Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Pontiac GTO problems
Owners filed 154 complaints about the 2005 Pontiac GTO with NHTSA between Apr 2005 and Nov 2024. The most-cited component is suspension (100).
Complaints
154
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension100
- Tires46
- Electrical system14
- Power train7
- Air bags7
- Steering6
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Seat belts3
- Visibility3
- Wheels2
- Equipment2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Engine1
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 Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
15
8
76
21
4
7
2
1
4
5
3
1
1
3
1
0
0
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 76 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
100 reports1 crash
“IRREGULAR FRONT TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS CAUSING BLOW OUT AND FLATS. NUMEROUS WHEEL ALIGNMENTS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHY HAS GM NOT PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE? LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHEN THIS OCCURS. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR LOSE THEIR LIFE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED BUT MANAGED TO STAY ON THE ROAD.”
Tires
46 reports1 crash
“MY 2005 PONTIAC GTO WAS PURCHASED WITH 53000 MILES AND MANUFACTURED WITH 245MM TIRES THAT ARE TOO WIDE AND RUB ON THE FRONT STRUT. THIS HAS CAUSED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. OTHER 04-05 GTOS HAVE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS CAUSED TIRE FAILURE AND ACCIDENTS IN OTHER GTOS. *JS”
Electrical system
14 reports
“MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS FLUNG OPEN SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE WINDOW TRACK COMING UNGLUED FROM THE GLASS. IT HAS HAPPENED AT DRIVE UP WINDOWS, DRIVING DOWN THE STREET/HIGHWAY AND EVEN HAS FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR IN A TURN BEFORE. IN THE 2004-2006 PONTIAC GTOS BOTH FRONT SIDE WINDOWS COME DETACHED FROM THEIR FORWARD MOST BRACKET THAT KEEPS THE WINDOWS IN THEIR TRACKS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO MOVE AND APPLY PRESSURE ONTO THE DOOR RELEASE MECHANISM OR LINKAGE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW IT HITS THE LINKAGE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE DOOR OPENS. IF GOING THROUGH A TURN AND ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW THE DOOR CAN FLY OPEN AND YOU CAN POSSIBLY FALL OUT. ALSO IF THE DOOR OPENS INTO TRAFFIC OF SOME SORT LIKE IN CLOSE QUARTERS ON A 2 LANE ROAD THE VEHICLES DOOR COULD BE STRUCK AND INJURE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER DEPENDING ON WHICH DOOR IS CURRENTLY AFFECTED.”
Power train
7 reports1 crash
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 62 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SWERVED TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED 01/27/11 PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED INTERNALLY, AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 04/15/11”
Air bags
7 reports3 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAG FAULT MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WERE PERMANENTLY NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”
Steering
6 reports1 crash
“MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP IN MY YARD, HAVING TO GET IT TOWED TO THE PONTIAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT PAYING OVER $2,000 TO GET IT FIX. THEN AFTER A YEAR IT LOCKED UP AGAIN. BEEN SITTING IN MY GARAGE EVERY SINCE. I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY TO CONTINUE TO GET THE PROBLEM FIX IF IT'S GONNA KEEP OCCURRING.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.