Pontiac Grand Prix Engine and Engine Cooling Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 2, 2026 · 795 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 795 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Pontiac Grand Prix across 14 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (152). The words owners use most often: “caught fire” (18% of reports).

What owners describe

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

  • Caught fire: mentioned in 143 of 795 complaints (18%)
  • Intake manifold: mentioned in 92 of 795 complaints (12%)
  • Engine compartment: mentioned in 90 of 795 complaints (11%)

How much does it cost to fix?

Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Pontiac Grand Prix at $1,550, and half of them between $1,150 and $2,400.

Based on 50 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2002–2016), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.

At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?

Based on 495 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles14 · 3%
10k–25k miles9 · 2%
25k–50k miles42 · 8%
50k–75k miles84 · 17%
75k–100k miles114 · 23%
100k–150k miles129 · 26%
150k+ miles103 · 21%

How serious are the reports?

Of 795 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 345 a fire, 10 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 131 complaints
1995: 219951996: 31997: 919971998: 211999: 1819992000: 242001: 3220012002: 272003: 6520032004: 572005: 3220052006: 332007: 6320072008: 1311312009: 10120092010: 462011: 4020112012: 242013: 320132014: 132015: 620152016: 412018: 120182020: 12025: 22025

n = 795 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (4)

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

Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

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 cooling:engineApr 6, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V201000 · 330,742 vehicles

Model years: 2004

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.

Risk: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

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

Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

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

Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

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 owned a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that the "Low Oil" message was displayed monthly, requiring oil to be added to the engine. While driving at approximately 5 MPH, the contact noticed smoke in the cabin near the floor on the passenger’s and driver’s sides, extending…

Received Nov 21, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11700813

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac grand prix. While driving various speeds, the low oil indicator illuminated. When the contact exited the vehicle, she noticed oil on the ground leaking from the engine. While the vehicle was undergoing a routine oil change, the contact was informed that an oil…

Received Mar 23, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11081036

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 pontiac grand prix. While driving 25 mph flames emitted from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle caught fire without warning the fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed and deemed…

Received Nov 7, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10924678
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 Pontiac Grand Prixs have engine and engine cooling problems?

No. NHTSA has 795 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Pontiac Grand Prix. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

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

Yes: 4 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Pontiac Grand Prix?

Owners report a typical cost of $1,550 (half paid between $1,150 and $2,400), from 50 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.

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

The most frequent phrase is “caught fire”, in 143 of 795 complaints, followed by “intake manifold” (92).

Other Pontiac Grand Prix problems

See all Pontiac Grand Prix problems.