Problems · by component

2001 Pontiac Grand Prix electrical system problems

63 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix cite electrical system, 20% of all 319 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
63
20% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
20
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I AM DRIVING DOWN HWY 311 IN HOUMA, LA. I WENT AROUND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AS MY CAR WENT INTO PASSING GEAR I HEAR A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STOPPED AND PUT GAS IN MY CAR. AS I'M DRIVING DOWN SAVANNE ROAD I HEAR THE NOISE AGAIN. AS I'M DRIVING THE NOISE GETS LOUDER AND WORSE. ON JUNE 10, 2020 THE CAR STARTS GETTING HOT SO I PULL OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. SMOKE STARTS COMING OUT THE HOOD AND WATER IS ALL OVER THE GROUND. CAN'T FIND WHERE THE WATER SPEWED OUT AT OR A CRACK OR ANYTHING. FANS ARE CONSTANTLY NOT WORKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENS. CAR WOULDN'T START. GET IT STARTED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT STRAIGHT HOME. THE BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT IN THE ENGINE. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2013 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE MARCH 2013. AC GOES OUT. I FIX IT. IT WORKS A WEEK OR 2 AND STOPS AGAIN. ABS LIGHT IS ON BUT A MECHANIC CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON NO MATTER WHAT. THE PIECES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOORS HAVE FALLEN OFF, ONCE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I ALWAYS HAVE TROUBLE STARTING IT. CHANGED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT AND THE HOUSINGS FOR THEM ARE HORRIBLE. THE SUNROOF LEAKS INTO THE DOME LIGHT.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2020Electrical system, Seat belts, EngineODI 11328279
“THE COOLANT AND ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. IT USED TO BE THE ENGINE LIGHT BUT SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN THAT FIXED THIS IS THE ON-GOING PROBLEM. AT LEAST IT DOESN'T AFFECT ME PASSING A SMOG TEST NOW. MY BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE FUEL GAUGE. IT WILL READ FULL OR EMPTY AND NOTHING IN BETWEEN. I USED TO BE ABLE TO ESTIMATE, BY CHECKING MY MILEAGE WHEN I WAS NEAR FULL BUT IT IS HARD TO TELL NOW, BECAUSE IT BOUNCES BATH AND FORTH AT TIMES. MY LAST ISSUE IS HEAT. IT USED TO WORK WELL BUT NOW IT WON'T GIVE ME HEAT. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STILL WORKS GREAT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2018Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11121061
“CURRENTLY, I'M HAVING SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE WITH THE POWER WINDOWS AND HAZARD LIGHTS. ALSO, I'M HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM THIS STARTED OCCURRING THREE MONTHS AGO AND I FEEL IT'S NOT SAFE, AT TIMES WITH ALL ISSUES THAT MY CAR HAS IT CAN BE TERRIFYING TO DRIVE BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS OR BUY A NEW CAR. THERE ARE A FEW LEAKS COMING FROM MY CAR AS WELL I KNOW ONE LEAK IS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING AND THE OTHER THE FUEL TANK, THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER LEAK. MOST OF THE ISSUES I HAVE FIGURED OUT WHEN MY CAR WAS PARKED BUT SOME LIKE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND FUEL ISSUES, I'VE NOTICED EITHER TURNING OR DRIVING ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2017Steering, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11004297
“MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENED DURING A TRIP TO NUEVO LAREDO, TAMAULIPAS MEXICO. IT WAS REPORTED TO GM IN DETAIL AND EXTENSIVELY, A COPY OF THE TITLE, AN AFFIDAVIT AND THE INVOICE WHERE THE REMAINING WERE SOLD TO A JUNK YARD WERE ALL MAILED TO AN ADDRESS PROVIDED. I NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM GM. EVERY PHONE NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO ME LEADS NOWHERE. I EMAILED MR. JEFFREY M BOYER VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL VEHICLE SAFETY AT GM THIS AFTERNOON WITH CC TO MR. ANTHONY FOXX THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. SEE THE ATTACHED NOTICE. *THE DATE THAT I AM PROVIDING IS ESTIMATED SINCE IT HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO AND I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES WITH ME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 3, 2016Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 10911292
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE RUN POSITION, THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED EFFORTLESSLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY GETS STUCK FREQUENTLY WHICH PROHIBITS HER FROM SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ UPDATED 07/19/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2016Electrical systemODI 10852434
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2016Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10817510

Showing 6 of 63 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2001 Grand Prix problem areas