Problems · by component

2002 Pontiac Grand Prix engine and engine cooling problems

64 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix cite engine and engine cooling, 19% of all 340 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
64
19% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
32
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V701000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be serviced because it was an older vehicle, and the dealer informed the contact that the recall part had been discontinued. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was then taken to Christian Brothers Automotive, where it was serviced, and the contact was informed that engine oil was leaking onto the exhaust manifold. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2025Engine and engine coolingODI 11692342
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAD PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A TUNE-UP, OIL CHANGE AND NO FAILURE CODES FOUND. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE MECHANIC, SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING THROUGH THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY AND A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED SHE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY USING WATER AND GATORADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS IN THE EXHAUST AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING AFTER THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *DT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2020Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 11311691
“2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE OIL DEPOSITS ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REFUND FOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DAMAGES. *SMD”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2016Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10910337
“2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE, CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS AFTER RECEIVING ENGINE OIL DEPOSITS ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE UPPER INTAKE GASKET, VAPOR TUBES, ENGINE COVER AND MAP SENSOR WERE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2016Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10872014
“2002 GRAND PRIX PONTIAC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OIL LEAK RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE SPENT $600.00 TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED AND IT STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10852628
“2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN 2013. IN DECEMBER 2015, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE ISSUE. *JB UPDATED 03/29/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2016Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10846515

Showing 6 of 64 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.