2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

TAKATA RECALL! AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR SHUT OFF AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP! MY DAD GOT EVERYTHING ON MY CAR REPLACE BUT IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING!

NHTSA ID

11015734

Incident

May 28, 2017

Mileage

160 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DRIVER RELEASED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

NHTSA ID

10972017

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

198,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. AFTER THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, A PASSERBY ALERTED HIM THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NEITHER AWARE NOR NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER), 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10944638

Incident

Jan 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO GEAR, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND ALERTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REMOVED FROM THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10936134

Incident

Dec 18, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

CAR HAS RECALL. SAYS OIL MAY DRIP UNTO EXHAUST CAUSING FIRE. I CANNOT FIND A DEALER TO HELP ME GET THIS FIXED. PLEASE HELO ME

NHTSA ID

10935555

Incident

Dec 10, 2016

ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20TH 2016 MY 17 YEAR OLD SON PULLED UP TO A GAS STATION IN GRAND ISLAND NE. HE WENT INSIDE TO PRE PAY FOR HIS GAS AND A MAN CAME INSIDE SAYING THERE WAS A CAR IN FIRE. MY SONS 17 YEAR OLD GIRLFRIEND WAS INSIDE VEHICLE SLEEPING AND IT HAD IGNITED UNDER FLAMES IN THE HOOD. HE HAD DRIVEN FROM LINCOLN,NE TO AURORA,NE STAYED FOR AN HOUR PLUS THEN DROVE 20 MILES TO TRUCK STOP. CAR HAD A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND BLEW FRONT TIRES AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. IT WAS SITTING NEXT TO A GAS PUMP WITH NO POWER.HAD A OCCUPANT IN VEHICLE SLEEPING. THE FRONT END IS GONE ALONG WITH PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. WAS WAITING FOR RECALL PARTS AT LOCAL DEALER HAD APPT FOR NEXT DAY TO FIX ISSUE!!! CONTACT FOR PHOTOS

NHTSA ID

10928691

Incident

Nov 20, 2016

Mileage

174,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OIL LEAKS PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIRS. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK OIL EXCESSIVELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED THAT THE OIL LEAK WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10918469

Incident

Mar 8, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE OIL DEPOSITS ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REFUND FOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DAMAGES. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10910337

Incident

Oct 3, 2016

I HAVE A RECALL ON MY 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AND I HAVE CALLED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED BUT THEY SAID THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER FOR MONTHS. I THEN TALKED TO PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO WAIT FOR A SECOND LETTER FOR THE RECALL NOTICE. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD RECEIVED IT ALREADY AND THEY STILL INSISTED THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT. I DRIVE 3 KIDS IN MY VEHICLE AND I CONSTANTLY WORRY ABOUT MY RECALL. IT IS THE RECALL ABOUT OIL DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ALSO MY HEAD LIGHTS ARE REALLY DIM. I LITERALLY CAN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH MY HEAD LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

10907507

Incident

Apr 15, 2016