2001 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report engine-compartment fires that begin while the car is parked, frequently a short time after normal driving, with several complaints noting a burning odor beforehand. Coolant leaks from the intake manifold gasket and a range of electrical and power-window faults are the other common themes. Mileage at the time of these reports varies widely, from under 50,000 miles to well past 200,000.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine compartment fire while parked

   • 157 complaints (51%)
   • median 120,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (117 state mileage)
   • 112 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $675 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2022

   Complaints describe the vehicle catching fire under the hood after it has been parked, often within five to fifteen minutes of a normal drive, sometimes with a burning smell noticed first. Several owners state the car was serviced under an engine-compartment fire recall and still caught fire afterward, and some say the needed parts were unavailable when they tried to have the recall performed. A number of reports reference recall campaigns on the exhaust manifold and front rocker cover gasket as the stated concern. Reported across a wide mileage range from about 86,000 to 225,000 miles, typically shortly after the car is shut off and parked.

   Recall 15V701000Recall 09V116000Recall 08V118000

   What to check: Ask whether the exhaust manifold and front rocker cover gasket recalls were completed and whether any paperwork shows the parts were actually installed. Look for oil residue around the front valve cover and the exhaust manifold, and treat a persistent oil or burning smell under the hood as a reason to have it inspected promptly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I drove to the grocery store, parked,went inside. Five minutes later I walk out to the fire department putting out a fire under the hood of my 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix. The car is completely totaled and was told by the fire department and numerous people that there is a recall on this vehicle for doing that. As of now nothing has been done to correct the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10334054, filed 2010-06, 143,000 miles

   “I was driving on the expressway and as I was exiting I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. As I pulled over to a side street the power steering went out, battery light and check oil lights went on and the car completely died. When I looked under the hood there was a fire. I have not had any problems with the vehicle prior but did take the car in a few months ago for GM recall 15757.”

   NHTSA complaint #10893838, filed 2016-08, 111,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults and power window failures

   • 104 complaints (34%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 20 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2022

   Owners report windows that stop working or fall into the door, interior and exterior lights that cut out intermittently, and dashboard lights flickering with a clicking sound from the dash. Some were told the ignition switch or a door switch needed replacement, and a few report the key becoming stuck in the ignition or the car failing to crank. Complaints also mention blower fan and vent control problems. Reported from about 25,000 miles up to around 250,000 miles, with windows and lights often described as intermittent before failing.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Operate every window, the blower fan at all speeds, and the dash and exterior lights during the test drive. Also try removing the key in each gear and ask whether the ignition switch or shift module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Currently, I'm having some electrical problems with my vehicle with the power windows and hazard lights. Also, I'm having an issue with the fuel system this started occurring three months ago and I feel it's not safe, at times with all issues that my car has it can be terrifying to drive but I can't afford to fix these problems or buy a new car. There are a few leaks coming from my car as well I know one leak is due to the power steering and the other the fuel tank, there might be another leak. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11004297, filed 2017-07, 250,235 miles

   “The map lights wont turn off. Its not registering my door being shut I have replaced everything on the door but it still gives me this problem. Its dangerous especially when driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11311995, filed 2020-02, 138,245 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling and sudden loss of power

   • 36 complaints (12%)
   • median 98,500 mi at 11.4 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2016

   Complaints describe the engine hesitating, stalling, or shutting off without warning at various speeds, sometimes preceded by the traction control light coming on and the tachometer dropping to zero. Some owners report the car not restarting immediately and power steering assist being lost when it cuts out. Several had the catalytic converter replaced at a dealer's suggestion without the stalling going away. Reported mostly between about 85,000 and 150,000 miles, occurring at random rather than under one specific condition.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether stalling or a traction-control light has been diagnosed and whether any converter or sensor work was done. Have a scan tool read stored codes and check for pending misfire codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had a letter sent through the mail that said that I could have a problem with my catalytic converter but when I took it to the dealer to have it fixed they said my check engine light had to be on so they said they wouldn't fix it but on the paper said nothing about the check engine having to be on. It only said that the catalytic converter might be bad if I had power loss but they said they wouldn't fix it until the light came on .”

   NHTSA complaint #10164865, filed 2006-08, 90,000 miles

   “My 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix gt has had problems with the car stalling and dying without warning. It is very random. Typically, the car hesitates/stalls then the tcs off light comes on and the RPM meter hits 0. I have twice changed the catalytic converter because of this problem at the Pontiac dealer's suggestion.the problem still exist. What can be done as my car will shut off at any speed and will not restart immediately. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10280755, filed 2009-08, 98,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leak at lower intake manifold gasket

   • 49 complaints (16%)
   • median 90,500 mi at 7.8 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2022

   Owners describe coolant loss, overheating, and in some reports coolant mixing with oil, traced by shops to the lower intake manifold gasket. Several mention the repair being done once or more than once, with a cooling system flush and thermostat replacement often included, and some note the problem returned after a prior repair. Complaints also mention dirty or unusually textured coolant at the time of the leak. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 90,000 miles, with some repeat repairs reported within a few years of the first.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and condition in the reservoir, look for coolant residue around the intake manifold and under the hood, and ask whether the intake gasket has been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The intake manifold gasket is causing a huge amount of consumers to replace parts in vehicles. The gasket leaks causing a mixture of antifreeze and oil causing engine damage. Even after the repair is done, because of design, it will just fail again. I just had it replaced 1 1/2 years ago, now I have to do it again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10224540, filed 2008-04, 45,000 miles

   “3.8 liter supercharged engine coolant leak - lower intake manifold gasket is leaking coolant. I have read about the recall or class action suit about the coolant leaks on 3.8 liter engines that are not supercharged. I would like to know why they never included superchared engines. I have a 1997 buick regal and a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix that were both at a GM dealership and they have this problem and it needs to be fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10240196, filed 2008-08, 86,800 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping and failure

   • 27 complaints (9%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $918 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2020

   Complaints describe the transmission slipping, grinding, or refusing to engage reverse, with quotes for replacement in some cases. Owners report having a transmission replaced more than once, and some describe symptoms beginning shortly after purchase of a used example while a dealer first found the vehicle to be driving normally. Reported from about 45,000 to 115,000 miles, with some failures noted at relatively low mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the transmission fluid level and color, and drive at light and moderate throttle to feel for slipping or delayed engagement. Ask whether the transmission or torque converter has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp has had a grinding noise since 8/31/04. On 9/1/04 it would not go into reverse last night. I took to the dealer and they found the transmission shut. Theyre quoting approximately $2,700 to put in a new transmission. I cannot believe that this would happen to a 3-year old car with 45,000 miles on it!”

   NHTSA complaint #10089004, filed 2004-09, 45,000 miles

   “After having the transmission replaced 2 times by dealership, we had to replace it at 99,000 miles again out of our pockets. The intake manifold exploded in my husbands face in 2012! We also had that fixed for $480.00 out of our pockets. Then on february 22,2013 after parking the vehicle , the engine caught fire within minutes and completely engulfed the car!( we had taken it in for the engine compartment fire recall at our Pontiac dealership previously to be fixed.) fire was so severe it went under the car and down the street. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10501021, filed 2013-03, 109,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for documentation of any open or completed recalls, particularly the engine-compartment fire campaigns, and have the coolant system and underside inspected for leaks. A pre-purchase check by an independent mechanic that includes stored engine codes and a transmission test drive is worth the cost on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.