There are a lot of recalls on my poniac grand prix se. They have affected the safety of myself and my child. The steering fluid leaks from the car after something was replaced on a recall a while back. Recently while I was in traffic my car stopped going and overheated a lot. This car always runs hot. It may have something to do with the most recent recall. But this car will no longer even start up. How do I find out if the recalls are responsible for my car breaking down on me? Also in the letter I received in the mail said to park my car and not drive it. Yet the didn't have the parts in to replace and fix the issue. Is there a way to be compensated for this. I need a reliable car and really wish I hadn't purchased one with so many issues.
1998 Pontiac Grand Prix: engine overheating
9 of the 498 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix describe engine overheating.
- owner complaints
- 9
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 178,000
- recalls
- 3
Engine overheating by model year
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac grand prix. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized, the vehicle overheated, and there was a burning odor. The failure recurred on various occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 149,000.
I've owned a 1998 grand prix gt for 7yrs and I have often had problems with overheating. Especially when the temperature was 90 degrees or above. On the 30th of may, I was driving home and the engine temperature spiked and smoke began pouring out of the engine compartment. I stopped the car quickly and discovered that the intake manifold gasket was blown and it was spewing water into the oil reservoir and the engine compartment. I have seen multiple complaints on other site about the plastic intake manifold gasket that's included with the 1998 grand prix and I thought I should post a complaint. The best estimate I've had for repairing my car is $1000.00... I think that general motors should issue a recall for this error and pay for my repairs.
2 days ago we had a huge snow storm. I was trying to get my car unstuck. The car was idling and I was outside digging out the car, and my girlfriend was sitting in the car, she said it was smokey inside. I just thought it was overheating, and it got worse and worse. I finally thought, ok this just isn't overheating, so I shut the car off and popped the hood. The whole rear of the engine was on fire. I got the fire out and managed to save the car. About 6 months ago I had a engine light come on and the code said small evap leak. He said it was my cold air intake and my gas cap. So I replaced the gas cap and drove around with the engine light on, not knowing that there was a actual evap leak. So it was coincidental that the engine light came on 2 days after I put my intake on. And also it was coincidental that it happened on the day with all the snow. So my mechanic said, that I did have a pinhole leak, and that the sparks from the alternator ignited the vapors. Also the foam underneath the engine cover acted like a sponge sucking in the all fumes and then boom.
I drove this vehicle home from work, approximately 25 miles. Parked in my garage and went in the house, approximately 10-15 minutes later, my wife, daughter and I left to go out to eat, we drove 10 miles to the restaurant. We were in the restaurant no more late 10 minutes when someone commented there was a vehicle out front smoking, I realized that it was our vehicle, and went outside, I approached the car and smelled a burning smell vs. Overheating smell. I lifted hood and saw the engine was on fire, I proceeded to put out the fire with nearby snow, and with a fire extinguisher. Fire dept was called to make sure fire was out. I then a called tow company and the had car towed back to my home. The car has not been repaired at this time. Most of fire was contained to engine area, no damage to paint, and some underhood insulation charred.
The coolant leaked into the engine and mixed with oil because of poor upper intake manifold. (3.8l v6)
The car for the past 2 years has had an overheating problem. First in 2000 the water pump was replaced. 3 months later trouble came back and thermostat was replaced. 2 months later overheating again and this time coolant leaking. They replaced a clamp on the heat pump hose. 6 months later trouble is back again this time it overheated and blew the heater pump hose and coolant went everywhere. All in all it cost me out of pocket $1600 because none of the repairs were covered by any warranty included the extended I had purchased.
The vehicle developed an antifreeze odor during 2000. On several trips to the dealer, no problem was found. The last trip to the dealer, just before the warranty expired, is when the problem was documented (12/26/2000, 15,930 miles) the dealer indicates no leak found. We had the car serviced at a local non-dealer facility, and they indicated that they believed the intake manifold gasket was the cause of the minor leak and antifreeze smell. The dealership now indicates that the "expansion plug" on the engine is faulty, and refuses to address this as a warranty issue (they will pay for parts but the total labor bill is in excess of $600, with parts unlikely to amount to a fraction the labor costs). The pontiac customer relations department refuses to intervene. Your site indicates a service bulletin -- service bulletin number: 010601007, bulletin sequence number: 191, date of bulletin: 0102 , the federal safety agency item number: sb619176 , some owners may comment on engine coolant consumption, or an engine coolant leak near or under the throttle body area ofthe upper intake manifold. *tt. Can you intervene as this is an identified product issue?
In august of 2000, vehicle began overheating, dealer states that the heater core went out, new thermostat was put in, dealer stated there was a chemical reaction between dexcool coolant and engine block causing coolant to rust.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- L67 engine oil smell or odor, leak at left or front valve cover (replace valve cover gasket, gromments and...
- Engine coolant consumption or coolant leak (inspect for material degradation/replace intake manifolds) tt...
- New upper intake manifold and gasket kits
- New rear main seal and special tool for installation
- Revised piston pin removal / installation procedure
- Some owners may comment on a repeat engine oil pan leak
- Subject regarding revised lower intake manifold installation
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, and 15V‑201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
- Risk
- Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- The remedy applied under recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, and 15V‑201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, or 15V‑201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1‑800‑442‑6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Recall number 15V701000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
- Risk
- If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engines plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537, and pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V116000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Gm is recalling 207,542 my 1997-2003 buick regal and pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l supercharged v-6 engine. These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket and eventual oil seepage.
- Risk
- Certain underhood fires may be caused by drops of engine oil, from seepage or spillage, being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and, in some instances, the fire may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engines plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, along with the 1-3-5 spark plug wire retainers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. , free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Until the remedy is completed, gm strongly recommends that owners observe the following important precautions (1) that owners do not park their vehicle in a garage, car port, or other structure; (2) if owners notice a burning odor, they should have their dealer inspect the vehicle. The dealer will inspect the vehicle without charge; (3) use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) in the vehicle as recommended in the vehicle's owner manual. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080 or pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668, or through their website at http://www.gmownercenter.com .
Recall number 08V118000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix overheating
Is engine overheating a common problem on the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix?
9 of 498 owner complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix (2%) mention engine overheating. The model year with the most reports is 1999.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix?
There are 3 recalls and 15 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
Headlights 87Fire or smoke 42Stalling 23Power windows 12Wipers 12Airbag light 11Power steering loss 9Steering lock-up 9Engine failure 8Loss of power 7Seat belt 7ABS 6Grinding brakes 6Fuel pump 5
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