Problems · by component

2003 Pontiac Grand Am vehicle speed control problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Pontiac Grand Am cite vehicle speed control, 10% of all 338 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
35
10% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“**THIS IS NOT A STANDARD 2003 PONTIAC, SINGLE OWNER CURRENT MILEAGE OF 70,000** UPON VEHICLE REACHING OPERATING TEMPERATURE IT EXHIBITS THE SYMPTOMS OF RECALL #04092 124/ ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.FAILURE RESULTS IN LOSS OF RPM AND SPEED CONTROL.THIS ITEM WAS ADDRESSED ON 1-11-2004 BY APPROVED DEALER. CAR LAST FAILURE OCCURRENCE WAS ON 1/12/2020. THIS VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN RECALL#14350 IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN FAILURE OCCURS LOSS OF POWER,SPEED,AIR BAGS,ECT.. INITIAL RECALL REPAIR WAS ON 3-07-2014. AT THAT TIME A NEW KEY WAS CUT TO RESOLVE ISSUE. FAILURE HAS REOCCURED, LAST TIME BEING 12-23-19 WHILE DRIVING MID DAY NO EXCESSIVE TEMP OR DRIVING CONDITIONS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2020Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11299042
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BY RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE PEDAL FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (GETTEL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC, 1901 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PUNTA GORDA, FL 33950), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 8-446-6959426 WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,345.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11115306
“MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED, IT NOW FAILS TO RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION, REQUIRING ONE TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE PEDAL BACK UP. AFTER THE NEAR ACCIDENT, MY DAUGHTER DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR STICKING ACCELERATOR ON THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM, BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE RECALL. I CALLED PONTIAC ON THE TOLL FREE NUMBER LISTED ON THE RECALL NOTICE ON YOUR SITE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER ASKING TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR SEVERAL TIMES, I WAS FINALLY CONNECTED TO THE SUPERVISOR WHO ALSO SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. I TOLD HER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL AND SHE SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL FOR THE ACCELERATOR ON A 2003 GRAND AM. I GAVE HER THE RECALL NUMBER AND SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THAT RECALL, AND THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD SO PONTIAC WASN'T GOING TO PAY ANYTHING TO HAVE IT FIXED. SHE SAID I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF AND IF THEY EVER DID ISSUE A RECALL AND I KEPT THE RECEIPTS, THEY WOULD ISSUE A REFUND. THE CAR IS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2015Vehicle speed controlODI 10712677
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN UPDATED 9/12/2017*CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2015Vehicle speed controlODI 10669629
“MY CAR HAS AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. IN SAID RECALL IT DESCRIBES THAT IN THE EVENT OF IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN IN MY CAR 99% OF THE TIME AND THIS MAKES ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS. I CALLED A NUMBER TO GET A RENTAL CAR UNTIL MINE CAN BE FIXED DUE TO THE FACT NO DEALER HAS THE PARTS AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE. THE MAN ON THE PHONE TOLD ME I DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE IT WASN'T THAT BIG A DEAL. I FEEL THAT IT IS A BIG DEAL AND BECAUSE I HAVE CHILDREN AND I SHOULD ENTITLED TO A RENTAL COURTESY OF GM. I AM VERY DISPLEASED AND HOPE THAT THIS SITUATION CAN BE RECTIFIED. I WILL GO TO THE LOCAL NEWS AND EXPRESS MY CONCERN IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2014Vehicle speed controlODI 10633122
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL ACCELERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,594.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2014Vehicle speed controlODI 10608850

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Free remedy

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Vehicle speed controlReported Nov 1, 2004NHTSA 04V528000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.