MARCH 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. Engine oil can leak from the valve cover and can migrate during maneuvers such as hard braking. If the oil reaches the hot exhaust manifold, it may ignite causing an underhood fire. Until sufficient parts become available to repair all of the affected vehicles, GM strongly recommends that owners observe the following important precautions: (1) they strongly recommend 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. This recall was the subject of an Engineering Analysis, EA07-008, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation. 08V118

NEWS:    GM announces recall on car fire risk

DETROIT (AP) -- March 14, 2008 -- General Motors Corp. is recalling 207,542 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix sedans over a risk they could catch fire, and warned their owners not to park the cars in garages until they are fixed.

The automaker said Friday it is recalling the 1997-2003 Buick Regal GS and Grand Prix GTP models with 3.8-liter supercharged V-6 engines.

During hard braking, oil can leak from the engine onto the exhaust manifold, and fires can start if the oil gets hot enough, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site.  GM spokeswoman ..... said the problem has caused 267 vehicle fires and six injuries, five of them minor and one moderate. It also has caused 17 fires in structures, GM said.

The NHTSA said that if the exhaust manifold is hot enough and the oil gets below a heat shield, "it may ignite into a small flame and in some cases fire may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel."

GM sports cars under investigation

GM spokeswoman said GM sent letters to the owners on Thursday telling them the vehicles are safe to drive, but they should not be parked in garages or carports until the problem is repaired.

The automaker is working with suppliers to get the parts to fix the problem, and owners will be notified as soon as the parts are available, GM spokeswoman said. She did not know how long it would take to get the parts but said it would be soon.

If owners smell burning, they should take their car to a dealership for inspection, she said.  "Consumers can always can go to their dealership if they do smell something and are concerned," she said.  They also should run premium 91 octane fuel, which is recommended for the cars, she said.  "Lower octane fuel increases under-hood temperatures during operation," GM spokeswoman said.  GM spokeswoman said there are "very, very low incidences of vehicles actually catching fire while driving

More Recall Information:   Buick Regal  -   Pontiac Grand Prix

RECALLS:   Detroit Free Press (2/10/05)

- GM Recalls Nearly 200,000 Vehicles for various defects....

DETROIT (AP)  (2/10/05) -- GM is recalling 19,924 Cadillac XLR coupes, SRX SUVs and Pontiac Grand Prix sedans from the 2004 model year because the accelerator pedal may not work properly in extremely cold temperatures, requiring more braking. GM spokesman said temperatures far below freezing could cause a spring to break, which means the pedal may take longer than the maximum 3 seconds allowed by federal regulations to come back up after it is depressed.