Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My vehicle caught on fire while in motion. This happened during a trip to nuevo laredo, tamaulipas Mexico. It was reported to GM in detail and extensively, a copy of the title, an affidavit and the invoice where the remaining were sold to a junk yard were all mailed to an address provided. I never received a response from GM. Every phone number that has been provided to me leads nowhere. I emailed mr. Jeffrey m boyer vice president of global vehicle safety at GM this afternoon with cc to mr. Anthony foxx the secretary of the department of transportation. See the attached notice. Date that I am providing is estimated since it happened a long time ago and I don't have my notes with me.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle bursted into flames. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed. There was no injuries. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 189,000.
I am driving down hwy 311 in houma, la. I went around another vehicle and as my car went into passing gear I hear a noise from under the hood. I stopped and put gas in my car. As I'm driving down savanne road I hear the noise again. As I'm driving the noise gets louder and worse. On June 10, 2020 the car starts getting hot so I pull over and shut the engine off. Smoke starts coming out the hood and water is all over the ground. Can't find where the water spewed out at or a crack or anything. Fans are constantly not working. This is the second time this happens. Car wouldn't start. Get it started and immediately went straight home. The bearings are going out in the engine. I bought the car in February 2013 and have had problems since March 2013. Ac goes out. I fix it. It works a week or 2 and stops again. ABS light is on but a mechanic cannot diagnose the problem. …
I was driving my car in a suburban area at approx 20 MPH when I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I immediately turned onto a side street and within 15 seconds of noticing the smoke there were flames shooting out from under my hood and the drivers side wheel well. I threw the car into park and got out. A passerby was already calling 911 and within less than a minute of my exiting the vehicle the entire front end was on fire. The fire department arrived and put out the fire and stated that there was so much damage to the front end of the car that they were unable to give a definite cause, but suspected electrical. The entire car is totaled, the fire was so hot it melted the driver window and the windshield and destroyed it within minutes. …
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. Most of the issues I have figured out when my car was parked but some like the electrical problems and fuel issues, I've noticed either turning or driving on the main highway.
Driving to work December 1, 2011, I noticed a burning smell and then a fire through the dash. I immediately pulled over and removed dash panel and threw snow into dash trying to put out the fire. Within a number of minutes the engine fire was out of control and the car was completely engulfed in flames. This resulted in a complete loss of the vehicle. It is believed the underhood fire was a result of the issue of GM safety recall #09047. The safety recall work was performed by a dealership on May 18,2009. I do not believe this "fix" has prevented the underhood fires on many of these recalled vehicles.
Vehicle parked over 48 hrs. After last driven passerby honked to let us know car was on fire. Unlocked car and opened hood. Flames present at ABS module and surrounding area. Wiring harness and plastics from there across firewall to main fuse box and electrics and plastics on top of engine melting. Extinguisher used to put out fire and disconnected battery cable. Removed powder with water hose and surveyed damaged it appears to have started at or very near the ABS module/relay box area and spread to fire wall and around towards the battery area from there. This is the gtp edition of the Grand Prix.
Tl * the contact owns a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that oil dropped onto the engine while oil was being added to the reservoir. The vehicle ignited into flames. The contact extinguished the flames with a garden hose. In 2009, the vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 08V118000 (engine and engine cooling), but the remedy did not correct the failure. The contact also stated that the key would not release from the ignition switch. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
Driving my 2001 Grand Prix gtp home at approximately 4:15 pm on Friday January 18th. The car started loosing power and I pulled over to the side of the road. Heavy black smoke quickly began to come out from the front end of the car and within 30 seconds the car was in flames. Fire rescue proceeded to extinguish the flames. The car appears to be a total loss. This car was in premium condition. 80,000 miles and maintained with records immaculately. The temperature gauge did not indicate any above normal temperature as well as the battery and oil gauges.
I have a Pontiac Grand Prix, 2001 which had a recall for engine compartmented fires, I first learned of the recall after the first fire that happened in July, 2010, which I put out myself, I then received a recall notice on my car. I had the recall work done in nov or dec of 2010. Today, my wife was driving my daughter to school this morning 1/26/2011, and the car caught fire again in front of the school and caused significant damage to the engine compartment & engine. The car is no longer drivable, everything in the engine compartment is destroyed.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of brake lamp illumination
The agency's analysis of GM's complaint and warranty data for the subject vehicles, including a comparison with other agency and manufacturer data pertaining to other vehicle brake lamp investigations, indicated a low failure history for the subject vehicles.this investigation included a review and analysis of data for relevant brake lamp malfunctions that require replacement of the multifunction switch (mfs)…
Electrical complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 60 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix, 19% of the model year's 308 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 20 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.