Engine. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports37 fire reports7 injury reports

Seats complaints

5 reports

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148,000 miles · Feb 10, 2013

Seats

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I HAD ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES HAPPENED WITH MY CAR TODAY. IM ON MY WAY TO THE STORE TO GET DETERGENT BEFORE HEADING TO LAUNDROMAT. I NOTICED WHEN I ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO START IT UP THAT THE DRIVER SEAT WAS EXTREMELY WARM WHICH WAS STRANGE BECAUSE THE CAR SAT OVERNIGHT AND IT IS WINTER. AS I LET THE CAR WARM UP I REALIZED THAT THE SEAT BECAME HOT AND WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT BECAME HOTTER TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELT MY THIGHS AND REAR WERE BURNING. I HAD TO PUT A BLANKET ON THE SEAT JUST TO GET SOME RELIEF. I MADE IT TO THE LAUNDROMAT BUT BY THE TIME I'D FINISHED WASHING AND TOOK MY BELONGINGS BACK TO THE CAR I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE BLANKET OFF THE SEAT AND NOTICED A BURN STAIN ON THE SEAT. THE SEAT WAS STILL EXTREMELY HOT AND I WAS IN TOTAL DISBELIEF. I WAS REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE HOME BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE CAR WOULD CATCH FIRE OR IF I WOULD SUFFER ANY BURNS. THE CRAZY PART ABOUT THIS IS THAT I NEVER TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER AND HAD NOT USED IT FOR A FEW DAYS BECAUSE I TRY NOT TO USE IT ALL THE TIME. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK AND TAKE IT TO THE AUTO SHOP TO SEE HOW I CAN RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM WHICH IM HOPING WILL NOT COST AN "ARM AND LEG". IM SO DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 8YRS NOW AND CAN SAY THAT I NEVER EXPECTED THIS TO HAPPEN. I JUST KNOW THAT THIS HAS TOTALLY TURNED ME AWAY FROM THE THOUGHT OF HAVING HEATED SEATS IN MY NEXT CAR. SO SAD!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497680

44,000 miles · Oct 8, 2008

Seats

2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT OF MINE HAS A DRIVER'S POWER ADJUST SEAT WHICH TENDS TO MOVE FORWARD ON ITS ON MOST RECENT DATE OCCURRED BELOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244743

10,000 miles · Jul 25, 2005

SeatsInjury

2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX CAR SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. (LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF CONSUMER)*JB

NHTSA ODI #10131301

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2005

SeatsInjury

THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A BURN INJURY FROM THE CAR SEAT HEATER IN THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. ***TRANSFERRED TO TIS***. *MR *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10125843

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2004

Seats

WHILE DRIVING POWER SEAT MOVED FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT WAS STUCK IN FORWARD POSITION AND WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089636

Official recalls

15V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Oct 26, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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 engines 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

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

Remedy: 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 engines 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:engine

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

09V116000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Apr 8, 2009

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINES FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINES 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.

08V118000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Mar 12, 2008

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINES FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINES 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> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.