Problems · by component

2001 Pontiac Grand Prix engine and engine cooling problems

105 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix cite engine and engine cooling, 33% of all 319 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
105
33% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
45
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN OIL LEAK WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND RENDER THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN APRIL OF 2016 AT BALLAS BUICK GMC (5715 CENTRAL AVE, TOLEDO, OH 43615, (567) 202-1198). THE CONTACT CALLED BALLAS BUICK GMC REGARDING THE RECENT FAILURE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 249,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2018Engine and engine coolingODI 11081036
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000. UPDATED 02/23/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPDATED 7/6/18*JB *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, EngineFire reportedODI 10924678
“2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE UNDER HOOD AFTER RECALL 15757- UNDER HOOD FIRE REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DESPITE HAVING THE RECALL PERFORMED, ON MARCH 18, 2016, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ANYWAY ON JULY 10, 2016. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2016Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10891455
“2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE 15V-701 REPAIRS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *LD ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THERMOSTAT, INTAKE MANIFOLD AND VALVE COVER GASKET WERE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10839471
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOWING LOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ UPDATED 03/14/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2016Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10818166
“CAR JUST DIES WHILE DRIVING REPLACED MAF SENSOR MAP SENSOR WAS REPLACED PREVIOUS. TOOK CAR OF PROBLEM. 2 MONTH LATER SPUTTERING CODE CAME BACK CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAD THAT CUT OFF. 2 WEEKS LATER CAR WON'T START CHANGED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR STARTED BUT MISFIRE COIL PACKS CHANGED AND IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRE. CAR STARTED RAN PERFECT. NEXT DAY CAR WOULDN'T START. WENT BACK TO SHOP MECHANIC STARTED LOOKING AT SOME WIRES CAR WOULDN'T STILL START. NEXT DAY CAR STARTS UP JUST FINE N RUNNING PERFECTLY. WHEN ITS NOT STARTING IT WILL CRANK JUST NOT FIRE. HAVEN'T CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WILL RUN YET TODAY THOUGH. BROUGHT IT HOME YESTERDAY. COULD A KEY CAUSE IT TO CRANK AND NOT FIRE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10669947

Showing 6 of 105 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Engine and engine coolingReported Oct 26, 2015NHTSA 15V701000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Engine and engine coolingReported Apr 8, 2009NHTSA 09V116000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 12, 2008NHTSA 08V118000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2001 Grand Prix problem areas