2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Engine and Engine Cooling Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 9, 2025 · 62 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix, 19% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 91,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “fire department” (21% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Fire department: mentioned in 13 of 62 complaints (21%)
  • Intake manifold: mentioned in 12 of 62 complaints (19%)
  • Engine compartment: mentioned in 10 of 62 complaints (16%)
  • Consumer writes regards: mentioned in 5 of 62 complaints (8%)

At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?

Based on 44 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles0 · 0%
10k–25k miles1 · 2%
25k–50k miles3 · 7%
50k–75k miles9 · 20%
75k–100k miles12 · 27%
100k–150k miles12 · 27%
150k+ miles7 · 16%

How serious are the reports?

Of 62 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 32 a fire, 1 an injury.

Pontiac Grand Prix engine and engine cooling complaints by model year

Peak: 1999, with 152 complaints
1995: 111995111996: 131996131997: 13619971361998: 901998901999: 15219991522000: 15120001512001: 10220011022002: 622002622003: 162003162004: 412004412005: 6200562006: 6200662007: 4200742008: 520085

n = 795 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearEngine and Engine Cooling complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2008 Grand Prix53%61,400
2007 Grand Prix42%98,590
2006 Grand Prix63%49,000
2005 Grand Prix64%11,000
2004 Grand Prix419%52,500
2003 Grand Prix1615%75,000
2002 Grand Prix6219%91,000
2001 Grand Prix10233%96,500
2000 Grand Prix15133%91,582
1999 Grand Prix15237%98,000
1998 Grand Prix9018%109,791
1997 Grand Prix13617%137,000
1996 Grand Prix1316%—
1995 Grand Prix117%123,250

When owners reported it

Peak: 2008, with 15 complaints
2002: 1200212004: 2200422005: 2200522006: 6200662007: 7200772008: 152008152009: 6200962010: 5201052011: 7201172012: 1201212014: 2201422016: 6201662020: 1202012025: 120251

n = 62 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (3)

Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; engine and engine cooling:engineOct 26, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V701000 · 1,003,556 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Engine and engine coolingApr 8, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V116000 · 1,497,516 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.

Engine and engine coolingMar 12, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V118000 · 207,542 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Certain underhood fires may be caused by drops of engine oil, from seepage or spillage, being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and, in some instances, the fire may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, along with the 1-3-5 spark plug wire retainers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. , free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Until the remedy is completed, gm strongly recommends that owners observe the following important precautions (1) that owners do not park their vehicle in a garage, car port, or other structure; (2) if owners notice a burning odor, they should have their dealer inspect the vehicle. The dealer will inspect the vehicle without charge; (3) use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) in the vehicle as recommended in the vehicle's owner manual. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080 or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

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…

Received Oct 9, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 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…

Received Feb 26, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 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

Received Oct 6, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10910337
Pontiac Grand Prix
2004-2007 Pontiac Grand Prix photographed in USA.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2002 Pontiac Grand Prixs have engine and engine cooling problems?

No. NHTSA has 62 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix (19% of the 330 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix engine and engine cooling?

Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?

The median reported mileage is 91,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix?

The most frequent phrase is “fire department”, in 13 of 62 complaints, followed by “intake manifold” (12).

Other 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

See all 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Grand Prix years.