Investigation PE07006: 1999–2002 Pontiac Grand Prix

Status

CLOSED

Opened

Jan 29, 2007

Closed

Jun 12, 2007

Model years

1999–2002

Subject

Engine compartment fire

Component: Engine and engine cooling

Summary

On january 29, 2007, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate alleged non-crash fires originating in the engine compartment in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 pontiac grand prix gtp vehicles equipped with the ?l67? Supercharged version of the general motors (gm) 3800 series ii v6 engine.to date, odi is aware of 121 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles that allege non-crash related fires originating in the engine compartment while driving or after the vehicle is parked and the ignition switched off. While no subject component has yet been identified, odi analysis of available information indicates that the alleged fire incident rate among the subject vehicles is significantly higher than gm peer vehicles that use the non-supercharged ?l36? Version of the gm 3800 series ii v6 engine.in some cases, the fire incident rate is twice as high in the subject vehicles and up to as much as an order of magnitude greater than in non-supercharged peer vehicles.for instance, the subject fire incident rate for the supercharged my 2000 pontiac grand prix gtp is approximately 236 per 100,000 vehicles produced (58 fires / 24,509 subject vehicles or 0.236%) while the fire incident rate for my 2000 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with the naturally aspirated ?l36? Engine is approximately 18 per 100,000 vehicles produced (17 fires / 90,338 vehicles or 0.018%). The manufacturer?s investigation into alleged engine compartment fires on the subject vehicles is ongoing.accordingly, this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea07-008) to further study the frequency and scope of the alleged defect. Based on the information reviewed in pe07-006, the range of subject vehicles under investigation will be expanded to include all my 1999-2002 buick park avenue, regal, and riviera, oldsmobile lss, and pontiac bonneville and grand prix vehicles that use the same or substantially similar transverse mounted ?l67? Engine.

An NHTSA investigation looks into whether a safety defect exists. Opening one is not a finding. Outcomes can include a recall, closure without action, or further inquiry.

Model years covered

• 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix330 complaints
• 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix308 complaints
• 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix461 complaints
• 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix412 complaints