Problems · by component

2005 Pontiac Grand Am electrical system problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Pontiac Grand Am cite electrical system, 39% of all 102 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
40
39% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE KEY MOVED FROM THE ON POSITION TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2020Electrical systemODI 11322195
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. IF THE STEERING WHEEL WERE IN A STRAIGHT POSITION, THE HORN WOULD WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2018Electrical systemODI 11161154
“DURING STARTING OR REGULAR DRIVING, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. SOON AFTER, THE CAR MAY SHUT DOWN OR WILL NOT START AT THE NEXT IGNITION CYCLE. THIS IS DUE TO A WIDELY-KNOWN FAILED PASSLOCK OR VATS SYSTEM. IT IS NOT DUE TO USER ERROR, AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF NOT FATAL AT THE WRONG TIME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2018Electrical system, EngineODI 11101258
“"TAKATA INFLATE" MY CAR HAS TO GET A BOOST DAILY BUT ONCE AND NOW IT WHEN CAR IS IN THE ON POSTION IT WILL NOT MAKE A SOUND BUT ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS COME .IF YOU TURN ON HEAD LIGHTS INSIDE PANEL WILL NOT COME BUT TURN OFF LIGHTSOR TAKE OUT KEY IT WILL LIGHT UP ON THE PANEL”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2017Electrical systemODI 11033104
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. A YEAR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2017Electrical systemODI 10939615
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WITHOUT WARNING, THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO PERMANENT REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10818746

Showing 6 of 40 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

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Jul 3, 2014NHTSA 14V400000
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.