Problems · by component

2005 Pontiac Grand Prix power train problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix cite power train, 27% of all 148 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
40
27% 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 power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that it was difficult to shift the vehicle into gear. There was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the transmission fluid was flushed and refilled. The contact was also informed that a spacer was missing. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2022Power trainODI 11477092
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND SAID "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" I WAS PRESSING THE GAS GOING 55 MPH AND IT SUDDENLY LOST ALL RPMS AND SPEED DROPPED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND ME. I WAS VERY UPSET ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY SON. I WAS TOLD ABOUT MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH PONTIACS. WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? AND IF NOTHING WHY? MY SON AND I WERE VERY LUCKY WE WEREN'T I'M AN ACCIDENT. WANT ANSWERS AND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL GETTING THESE CARS FIXED. IT IS VERY UNSAFE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2016Power train, EngineODI 10903454
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2015Power trainODI 10787352
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SCHEDULED TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID UTILIZED BY THE VEHICLE WAS DEXRON 3, BUT THE DEALER UTILIZED DEXRON 6, WHICH HAD A DIFFERENT VISCOSITY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE RESULTS WERE THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2015Power trainODI 10780223
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY, ACCELERATED, AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2014Power trainODI 10637665
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING, THE KEY WOULD RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,300.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2014Steering, Power trainODI 10609285

Showing 6 of 40 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 2005 Grand Prix problem areas