After driving for a short time, 10 minutes, I parked and turned off my 2000 Grand Prix gtp. Approximately 10 - 15 minutes later a loud noise, explosion, was heard and the engine compartment of the car was entirely in flames. The fire department was called and subsequently extinguished the fire. The car was a total loss. Pontiac investigated and claimed to find no evidence of liability. Prior to this incident the car was running fine and had been regularly maintained.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

I drove about 3-4 miles from my work to pick up my newborn son from my mother, who was babysitting. I parked my car in the parking lot of the school and went inside (car was not on). I had enough time to use the restroom and change my son's diaper (10 minutes) and we got a phone call from the main office on the 1st floor to tell us that my car was smoking. I ran to the window and saw black smoke billowing from my hood. I ran downstairs to the 1st floor, but by the time I got near enough to see, I could see orange flames underneath the car. I didn't dare go near the car to retrieve my belongings (purse, car seat, cd's, etc) for fear that the flames would spread to the gas tank. By the time the fire department got there, the flames were 5-8 feet high. The car is a total loss, but I have not gotten a quote my insurance company as of yet.

- Sharon, PA, USA

- the contact stated that the 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix caught on fire while driving to work. She was driving about 35 mph and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The contact stated that she didn't have the heat or the cruise control on. The contact stated that she pulled vehicle to side of the road and called for a tow truck. Meanwhile the hood started buckling up, and flames came up from under the hood. The contact then called the fire department, who came and put the fire out. The vehicle was towed to ervin's auto body in newark, Ohio. The contact stated that the insurance company did an investigation and couldn't find what caused the fire. The vehicle was taken to dealer for all regularly scheduled maintenance. The failure mileage was 62,000. The consumer states insurance company deemed the car as totaled. Consumer has provided an automobile claim report, a report from the fire department, a news article that Pontiac are under investigation for engine fires. Update 5/3/07

- Newark, OH, USA

While driving my 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp, the ses lamp suddenly began flashing. I pulled over and the engine burst into flames. The car had been running fine beforehand. The car was totalled.

- Southfield, MI, USA

Drove 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp approximately 3 miles. Parked in home driveway. About 20 minutes later a man came to the door stating the car was on fire (he had already called 911). Fire dept. And police on the scene as well as fire investigator who stated it appeared to have started in the engine compartment under the hood at about the front driver's tire. Cause unknown. No problems driving that evening, no service lights on. Oil changed approximately 2 weeks prior to incident. From windshield to front completely destroyed. Heavy smoke damage also inside car and in trunk. Front tires and front end of car melted to driveway. Gas tension rod from hood "exploded" and shot through garage door (luckily no one was standing in its way).

- New Whiteland, IN, USA

Drove 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp approximately 3 miles. Parked in home driveway. About 20 minutes later a man came to the door stating the car was on fire (he had already called 911). Fire dept. And police on the scene as well as fire investigator who stated it appeared to have started in the engine compartment under the hood at about the front driver's tire. Cause unknown. No problems driving that evening, no service lights on. Oil changed approximately 2 weeks prior to incident. From windshield to front completely destroyed. Heavy smoke damage also inside car and in trunk. Front tires and front end of car melted to driveway. Gas tension rod from hood "exploded" and shot through garage door (luckily no one was standing in its way).

- New Whiteland, IN, USA

The consumers vehicle caught on fire while it was parked. There was a grayish smoke coming from the engine along with a hissing sound.

- Paramount, CA, USA

My car caught fire 6-5-03. General Motors sent an investigator out. On 7-2-03 I received a call from GM. They told me the report was my problem they would not take any responsibilty for the fire. I drove my car aprox. 15 miles that morning to my kids daycare. I pulled up to the front of the daycare and cut the car off and it started smoking and flames came from under the hood. Everything under the hood is melted no brake lines, fuel line or wires. I have not done anything to the car but change the oil. The oil was last changed aprox. Two months before that. Cars are not designed to just catch fire. I put my kids and a daycare full of kids in jeopardy that day. Just to add a little to my complaint. I have left about 6 messages since July 3 for the GM rep, kevin drew, to call me without success. When I purchased my car it only had 51,000 miles. I had trouble with bill heard dealership from day I drove the car off the lot it had problems. It took 4 months (1) the pistons was making awful noise. (2) the security light was flashing (3) the cig. Lighter had a burning smell when pushed in. I have a copy of the complaints, findings and action taken on a service report provided by bill heard. In that report it states that they found burnt and melted wire they removed the wiring harness and replaced wires. I left a message for kevin drew asking him to call me because I know for a fact that the wire going to the fuse box was melted. Everything under the hood is melted no wires, brake line or fuel line exist anymore. The region of the fire is the area of all the wires, computer box etc. In the middle of the hood at the center up toward the top close to the windshield.. this happened at a daycare. I was parked no more than 3 feet from the building.

- Covington, GA, USA

I have a 2000 Grand Prix with a 3.1 liter engine. It has the typical "upper/lower manifold leak". the symptoms are slight smell of burning coolant, temp gauge not steady, in cooler days it doesn't get up to 180 degrees, on hot days it goes to 220. Also low coolant light every week, needs coolant in resovoir. Also has a crusty orange buildup in resovoir and radiator cap. I discussed with GM customer care and I have to pay a dealer to fix. Then submit a reimbursement claim. The agent for GM/Pontiac said he would cover the first half and work to get more...but no premise's. while researching on the web, it seems that a lot of issues with the GM product intake manifold is an ongoing issue. I believe I should not have to pay for any of this repair due to the significant number of complaints and defect investigation.

- Vernonia, OR, USA

I own a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix, it suffered a coolant leak in the upper manifold section. After some research locally and from personal family experience. I believe some Pontiac V6 suffers from either defective gaskets and or faulty assembly that cause a leak to develop after 2-3 years of useage which is unacceptable for a new car purchase and Pontiac offering no service bulletins/recalls on this issue. Our family has suffered 4 such failures including 2- grandprix's (1999 & 2000 models), Grand Am (1997), sunfire (1997) among numerous other failures in my general location. I would ask your Agency to look further into this potential problem and reckify the situation

- Brookville, OH, USA

The gasket has been replaced three times, as well as the water pump and tensioner.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

The problem(s) are with both a 1998 and 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix. The problems were as followed: Engine components, steering, suspension, braking system, battery, fuel system, transmission, structural, the wheels were noisy, there were visual component defects, the radio was defective, and the interior light on the door was inoperative. Jg scc

- Santa Ana, CA, USA