2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Electrical Problems

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

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

MY VEHICLE STARTED ACTING FUNNY WHEN I WOULD TURN ON MY HEAT THE DASH LIGHTS GO OFF THEY SAID IT IS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH

NHTSA ID

10920331

Incident

Oct 27, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10822852

Incident

Apr 17, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT AND ENGINE OIL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT REFILLED THE FLUIDS AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND ENGINE OIL AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,000. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10818064

Incident

Jan 4, 2014

Mileage

191,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH IS BAD. SOMETIMES IT STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.

NHTSA ID

10750204

Incident

Jun 24, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ UPDATED 12/11/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10733845

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10682528

Incident

Jan 20, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION START SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ID

10660882

Incident

Nov 21, 2014

Mileage

183,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE DIGITAL DISPLAY AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10643266

Incident

Sep 2, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE REMAINED ON WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,361.

NHTSA ID

10628906

Incident

Jul 13, 2014

Mileage

134,361 mi

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, BACK DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COMES CRASHING DOWN INTO CAR DOOR, FOR NO REASON. THEN BACK PASSENGER WINDOW STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY, A FEW WEEKS LATER. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STARTS SLIDING DOWN AS CAR IS IN MOTION AFTER TURNING CORNER, I GRABBED WINDOW TRYING TO HOLD ONTO IT, SO IT WOULDN'T DROP ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO THE DOOR, RUSHING HOME SO MY HUSBAND COULD TAPE UP THE WINDOW TILL WE COULD GET IT FIXED. NOW THE FRONT ELECTRONIC PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF EACH OTHER FOR " NO EXPLAINABLE REASON". MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN OUR 50'S, WITH NO CHILDREN OR PASSENGER'S IN THE CAR, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ANY CAR WE'VE OWNED IN THE PAST. HELP, WE KNOW THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NOT NORMAL! *TR

NHTSA ID

10628617

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

ROUTINELY EXPERIENCES IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE CAR IS STILL RUNNING AND FROM OTHER SWITCH POSITIONS. ONE TIME THE KEY WAS REMOVED IN THE ACCESSORIES POSITION BY MISTAKE, AND UNKNOWINGLY THE BATTERY DRAINED, REQUIRING A AAA SERVICE VISIT. THIS 2002 AUTO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ON OTHER YEAR GRAND PRIX IGNITION SWITCHES AS IT IS UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621406

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

48,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT AND THE IGNITION FROZE UP SO I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT THIS ONE DAY.I PLAYED WITH THE KEY AND TRIED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER AND IT WAS FROZEN ALONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I LEFT THE CAR ALONE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR CAME OUT AND THE KEY CAME OUT AND EVERYTHING WORKED GOOD. OVER THE YEARS THIS HAPPENED ALOT AND FINALLY I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND ONE GUY SAID THERE IS A HOLE BY THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT YOU CAN PUT A PENCIL IN VERY CAREFULLY AND IF YOU MOVE IT AROUND IT WILL RELEASE THE TUMBLER AND KEY. I DID THAT AND PUT A PENCIL IN THERE AND BROKE IT OFF AND IT HAS WORKED EVERY TIME BUT THE STEERING WHEEL DON'T LOCK AND YOU CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT WHILE DRIVING OR ANY TIME. I TALKED TO GM DEALERS OVER THE YEARS AND THEY WANTED TOO MUCH MONEY TO PUT A NEW IGNITION SWITCH IN$500-TO $600 . I COULD NOT AFFORD IT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF GRAND PRIX PONTIACS LIKE MY YEAR AND MAKE ON THE INTERNET THAT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW THIS RECALL CONVENIENTLY MISSES THE 2002 GRAND PRIX PONTIAC. I'M JUST LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AND I DON'T KNOW IF MY AIR BAGS WORK OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10620988

Incident

May 14, 2003

Mileage

32,000 mi

RAIN/CAR WASH WATER POURING INTO BLOWER MOTOR DOWN THROUGH PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. IT IS CAUSING NOT ONLY WATER DAMAGE, BUT ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS WELL. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND THE MOTOR ITSELF. HAVE ONLY HAD THIS MOTOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IT IS ALREADY STARTING TO MAKE NOISE. HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL FIXES INCLUDING A NEW RUBBER SEAL DIVERTER AND MOST RECENTLY, A NEW PLASTIC DIVERTER WHICH IS FITTED UNDER THE COWLING TO NO AVAIL. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615209

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10609791

Incident

Jan 7, 2013

Mileage

138,000 mi

THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THESE CARS. THE MALFUNCTION OF THIS SWITCH HAS MEANT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK CAUSING SOMEONE TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR AS I WAS SLOWING IN TRAFFIC. THE SHIFT LEVER LOCK WILL NOT ENGAGE LEAVING THE KEYS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED AND THE SHIFTER CAN BE MOVED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PRESSED. THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HARNESS MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE FAN TO NOT WORK IN ANYTHING BUT 5. LOOK AT THE MESSAGE BOARDS ALL THREE A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND WORSE GM KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS AND HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606841

Incident

Jun 15, 1999

Mileage

79,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A LADY SHE WAS SELLING IT. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. WHEN I TRY TO TURN MY CAR OFF BY TURNING THE KEY BACKWARDS IT GETS STUCK AND I HAVE TO SIT THERE ANDAND CONSTANTLY JIGGLE THE KEY UNTIL I'M ABLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK BUT SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY THERE IS EVEN TIMES I CAN'T GET THE KEY OUT SO I'M FORCED TO LEAVE IT LIKE THAT REQUIRING A JUMP THE NEXT DAY. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF MY CAR IS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604580

Incident

Jan 30, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10576373

Incident

Dec 27, 2012

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575966

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566768

Incident

Mar 7, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED ENOUGH TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT NOT FAR ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE KEY. TRIED JIGGLING THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND IT STILL WOULD NOT COME OUT. LEFT KEY IN IGNITION AND PUSHED THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB, THE TRUNK OPENED AND THEN THE CAR TRIED TO START ITSELF WITHOUT ANYTHING TURNING THE KEY. THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK AND COULD NOT GET INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH OUT OF GARAGE. I BELIEVE FINALLY A FUSE POPPED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL THAT I MISSED BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATING TO THE IGNITION. I TOOK SOME OF THE PLASTIC OFF UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOUND THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED UP AND MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535775

Incident

Aug 13, 2013

Mileage

152,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 GRAND PRIX SE THAT WILL SOMETIMES JUST NOT WANT TO START. EVERYTHING WORKS THE LIGHTS FUEL,PUMP RUNS BUT THE CAR JUST ACTS LIKE THE IGNITION ISN'T MAKING CONTACT. I'VE HAD JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT TURNS OUT GM AND HONDA BOTH HAVE THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY HONDA IS FIXING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510184

Incident

May 7, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE KEY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE TOOK LONG PERIODS OF TIME TO START BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

10405867

Incident

Jun 4, 2011

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED AND THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS AND REAR DEFROSTER FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ UPDATED 01/25/11*JB

NHTSA ID

10359023

Incident

Sep 20, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi