NHTSA complaint: 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — STRUCTURE:BODY
ON THANKSGIVING DAY 2014 MY CAR COUGH ON FIRE 10 MINUTES AFTER MY DAUGHTER AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. I WALKED INTO A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN GO OFF WITHIN ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS LATER ANOTHER. I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON TO FIND MY CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. THE CAR WAS PARKED NEAR A BUILDING STRUCTURE WITH 4 OR MORE VEHICLES PARKED INSIDE. I QUICKLY TRIED TO REMOVE MY IMPORTANT PROPERTY, POCKETBOOK, AND GRABBED A WATER HOSE TO TRY TO KEEP THE FLAMES AWAY FROM THE STRUCTURE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT COMPARTMENT, MOTOR MOUNT AND ENGINE MELTED, WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE INSIDE DASH AND FLOORBOARD WAS MELTED WITH LARGE HOLES BURNED IN THEM, AND BOTH FRONT TIRED EXPLODED AND ENTIRELY MELTED AS WELL. I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOUSE WHERE THE CAR COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND SET THE ENTIRE HOUSE ON FIRE. I HAVE TRIED TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH GM FOR ALMOST A YEAR. THEY REFUSED TO RETURN MY PHONE CALLS AFTER THE INITIAL TWO, TELLING ME IT WOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS, FOR 6 MONTHS. THEY NOW REFUSE TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY. I WILL NEVER PARK A CAR IN AN ATTACHED GARAGE TO MY HOUSE EVER AGAIN IN FEAR OF MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. I RESEARCHED THIS CAR FOR RECALLS TO FIND THAT THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM UP UNTIL 2003 MODELS, ALSO TO FIND THAT THIS ISSUE HAD CONTINUED IN THE 2004 MODELS WITH NO RECALLS AND FEAR THE SAFETY OF OTH
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation