Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

Owners filed 119 complaints about the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix with NHTSA between Apr 2002 and May 2026. The most-cited component is engine (31).

Complaints
119
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
38
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine31
  2. Electrical system21
  3. Engine and engine cooling20
  4. Structure12
  5. Exterior lighting8
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic7
  7. Seats5
  8. Tires4
  9. Steering4
  10. Suspension4
  11. Visibility4
  12. Power train4
  13. Equipment4
  14. Fuel system, gasoline4

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20021
20036
200410
200510
20063
200710
20084
200910
20107
20114
20125
20135
20147
20159
201615
20174
20184
20193
20200
20211
20220
20230
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

31 reports24 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A FUEL STATION, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE FUEL PUMPS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE POLICE WAS AT THE SCENE, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. *DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2019EngineFire reportedODI 11279685

Electrical system

21 reports1 crash6 fires
“HI IT HAPPEND ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I STOP TO GET GAS IN THE CAR AN WHEN I LEFT I STARTED NOTICEING THE CAR WAS RUNNING KINDA OF WEIRD I GET TO WERE I WAS GOING AN TURN THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 10MINS AN THEN TRIED TO START IT BCK UP AN IT ACTED LIKE IT WLDNT I HAD TO GET A JUMP TO GET IT BARELY STARTED AN WHEN STARTED DRIVING IT WLD MISFIRE AN ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AN I CLD HARDLY GET THE CAR UP TO SPEED AN WHEN I FINALLY MADE IT HOME AN THE CAR OFF MY FUEL GAUGE WENT FROM HALF A TANK TO FULL AN THE CAR WLDNT START BCK UP”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 22, 2021Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11404164

Engine and engine cooling

20 reports6 fires3 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT IN MARCH 2016. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED FOR THE APPOINTMENT, THE DEALER CANCELLED AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WITH NO RESPONSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 06/30/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 05/04/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10861214

Structure

12 reports2 fires
“RECALL ON ENGINE PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY OPEN HOOD CAR WITH SMOKING THEN IT UNITED FIRE THERE IS OIL ON THE DRIP PAN BUT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTE IN THE MAIL”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2018Electrical system, Structure, Unknown or otherFire reportedODI 11109676

Exterior lighting

8 reports2 related recalls
“WHILE I'M PERSONALLY UNAWARE OF ANY CRASHES OR PEOPLE DYING DUE TO THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, GM HAS A WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF BAD IGNITION SWITCHES ON OTHER MODELS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS. THE EFFECTS OF THE BAD IGNITION SWITCH WITH THIS MODEL ARE: 1. THE A/C - HEATER FAN BLOWER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, AND THEN ONLY ON HIGH SPEED IF IT DOES. NONE OF THE OTHER SPEEDS WORK AT ALL. 2. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THE FAN MOTOR ON TO RUN THE HEATER OR A/C, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. WHILE THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THE CAUSE, AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, ONE COMPONENT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM EVERY TIME. YOU MUST REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE RESISTOR AS SOME SEEM TO THINK, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOSE WHO REPLACED THE RESISTOR ALWAYS HAD TO COME BACK AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOSE WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD FEWER, IF ANY, PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. I WRITE THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE SOMEONE "UP THERE" NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION. I SIMPLY HOPE IT DOESN'T FALL ON DEAF EARS LIKE MOST THINGS. I WITHHOLD FURTHER COMMENT. REGARDS, [XXX] *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2014Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10592331

Service brakes, hydraulic

7 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND TRAC WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10402607
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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