My daughter and I have just returned from the store when minutes later my Grand Prix is on fire in my driveway.

- Bensalem, PA, USA

Mold smell - some part has to be cleaned near the air conditioner which requires several parts to be removed to get to where the water will not drain and is causing the smell. Problem will re occur due to the design of the car.

- Lyons, MI, USA

There is a strong musty smell, most noticeable in the warmer weather months. Have noticed water coming into the front area by drivers right foot and passengers left foot area. I am almost certain that it is coming from the air conditioning. Musty smell is most likely from the carpet getting wet and producing the odor.

- Alliance, OH, USA

Shortly after I bought my used 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix with 52,000 mi. In May 2004, I noticed it was going through an unusually large amount of engine coolant and oil. I took it to 2 different shops after having my low coolant light continuously come on between oil changes. Both shops told me that it needed a new intake manifold gasket, which was around $700 to repair due to there being so much labor involved. (and said if I didn't get it fixed, it could lead to my engine overheating and blowing up!) by the time we realized what the problem was, my warranty had also ran out. I got it fixed once the problem was identified in Nov. 2004, when the car had 61,000 miles. After doing some research online a few months later, found that this seems to be quite a common problem in Pontiac's around that year, once they get to around 50,000 miles. Or so (which my car was at when purchased) I don't feel that a 4 year old car with mileage that low should already have such an expensive problem that needs to be fixed, it seems to me that it is a manufacturing problem, they put in faulty, temporary intake manifold gaskets in their cars and they should pay to replace them.

- Pavilion, NY, USA

Numerous issues 1. heater core went out around 60,000 miles. 2. dexcool "gelled" and caused the above. 3. stereo has malfunctioned since 36,000 miles. 4. tie rod end wore out around 30,000 miles-took to dealership a couple of times and "they couldn't determine cause" of "noise and rattling". I took it to a tire company/service center and they fixed the problem. 5. numerous interior floodings-water comes in at the firewall and floods the interior carpet-has mold, and deterioration from it. 6. headlamps are yellow and nontransparent-the lights are not working properly because it can't shine through. 7. headlamp assemblies are holding water. 8. fog lamps went out right after purchasing the car and one of them burned the plastic assembly that holds it causing it to not work at all, disfigured now. 9. rear spoiler is not attached correctly and seems to be the cause of water entering the trunk lid.

- Jackson, AL, USA

Engine cooling-smell of engine coolant-two visits ago my car was taken to dealer to fix the recall for coolant leak problem-upper manifold. Month or two later I returned to the dealer for a routine oil change, and to correct a "service engine soon light." Dealer informed me that my car "needed new thermostat." Thought this was a normal condition-but even after recall fixed my car "smelled like engine coolant!" my car has never missed a required service--I "over-service" my car! the needed service completed by dealer replacing thermostat, bad temperature sensor, and required routine oil change. After picking up the car from the dealer-my car overheated-blowing smoke out of the hood. It smelled like coolant, I thought car was going to burn up! I had to have car towed to dealer-where dealer informed me-they spilled coolant-and that the coolant spilled was smoking!--I think there is a huge problem with the cooling system with this series engine. I feel that GM is covering up a larger problem with the 3800 series engine-I am afraid that this condition will cause more damage-I feel that GM does not want to admit there is a large problem, and simply fix my car! -rather the dealer states "there is nothing wrong." I like my car, and just want it fixed right. I am afraid the damage has been done--it is one oil change out of the original warranty-I feel that I am stuck with a lemon.--ebrock

