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Pontiac Grand Prix Engine And Engine Cooling Safety Report | Jan 17, 2012
Reported on Jan 17, 2012
| I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S FROM 1997-2003 CATCHING FIRE. THE REMEDY OFFERED BY GENERAL MOTORS WAS TO REPLACE THE FAILED VALVE COVER GASKET IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE (RADIATOR SIDE). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FAILURE IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE FRONT GASKET, AS THE FRONT AND REAR VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE IDENTICAL, AND THE REAR ONE FAILS AND LEAKS JUST AS MUCH AS THE FRONT. THE REASON GENERAL MOTORS REPAIRS ONLY THE FRONT GASKET IS THAT IT IS FAIRLY EASY TO REPLACE AND IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE. THE REAR VALVE COVER GASKET, HOWEVER, HAS A MYRIAD OF COMPONENTS IN THE WAY THAT HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND DISCONNECTED FOR ACCESS TO THE VALVE COVER AND GASKET, WHICH IS A MUCH MORE TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY REPAIR. GM DENIES THIS FACT AND FORCES US TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS ONLY THE FRONT GASKET THAT IS TROUBLESOME. I OWN THREE GRAND PRIX GTP MODELS (1999,2001,2002) AND EVERY ONE HAS LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKETS, WITH SOMETIMES THE REAR ONE LEAKING MORE THAN THE FRONT DUE TO ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE FIREWALL, RESULTING IS LESS COOLING AND AIRFLOW, MAKING IT MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE FROM HEAT, ESPECIALLY FOR A POORLY DESIGNED OR MADE OF INFERIOR MATERIAL GASKET IN THE FIRST PLACE. NOW I AGREE THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE AN ISSUE AS GASKETS DRY UP AND PERHAPS CRACK DUE TO THE MANY HEATING AND COOLING CYCLES OVER THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE, BUT SINCE GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A GASKET PROBLEM AND HAS REDESIGNED THE GASKET, BOTH SHOULD BE REPLACED AS A MEASURE OF RESPONSIBILITY ON GM'S PART, AND AS CONSIDERATION FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMER BASE. WHY GM DOESN'T DO THE RIGHT THING IS ANYONE'S GUESS, BUT IGNORING CONSUMERS COMPLAINTS ON SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE IS SHAMEFUL!. *TR | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Grand Prix |
| Manufactured by: | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | |
| Was a death reported? | |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | OTTAWA, ON, CANADA K1V 9H7 FL |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | |
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| Number of cylinders: | |
| Vehicle type: | |
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| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
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