2002 Pontiac Grand Prix: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed May 29, 2023 · Fuel system · OR · fire

On May 27th 2023 just three days ago I went to start my car but it would not start, I tried two times then I smelled gas so I let it sit over night then the next day my friend went out to start it for me and it made a loud bang and the intake manifold exploded causing a fire and debris went everywhere, my is lucky he got away from the when he did or he would have been injured maybe even killed from the flames. I did not take any photos or report to anyone, a neighbor heard the load bang and came out to see if anyone was ok. There were no warning signals that appeared to my knowledge. There were 200,000 miles on the vehicle at time of the incident.

Filed Nov 25, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · OH · fire · 1 injury

The night of the incident I was driving to my brother's house when I pulled over lifted the hood it burst into flames

Filed Feb 26, 2020 · Engine · 150,000 miles · MT · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac grad prix. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced by an independent mechanic for a tune-up, oil change and no failure codes found. The contact stated after retrieving the vehicle from the mechanic, she was driving approximately 45 MPH when smoke was seen coming through the gear shift assembly and a burning odor was detected in the cabin of the vehicle. She pulled over and upon exiting the vehicle, looked underneath the vehicle and saw flames. The contact stated she extinguished the fire by using water and gatorade. The contact stated that the fire was in the exhaust area of the vehicle. The fire department was not contacted. The contact stated that the independent mechanic was contacted and informed her that the vehicle was safe to drive home however, the vehicle has been stalling after the fire. The vehicle stalls after the fire. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted about the failure. The contact stated that she was unaware that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Mar 8, 2019 · Fuel system · 122,084 miles · NJ · fire

My car wouldn't start so I called aaa. The man tried to start the car before he attempted to jump it. When he turned the key, the car exploded and caught fire. Thank goodness he hadn't opened the hood because I was standing next to the car and could have been killed from the flying debris. When we opened the hood to put out the fire, the intake manifold was completely destroyed and in pieces. I ended up having the car towed and they replaced the intake manifold and the fuel rails costing me $900. Yesterday I went to start the car and it acted like it didn't want to start again but finally it did but I did hear a pop. When I researched the problem online, I found an article about chevy impalas exploding but from reading the comments, it appears this is a problem with all gm cars from that time period. I'm linkng the article so you can read the reviews and can see that this is still an ongoing problem. The opening comment explains that there was a previous recall about this very same problem in the late 1990's. The problem is with defective fuel pressure regulators. Everything described is exactly what happened with my car on february 6 of this year. I now know I need to have the regulator replaced or it might happen again. I'm a senior on limited income and I can't afford this expense, especially when it's a problem that should have been fixed with a recall. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of the incident but I have the repair bill and I'm sure I could get a statement from the aaa person who was also present when it happened. Here is the link for further testimony showing someone wrote as recently as february 12 with the same issue. Https://rjhillconsulting.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/chevy-impala-not-recalled-for-exploding-intake-manifold-and-engine-fire/

Filed Jan 19, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 190,000 miles · IN · fire

My 2002 pontiac grand prix with a 3.8 liter engine caught fire while I was out of state in detroit doing training for work. I parked at the hotel I was staying at after a short trip to dinner and back I park my car and 15 min. Later I heard two load pops (noise was front tires blew out because the fire got to hot) and looked outside my hotel room and my car was on fire and a co-workers car parked next to my car caught on fire there was hotel damage. Plus two cars totaled and no way home. It sucks! There was a recall on the car involving engine fires. I took the car to a gm dealer and had the recall work done a year ago. Nice work gm!

Filed Oct 29, 2018 · Engine · 135,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 pontiac grand prix. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, smoke was seen coming from under the hood of the vehicle. After stopping the vehicle flames had engulfed the front of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed away. The vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 135,000.

Filed Aug 8, 2018 · Engine · 216,000 miles · GA · fire

Takata recall I got the recall letter in the mail sunday night I took my car to the nalley chevrolet dealership in union city georgia they supposed had fixed the problem the next following day my wife had to go to work on the way dropping her off the car started smoking my car extremely bad so I called the nalley chevrolet place to let them know after I got off the phone with them 30 minutes later the car caught on fire while driving back home they supposed of fixed the problem I can't get to work with a car that could potentially blow up I have kids and nieces and I can't jeopardize they life or mine I'm scared to even drive again

Filed Jul 6, 2018 · Engine · 163,000 miles · WA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac grand prix. While the vehicle was parked, smoke and flames were seen coming from underneath the hood. There were no injuries. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a local collision repair center. The dealer (ruddell auto, 110 s golf course rd, port angeles, wa 98362, (360) 452-6822) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.

Filed Feb 22, 2018 · Engine · 135,491 miles · NV · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac grand prix. After parking the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact was able to contain the fire. There were no police or fire reports filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wire harness failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 135,491.

Filed Apr 12, 2017 · Engine · 198,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 pontiac grand prix. The contact stated that the engine caught fire. The driver noticed smoke under the hood while the vehicle was parked. The driver released the hood and found that the engine was on fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was present and a fire report was filed. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the contact was never notified. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 198,000.

Filed Jan 12, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · ME · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 pontiac grand prix. After the contact exited the vehicle, a passerby alerted him that a fire had erupted under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. A police report was not filed. The contact was neither aware nor notified of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 07e021000 (fuel system, other), 08v118000 (engine and engine cooling), and 09v116000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.

Filed Nov 30, 2016 · Body, Engine · 174,000 miles · CO · fire

On sunday november 20th 2016 my 17 year old son pulled up to a gas station in grand island ne. He went inside to pre pay for his gas and a man came inside saying there was a car in fire. My sons 17 year old girlfriend was inside vehicle sleeping and it had ignited under flames in the hood. He had driven from lincoln,ne to aurora,ne stayed for an hour plus then drove 20 miles to truck stop. Car had a fire under the hood and blew front tires and is a total loss. It was sitting next to a gas pump with no power.had a occupant in vehicle sleeping. The front end is gone along with passenger side of vehicle. Was waiting for recall parts at local dealer had appt for next day to fix issue!!! Contact for photos