Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On May 27th 2023 just three days ago I went to start my car but it would not start, I tried two times then I smelled gas so I let it sit over night then the next day my friend went out to start it for me and it made a loud bang and the intake manifold exploded causing a fire and debris went everywhere, my is lucky he got away from the when he did or he would have been injured maybe even killed from the flames. I did not take any photos or report to anyone, a neighbor heard the load bang and came out to see if anyone was ok. There were no warning signals that appeared to my knowledge. There were 200,000 miles on the vehicle at time of the incident.
My 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix with a 3.8 liter engine caught fire while I was out of state in detroit doing training for work. I parked at the hotel I was staying at after a short trip to dinner and back I park my car and 15 min. Later I heard two load pops (noise was front tires blew out because the fire got to hot) and looked outside my hotel room and my car was on fire and a co-workers car parked next to my car caught on fire there was hotel damage. Plus two cars totaled and no way home. It sucks! There was a recall on the car involving engine fires. I took the car to a GM dealer and had the recall work done a year ago. Nice work GM!
The night of the incident I was driving to my brother's house when I pulled over lifted the hood it burst into flames
My car wouldn't start so I called aaa. The man tried to start the car before he attempted to jump it. When he turned the key, the car exploded and caught fire. Thank goodness he hadn't opened the hood because I was standing next to the car and could have been killed from the flying debris. When we opened the hood to put out the fire, the intake manifold was completely destroyed and in pieces. I ended up having the car towed and they replaced the intake manifold and the fuel rails costing me $900. Yesterday I went to start the car and it acted like it didn't want to start again but finally it did but I did hear a pop. When I researched the problem online, I found an article about Chevy impalas exploding but from reading the comments, it appears this is a problem with all GM cars from that time period. …
This concerns the GM recall of the 3800 series engines. People are still having engine fires after having their cars fixed by the dealership. There's a fuel line leading into the fuel rail that has a quick disconnect. Inside the quick disconnect is an o-ring that after so many year's gets brittle and cracks. This can drip fuel on hot parts of the engine. What eventually catches fire is all the plastic and rubber parts of the engine not necessarily the fuel itself as that is just a catalyst. I personally know of a person that this has happened to even after having the recall items fixed. I found this information on a Grand Prix forum that I'm a member of. I'll include the link to the post. This is eye opening and I hope you can take this seriously. Here's the link and it's very detailed:http://www.grandprixforums.net/f81/could-this-causing-all-engine-fires-30008.html.
We where driving down highway 212 between marengo, ia to belle plain, ia and the car just shut down on us. Almost got us in an accident with three other vehicles if it was not for there fast thinking and my fasting pulling in to a corn field we did not get hurt. The fuel pump was just replaced and after looking at the fuels. Fuel #32 is blow and everytime we replace it. It blows again. I looked online and there is alot of people who has the some people. Please help with this problem. Trying to get the car out and back home we almost got hit by a fire truck cause of we could not get out of there way fast enough. Please help.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. After the contact exited the vehicle, a passerby alerted him that a fire had erupted under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. A police report was not filed. The contact was neither aware nor notified of NHTSA campaign numbers: 07e021000 (fuel system, other), 08V118000 (engine and engine cooling), and 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.
This is for the gtp supercharged model. Replaced the fuel pump and now all of a sudden leaking out of shrader valve above the injectors which is was not doing before. Online says there was a delphi fuel pressure regulator recall but after entering my VIN says no recalls. Although I also took it in last year due to the recall concerning oil dripping on the manifold and causing possible fire so unsure why it said no recalls.. I will attach photo of website claims. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an odor of fuel detected. The contact noticed small spots of fuel on the ground. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was informed that the fuel line was corroded causing the fuel leak. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened case number: 8-4762625119. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel regulator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
Fuel System complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix, 7% of the model year's 330 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix, though it has 3 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 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 112,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 7 fires and 3 injuries to fuel & propulsion 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.