- Lenexa, KS, USA

The intake manifold gasket on my 2000 Grand Prix SE (3.1 litre V6 - 60,000 miles) has begun to leak. I keep up to date on maintenance of my car regularly, and it has never been subjected to any extreme condition. I observed no noticeable puddles of coolant around my car or in the garage it is kept in. The problem first revealed itself while driving at expressway speeds (55mph) for about 5-10 minutes into my trip. The engine coolant low light came on, then the temperature reading began to rise sharply within 5 seconds (nearly to redline). Upon investigation on the spot, nothing was found. No puddles, no wet coolant around the engine. Mechanics could not find the problem at this point, even running the engine and cooling it repeatedly. I continued to drive with the replaced coolant thinking it was a one time thing. Then I begin noticing puddles, and the coolant is leaking out rather rapidly now (allowing the mechanic to finally find the problem). Once I found that it was the intake gasget, I found thousands of other owners of vehicles with the same and similar engine have the exact same problem. Due to the sudden nature of the symptoms of the problem, and due to widespread occurance of this issue on relatively low mileage cars, I find this to be a very dangerous and expensive problem that seem to happen to even the most well maintained cars. If I had not seen the temperature reading rising (as I'm sure most people dont watch their temp guage) I would not have known there was a problem and continued driving, this problem could have directly caused my vehicle to fail at high speed and no longer be under control endangering me and possibly many other safe drivers on the road.

- Bolingbrook, IL, USA

Main complaint: GM is aware that their GM hydra-matic 4T65-E transmission has a defective part, yet they leave it to consumers to cover the cost of handling the problem. Specifically, my 2000 Grand Prix GT (with only 64,000 miles on it) started upshifting hard a few days ago from 1st to 2nd gear and I hear metallic grinding noises from underneath the car when shifting from 1st to 2nd while the car is still warming up. Having performed all of the necessary maintenance over the years, I am angered to learn that I will have to fork over approximately $600 to repair a manufacturer's defect on a car that I am still paying for. I've read of other people having to pay significantly more to fix this problem on their cars. Recently, GM repaired a coolant leak at no cost to consumers because it was deemed a defect. I had already experienced "low engine coolant" warnings from my car and was relieved to receive the recall letter offering to fix the problem for free. Of course, that repair took 15 minutes - GM didn't mind picking up the cost for that defect. My current problem will require several hours of transaxle work and GM has conveniently stuck me with the cost of this work. I also wonder why consumers are not being alerted to this problem. Some people may not notice or may choose to ignore the symptoms that I noticed until the other day until they have a catastrophic problem and have to pay thousands to repair their transaxle. It seems irresponsible to me that GM only issued this information as a service bulletin to mechanics. Other minor complaints: My car intermittently had trouble starting around 45000 miles. Two mechanics checked it and found nothing wrong. My kid brother found a loose wire coming from the battery and quickly fixed the problem. Currently, I have lost levels 1-3 of 5 for my heating/cooling fan, my windshield wiper fluid pump has stopped working and the lock on my trunk is inoperable. I'm not careless - these materials should have lasted much longer.

- Chicago, IL, USA

I have a Pontiac Grand Prix GT, my service engine soon light continously comes on. I went to the dealership and they put the car on the computer and said that the wires to the harness were broken. I don't understand how the wires to the harness could be broken because in order to get to the wires you must take off three parts.they also told me I had a leak in the intake manifold at the top of the engine. The mechanic changed the gasket and charged me $270 plus $50 for parts and payed $360 for the labor for the wires of the harness. The light turned off, then the next day the light reappeared. I went back to the dealership and the same code came up when it was placed back on the computer (R442), on that day they said the gas cap was leaking and had to be changed. At that moment the light went off! then the next day the light came back on once again!!! now this is the third time I've been to the dealership with the same code (R442) they told me they don't know what the problem is. If they can't find the problem why do I have to pay for the previous problems if they can't even find the problem. The will not help me and since these problems occured right after the warranty, they told me that I have to pay for all the work they that do, even if they just put the car on the computer. $90 an hour! I've called customer service repeatedly and say that can't do anything for me because the dealership will not work with me! they are also finding a transmission code 1811 they say they don't fix transmissions!! what do I do"?" the light will not turn off and I'm worried for my saftey! please help!

- Lindenhurst, NY, USA

I feel this vehicle has numerous safety defects. This car is to new to have had the items listed replaced. Unfortuneately the dealer cannot duplicate the problem with the acceleration. My children are very important to me and I will be trading this vehicle off very soon. I have asked 3 times for a component box and knowone can seem to locate one. I feel the dealership is falling short on their part of "obligated 36 months or 36,000 miles". this is the response I am getting from Pontiac. Unfortuneately "Alabama" is the only state that I know of that does not have a lemon law. Is there any other options that a consumer has and if there is what are they?

- Falkville, AL, USA