FOR 6 YEARS MY 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT 3.8L V6 WAS THE IDEAL CAR. I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. I FULLY EXPECTED THE CAR TO GIVE ME AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 GOOD YEARS OF SERVICE. THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED - OIL/FLUIDS CHECKED AND CHANGED REGULARLY. I HAD NEW TIRES/BRAKES PUT ON THE CAR 8 MOS. AGO AND THEY COMMENTED ON HOW GREAT THE CAR RAN, ESPECIALLY FOR IT'S AGE. I HAD THEM ALSO CHECK ALL OF THE BELTS, HOSES, ETC. WHILE THEY WERE THERE AND THEY ASSURED ME THE CAR WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND I WAS NOT EVEN SCHEDULED FOR A TUNE UP FOR ANOTHER 20,000 MI.. ON SEPT. 6, 2007, I PARKED MY CAR, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WENT INSIDE MY HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MIN., THEN RETURNED TO MY CAR TO FIND SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED QUICKLY BUT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. IT WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT AND HAD I NOT BEEN THINKING CLEARLY AND OPENED THE HOOD TO TRY TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE MYSELF, MY HOME COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN SEVERLY DAMAGED (AT BEST). I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE LAST 24 HRS. THAT THIS VERY THING HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS. AFTER EVERYTHING I HAVE READ, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED OR AT THE VERY LEAST WHY I WAS NOT MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THIS HAPPENING. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. THIS IS MORE THAN A MINOR MALFUNCTION OR INCONVENIENCE. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS AND HAD I NOT BEEN LEAVING SO SOON AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, MY HOME COULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AS WELL. AS IT STANDS,