDING PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH THE ISSUE

NHTSA ID

11266019

Incident

Oct 3, 2019

Mileage

132,000 mi

IN 04 I HAD MY RACK N PINION REPLACED CAUSE LEFT SIDE BROKE MATAGA OF STOCKTON DID IT THEY ALSO REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP EVER SINCE THEN I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND NOW IT'S WORSE I'VE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP BUT IT STILL STEERS HARD ALSO THE STEERING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT VERY SENSITIVE AT TIMES LIKES TO WANDER AND I HAVE TO USE THE BUTTON UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN TO RELEASE MY KEY I REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT STILL DOESN'T FEEL SAFE I SAW IN 09 YOU HAD A RECALL ON STEERING KNUCKLES I NEVER RECEIVED IT CAN I GET A RECALL ON THAT TO GET REPLACED THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11253601

Incident

Jul 31, 2004

Mileage

67,000 mi

AFTER INSTALLING A AFTERMARKET INDIGLO REVERSE GAUGE OVERLAY ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NEVER WENT OFF. CAR WAS STATIONARY. CHECKED FUSES, TRIED TO RESET BY TURNING IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION AND PUMPING THE BRAKES THREE TIMES WORKED ONCE THEN CAME BACK ON. THEN TRY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY FOR 20 MINUTES BUT IT DID NOT WORK. O'REILLY'S AUTO DID HE SCAN COACH WITH POINTING TOWARDS THE ASB SENSOR BRAKES FEEL GOOD AND NORMALLY. I INCLUDED TWO IMAGES ONE WITH THE OLD OVERLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THE OTHER PICTURE IS WHEN I TOOK THE OLD ONE OFF TO PUT THE NEW ONE ON WHICH IS WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON

NHTSA ID

11228399

Incident

Jun 28, 2019

Mileage

128,000 mi

MY CAR WOULDN'T START SO I CALLED AAA. THE MAN TRIED TO START THE CAR BEFORE HE ATTEMPTED TO JUMP IT. WHEN HE TURNED THE KEY, THE CAR EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THANK GOODNESS HE HADN'T OPENED THE HOOD BECAUSE I WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE CAR AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED FROM THE FLYING DEBRIS. WHEN WE OPENED THE HOOD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND IN PIECES. I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED AND THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE FUEL RAILS COSTING ME $900. YESTERDAY I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO START AGAIN BUT FINALLY IT DID BUT I DID HEAR A POP. WHEN I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE, I FOUND AN ARTICLE ABOUT CHEVY IMPALAS EXPLODING BUT FROM READING THE COMMENTS, IT APPEARS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL GM CARS FROM THAT TIME PERIOD. I'M LINKNG THE ARTICLE SO YOU CAN READ THE REVIEWS AND CAN SEE THAT THIS IS STILL AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE OPENING COMMENT EXPLAINS THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM IN THE LATE 1990'S. THE PROBLEM IS WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS. EVERYTHING DESCRIBED IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY CAR ON FEBRUARY 6 OF THIS YEAR. I NOW KNOW I NEED TO HAVE THE REGULATOR REPLACED OR IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. I'M A SENIOR ON LIMITED INCOME AND I CAN'T AFFORD THIS EXPENSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WITH A RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T TAKE ANY PHOTOS OF THE INCIDENT BUT I HAVE THE REPAIR BILL AND I'M SURE I COULD GET A STATEMENT FROM THE AAA PERSON WHO WAS ALSO PRESENT WHEN IT HAPPENED. HERE IS THE LINK FOR FURTHER TESTIMONY SHOWING SOMEONE WROTE AS RECENTLY AS FEBRUARY 12 WITH THE SAME ISSUE. HTTPS://RJHILLCONSULTING.WORDPRESS.COM/2014/03/08/CHEVY-IMPALA-NOT-RECALLED-FOR-EXPLODING-INTAKE-MANIFOLD-AND-ENGINE-FIRE/

NHTSA ID

11185070

Incident

Feb 6, 2019

Mileage

122,084 mi

MY 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH A 3.8 LITER ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS OUT OF STATE IN DETROIT DOING TRAINING FOR WORK. I PARKED AT THE HOTEL I WAS STAYING AT AFTER A SHORT TRIP TO DINNER AND BACK I PARK MY CAR AND 15 MIN. LATER I HEARD TWO LOAD POPS (NOISE WAS FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT BECAUSE THE FIRE GOT TO HOT) AND LOOKED OUTSIDE MY HOTEL ROOM AND MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND A CO-WORKERS CAR PARKED NEXT TO MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE THERE WAS HOTEL DAMAGE. PLUS TWO CARS TOTALED AND NO WAY HOME. IT SUCKS! THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR INVOLVING ENGINE FIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE A YEAR AGO. NICE WORK GM!

