Engine check light came on, so I stopped the car added antifreeze, then the car wouldn't start back up, so I had it towed to a garage. The mechanic there found that there was a hole in the plasic upper plentium and antifreeze got in the motor, so now we are having to replace the whole motor.

- Krapid River, MI, USA

After noticing engine running hotter than normal, checked radiator - coolant level was low, nothing in overflow reservoir. Antifreeze and water added to fill, restarted car - idled rough then check engine light came on and started blinking. Added additional water and antifreeze when radiator was again low and reservoir empty, then car would not start at all. Vehicle towed to dealer who stateed it is "hydro-locked" due to melted plenum allowing coolant into cylinders. Engine will have to be replaced or completely overhauled. Complaint made with Pontiac, no reponse yet. Found several other consumer complaints regarding same issue on this site...also for Grand Prix, Buick Lesabre, Park Avenue and Chevrolet Malibu.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

Car heated up. The engine was shut down to cool. Antifreeze was low and added with no evidence of a leak. Car would not start and was towed to a garage. It was discovered that coolant had been sucked into the pistons due to a hole or defect in the plentum (part# 17113136) of the manifold. After discovering the defect in our part we found that this part has been replaced numerous times with the exact same defect by two dealerships in our area in the past year. After contacting Pontiac/GM we have received no help for damages ($1,500) caused by this defective part and they have no intentions of having a recall per Mr. Rafiat jimoh, customer relationship manager. Can a report be obtained of the number of times this part plentum #17113136 has been replaced in GM cars in the past year?

- Watkinsville, GA, USA

While traveling at highway speeds engine check light came on, and temperature gauge went to high. Consumer drove car to a near by mechanic, and they poured antifreeze into engine compartment to cool vehicle down. Consumer stated, while he started the engine, white smoke poured from the exhaust, towed the vehicle to the dealer, dealer replaced engine but while testing the engine, the same problem appeared, dealer aware of the service bulletin, the upper intake manifold was replaced, which caused the problem.

- Ellington, CT, USA

Car is equipped with a plastic plenum that when the engine overheated/cracked and allowed antifreeze to enter the engine requiring replacement of engine. Our repairman found that this was the first year that Pontiac used plastic for this component.

- Interlaken, NY, USA