2002 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems

“I took my 2002 Pontiac to Thompson Chevrolet, located in Patterson, CA., for a recall that was not needed since the engine was rebuilt. My car had no issues and was operating just as it was when first bought. It was running excellent. On March 20, 2025, after I got my car back I noticed my gas gauge going up rapidly and not reading accurately. My car was also not accelerating as it was before but hesitates and jumps as it changes gears. It also has a small oil leak since I got it back. I complained to them and have reported this to the Better Business Bureau and have gotten no positive results. My car can pass a smog test, but, it has an oil leak, the gas gauge is not working since they worked on it and it hesitates upon acceleration. All since March 20th, 2025. Can you help me with this problem regarding the authorized dealership.”

“I had just drove about 30 miles home and when I arrived my engine was was smoking a little more than was usual because of oil burn off. So I popped the hood and a fire started in the back of the engine where I was having problems previously with the power steering pump. Obviously when I opened the hood it helped the fire and it grew. Took 30 minutes to put out. Car is now out of commission and I don't know what to do.”

“II HAD A NO ENGINE CRANK-NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS, INTERMINTENT START. CWAS PARKED NAD NOT MOVING. THE PROBLEM I CAUSED BY THE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND PASS KEY SYSTEM. GM HAD THIS PROBLEM IN 2004 ON THE COLBOLT. 6DEATHS DUE TO LOSS OF ENGINEPOWER, STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR,TILL IGET IT REPAIRED. I AM THE ORIGIONAL OWNER WITH 40000 MILES USE.”

“MY 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH A 3.8 LITER ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS OUT OF STATE IN DETROIT DOING TRAINING FOR WORK. I PARKED AT THE HOTEL I WAS STAYING AT AFTER A SHORT TRIP TO DINNER AND BACK I PARK MY CAR AND 15 MIN. LATER I HEARD TWO LOAD POPS (NOISE WAS FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT BECAUSE THE FIRE GOT TO HOT) AND LOOKED OUTSIDE MY HOTEL ROOM AND MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND A CO-WORKERS CAR PARKED NEXT TO MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE THERE WAS HOTEL DAMAGE. PLUS TWO CARS TOTALED AND NO WAY HOME. IT SUCKS! THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR INVOLVING ENGINE FIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE A YEAR AGO. NICE WORK GM!”

“HAD A RECALL FOR MY CAR. NO LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS OFF BEFORE AS INSTRUCTED WENT TO A DEALER TO FIX THE RECALL GATEWAY MOTORS IN BROKEN BOW DID THE RECALL LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE SO I CONTACTED SANDHILLS MOTOR TO LET THEM LOOK AT IT. SAID THERMOSTAT WAS BAD HAD IT REPLACED OVER $200 DOLLARS FOR THAT I TOOK IT BACK TO GATEWAY MOTORS IN BROKEN BOW TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT QUOTED ME A $500 DOLLAR REPAIR TO AVOID CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE I'M NOT RICH SO IT GOES FROM A FREE RECALL FIX TO ME PAYING OVER $700”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A BOOM SOUND AND SAW WHITE SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, SHE NOTICED THAT A PISTON WAS DISLODGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SCRANTON CHEVROLET OF NORWICH (774 W THAMES ST, NORWICH, CT 06360, (860) 889-3333) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT TWO UNKNOWN PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A RENTAL VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST AND INFORMED HER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.”