Pontiac Leaking Coolant, Intake Manifold Gasket Failure

Posted on
Tagged
#engine #recall

A federal judge denied national class action status to the U.S. lawsuit, saying the process would be too complicated. Although the ruling can be appealed, it's a huge setback.

DexCool Coolant and the Intake Manifold Gasket

Leaking coolant from a cracked intake manifold gasket is an extremely common problem on most GM vehicles made from the late 90s to the mid-2000s. Most experts agree that the problem stems from GM's "DexCool" coolant, which reacts with the intake manifold gasket, causing it to leak coolant.

Replacing the intake manifold gasket usually costs between $700 - $1,000, mostly labor. GM has updated the material used in the intake manifold gasket so that it doesn't react with the Dexcool coolant as fast as the original gasket material.

Currently there is no recall for the intake gasket, because it is not a safety issue (according to the NHTSA).

Several class action lawsuits have been filed, both in the U.S. & Canada. However even statewide class action lawsuits have been running into trouble. State courts in Michigan and California already have rejected class action status for Dex-Cool lawsuits. See the links below for more information.

GM Vehicles Most Affected

MakeModelGenerationYears
ChevroletMalibu5th generation1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
PontiacGrand Am5th generation1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Dex-Cool Class Action Law Firms

Generations Where This Problem Has Been Reported

This problem has popped up in the following Pontiac generations.

Most years within a generation share the same parts and manufacturing process. You can also expect them to share the same problems. So while it may not be a problem in every year yet, it's worth looking out for.

  1. 5th Generation Grand Am

    Years
    1999–2005
    Reliability
    26th of 27
    PainRank
    21.5
    Complaints
    1477
    Continue

OK, Now What?

Maybe you've experienced this problem. Maybe you're concerned you will soon. Whatever the reason, here's a handful of things you can do to make sure it gets the attention it deserves.

  1. File Your Complaint

    CarComplaints.com is a free site dedicated to uncovering problem trends and informing owners about potential issues with their cars. Major class action law firms use this data when researching cases.

    Add a Complaint
  2. Notify CAS

    The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is a pro-consumer organization that researches auto safety issues & often compels the US government to do the right thing through lobbying & lawsuits.

    Notify The CAS
  3. Report a Safety Concern

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the US agency with the authority to conduct vehicle defect investigations & force recalls. Their focus is on safety-related issues.

    Report to NHTSA