NHTSA complaint: 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A TRIP, AND SHORTLY AFTER FILLING MY CAR UP WITH GAS, I HEARD A 'BANG', AND THE ENGINE BAY BURST INTO FLAMES. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I PULLED OVER, AND BY THE TIME I ACTUALLY STOPPED THE CAR, THE FIRE WAS ALREADY ENTERING THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME I EXITED THE CAR, THE FRONT HALF WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. BY THE TIME I WALKED AROUND 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN THE FIRE. SO FAR IT IS UNCERTAIN WHAT ACTUALLY CAUSED THE FIRE, AND IT IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, AS THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS HAPPENED, AND IF MY KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME. THE FIRE SPREAD VERY, VERY FAST... I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS TROUBLE FREE, AND THIS CAME AS A COMPLETE SURPRISE. I AM EVEN MORE UPSET NOW, BECAUSE I FOUND OUT THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP, INFACT, THERE ARE A LOT OF REPORTS IDENTICAL TO MY OWN. GENERAL MOTORS REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, AND COULD EASILY GET SOMEONE KILLED. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation