2003 Pontiac Grand Prix

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE FOR 2 MINUTES HE NOTICED SMOKE EMANATING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED. HE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE IN REFERENCE TO RECALL #09V116000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING .THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,985. UPDATED 05/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB

IN 2003 I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 3.5L V6 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY WHEN THE INSTRUMENTS HAVE INDICATED AND THE OWNERS MANUAL HAS SUGGESTED. AT APPROX 59000 MILE I HAD TO HAVE THE TOP AND BOTTOM HEAD GASKET SEALS REPLACED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER COSTING $2500.00. THEN AT 68000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND HAD TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF $3000.00 (SEVERAL PART ALONG WITH TORQUE CONVERTER). IN EACH CASE THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES AND THAT THESE PARTS WERE INFERIOR. NOT TO MENTION THAT I WAS SOLD THE VEHICLE WITH A SOON TO BE OUT-DATED ONSTAR SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH GM NEW IT WOULD NEED REPLACE WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS. *TR

ON MARCH 3, 2009; MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF ME PARKING THE CAR IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. I WENT INTO THE HOUSE AND WITHIN MINUTES MY NEIGHBORS WERE BANGING ON THE DOOR SAYING MY CAR IS ON FIRE. I ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM AS I WAS INFORMED OF A FACTORY RECALL BY BROWSING THE INTERNET. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND GM SAYS "BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED, MAYBE GM DOESN'T HAVE MY HOME ADDRESS". GM SAYS TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN IT'S POST-FIRE CONDITION UNTIL THEY INVESTIGATE. HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE? NOW THAT I'M BROWSING MORE STORIES LIKE MINE INVOLVING ENGINE FIRES IN THE GRAND PRIX I'M MORE CONCERNED THAT GM IS NOT TAKING THIS MATTER SERIOUS ENOUGH. HOW WILL GM COMPENSATE ME FOR MY LOSS???? *TR

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN GARAGE 10 MINUTES AFTER PARKING IT. ON CHECKING THE INTERNET, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR, BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NHTSA ID #08V118000, ISSUED 3/12/08. OWNER'S LETTERS FOR RECALL NOT SENT OUT BY GM BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT PARTS. "EDMUNDS.COM" WEB SITE INDICATES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCIDENTS OF FIRE, SOME REPORTED TO NHTSA. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE. SINCE I HAVE INSURANCE THEY FEEL THAT IS SUFFICIENT. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, MY CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND PAID FOR. NOW I MUST PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR, INCUR DEBT, ALL BECAUSE GM FAILED TO NOTIFY ME THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. *TR

I EXPERIENCED DUAL AIR BAG FAILURE IN MY 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX IN JANUARY 2009. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH THAT THE CAR BOUNCED OFF THE TREE AND SPUN AROUND IN THE ROAD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED OUT THE CAR AFTER DETERMINING THAT THE COST TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE WELL OVER $6000. ALL THE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND THE ENGINE. LUCKILY, I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT WHICH SAVED ME FROM BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR COMPENSATION BUT I DO WANT SOMEONE AWARE THAT THE 'SAFETY MEASURES' THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED ARE NOT RELIABLE. HAD I BEEN FATALLY INJURED, I AM SURE THAT MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE SUED FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S NEGLIGENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, UNTIL THE AIRBAGS ARE NEEDED, YOU WON'T KNOW THEY ARE FAULTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS ONLY A PIECE OF PLASTIC USED TO CLOSE THE ETR VALVE AT THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL. THIS IS WHERE THE FUEL LINE CONNECTS WITH THE MOTOR. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE GASKET TO OVERHEAT, AND COULD LEAD TO AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO FUEL LEAKING INTO THE OVERHEATED MOTOR. THE CONTACT IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE.

2003 GRAND PRIX 3800 SERIS II ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES I FOUND THAT THE CONNECTION FROM THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE TO THE FUEL RAIL FAILS WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THIS POOLS UP BY THE INJECTORS AFTER THE OWNERS ARE WELL AWAY FROM THE CAR. THERE IS A WEB SITE WWW.EDMUNDS.COM THAT TALKS OF A OIL LEAK FROM THE SUPERCHARGER, I THINK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FUEL CONNECTION IS THE PLACE THE FIRES ARE COMING FROM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AT THAT TIME, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR GASKET ON HIS ENGINE WAS ALSO LEAKING. THE FRONT GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIR AND HE WAS CHARGED $200 FOR THE REPAIR OF THE REAR GASKET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,620.

I HAVE A 2003 GRANDPRIX AND THE FIRST TIME I USED THE HAZARDS ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. IF I TURN THEM ON NOW IT WILL START INSTANTLY. THE OUTSIDE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE ALSO QUIT WORKING AS A RESULT. I'M TOLD THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE WIRING IN THE COLUMN AND THAT EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH A CENTRAL LOCATION WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY BY STEERING THE CAR OVER TIME IT EVENTUALLY REMOVES THE OUTER COATING OF THE WIRING. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT NO COST. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND IF THEY TURN THE HAZARDS ON AND WALK AWAY, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A CAR. *TR