NHTSA ID

11170951

Incident

Jan 16, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

HAD A RECALL FOR MY CAR. NO LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS OFF BEFORE AS INSTRUCTED WENT TO A DEALER TO FIX THE RECALL GATEWAY MOTORS IN BROKEN BOW DID THE RECALL LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE SO I CONTACTED SANDHILLS MOTOR TO LET THEM LOOK AT IT. SAID THERMOSTAT WAS BAD HAD IT REPLACED OVER $200 DOLLARS FOR THAT I TOOK IT BACK TO GATEWAY MOTORS IN BROKEN BOW TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT QUOTED ME A $500 DOLLAR REPAIR TO AVOID CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE I'M NOT RICH SO IT GOES FROM A FREE RECALL FIX TO ME PAYING OVER $700

NHTSA ID

11164640

Incident

Nov 21, 2018

Mileage

201,464 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A BOOM SOUND AND SAW WHITE SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, SHE NOTICED THAT A PISTON WAS DISLODGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SCRANTON CHEVROLET OF NORWICH (774 W THAMES ST, NORWICH, CT 06360, (860) 889-3333) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT TWO UNKNOWN PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A RENTAL VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST AND INFORMED HER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ID

11153684

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

Mileage

166,000 mi

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH FRONT END DAMAGE

NHTSA ID

11150954

Incident

Nov 9, 2018

Mileage

95,845 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG CHEMICAL BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMOKE SUBSIDED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO HER RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT OIL WAS DEPOSITED ONTO THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11144921

Incident

Oct 29, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL DETECTED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMALL SPOTS OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS CORRODED CAUSING THE FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-4762625119. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ID

11144095

Incident

Oct 15, 2018

Mileage

168,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE FLAMES HAD ENGULFED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11143739

Incident

Oct 27, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I GOT THE RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL SUNDAY NIGHT I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NALLEY CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN UNION CITY GEORGIA THEY SUPPOSED HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM THE NEXT FOLLOWING DAY MY WIFE HAD TO GO TO WORK ON THE WAY DROPPING HER OFF THE CAR STARTED SMOKING MY CAR EXTREMELY BAD SO I CALLED THE NALLEY CHEVROLET PLACE TO LET THEM KNOW AFTER I GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THEM 30 MINUTES LATER THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME THEY SUPPOSED OF FIXED THE PROBLEM I CAN'T GET TO WORK WITH A CAR THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BLOW UP I HAVE KIDS AND NIECES AND I CAN'T JEOPARDIZE THEY LIFE OR MINE I'M SCARED TO EVEN DRIVE AGAIN

NHTSA ID

11118461

Incident

Aug 7, 2018

Mileage

216,000 mi

2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE HOOD AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. THE RADIATOR HOSE HAD BEEN PATCHED TOGETHER WITH CAULKING. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS BY THE DEALERSHIP. *JS

NHTSA ID

11112716

Incident

Jun 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL COLLISION REPAIR CENTER. THE DEALER (RUDDELL AUTO, 110 S GOLF COURSE RD, PORT ANGELES, WA 98362, (360) 452-6822) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000. *TT

NHTSA ID

11109876

Incident

Jun 16, 2017

Mileage

163,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO POLICE OR FIRE REPORTS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,491.

NHTSA ID

11074323

Incident

Jan 30, 2018

Mileage

135,491 mi

THIS IS FOR THE GTP SUPERCHARGED MODEL. REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN LEAKING OUT OF SHRADER VALVE ABOVE THE INJECTORS WHICH IS WAS NOT DOING BEFORE. ONLINE SAYS THERE WAS A DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL BUT AFTER ENTERING MY VIN SAYS NO RECALLS. ALTHOUGH I ALSO TOOK IT IN LAST YEAR DUE TO THE RECALL CONCERNING OIL DRIPPING ON THE MANIFOLD AND CAUSING POSSIBLE FIRE SO UNSURE WHY IT SAID NO RECALLS.. I WILL ATTACH PHOTO OF WEBSITE CLAIMS. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11021233

Incident

Sep 2, 2017

Mileage

198,000 mi