# 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `637688` · 2007-09-07 · General Motors, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** PONTIAC
- **Model:** GRAND PRIX
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** General Motors, LLC
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 91,000
## Narrative
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,
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*