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2007 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 1108774 · 2014-09-12

Vehicle

Make
PONTIAC
Model
GRAND PRIX
Year
2007
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
100,500

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS AT RANDOM OCCASIONS THE LOW BEAMS WOULD JUST TURN OFF IN MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY, THE HIGH BEAMS HAVE ALWAYS WORKED SO I COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE. I RESEARCHED HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE, AND I ENDED UP REPLACING THE RELAY TO THE LOW BEAMS TWICE SINCE OCT. 2011. REPLACING THE RELAY ALWAYS SEEMED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. I WAS ALWAYS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS JUST A FAULTY RELAY. LAST NIGHT, MY WIFE RETURNED HOME FROM DINNER AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. SHE CALLED ME TO ASK WHAT SHE SHOULD DO. I ADVISED HER TO EITHER DISCONNECT THE BATTERY OR REMOVE THE RELAY THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE PAST UNTIL I COULD COME HOME AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. AS SHE OPENED THE HOOD SHE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. IT WAS DARK SO SHE WENT TO GRAB A FLASHLIGHT, AND UPON RETURNING THE RELAY PANEL WAS NOW ON FIRE. THANKFULLY THERE WAS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER NEARBY FOR HER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BEFORE IT GOT OUT OF HAND. OUR 3 YEAR OLD AND 8 MONTH OLD SONS HAD ALSO JUST GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR AS WELL. I CRINGE THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD MY FAMILY BEEN DRIVING AN EXTRA 10 MINUTES WHEN THIS FIRE BEGAN, OR IF MY WIFE COULDN'T HAVE RETURNED IN TIME WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE OTHER REPORTS ONLINE OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE LOW BEAMS SHUTTING OFF, AND SEVERAL THAT ENDED WITH A FIRE SUCH AS OURS DID. *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10632725
Machine
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