IllustrationWITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, GM PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE. THIS RESULTED IN LONE FEMALE DRIVER TO BE STRANDED IN A HIGH CRIME AREA. *NM
2003 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than the model-year median of 82.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Am years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
4825–50K
5250–75K
3975–100K
41100–150K
23150K+
238 reports with mileage · 87 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports5 fire reports23 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
134 reportsDT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS FEBRUARY 2004, AND THE SECOND TIME IT WAS IN JULY 2004. THE MOST RECENT TIME IT STALLED WAS SEPTEMBER 19, 2005. THE FIRST TIME THEY THOUGHT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLOGGED. THE SECOND IT WAS THAT COMPUTER NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. AND THE THIRD TIME TH…
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DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS FEBRUARY 2004, AND THE SECOND TIME IT WAS IN JULY 2004. THE MOST RECENT TIME IT STALLED WAS SEPTEMBER 19, 2005. THE FIRST TIME THEY THOUGHT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLOGGED. THE SECOND IT WAS THAT COMPUTER NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. AND THE THIRD TIME THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP/SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED EVEN AFTER THEY MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS. *AK
2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM STALLS WHILE DRIVING HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS PONTIAC DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR TWICE FOR A TOTAL OF 5 DAYS AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *JB
MY 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SECURITY SYSTEM HAS FAILED 3 TIMES NOW LEAVING ME STRANDED AND REQUIRING THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WHEN IT FAILS....SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE. I'M LUCKY THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN HIT YET WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *JB
THE TURN SIGNAL RELAY RANDOMLY STARTS CLICKING, WILL NOT STOP UNTILL CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER ONCE AND IT WORKED FOR 2 DAYS, IF I PLAY WITH THE TURN SIGNAL STICK ON THE STEERING COLUMN I CAN GET IT TO STOP, BUT AS SOON AS I LET GO THE CLICKING BEGINS AGAIN
WIFE AND CHILD STRANDED BY MELTED PASSLOCK IGNITION SENSOR, PART NUMBER 12458191. NO PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS OF PROBLEM. FOUND ON VARIOUS WEB SITES OTHER PEOPLE HAD SAME, EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. CAR WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD WITH LESS
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WAS THE CAUSE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. CONSUMER STATES HE WAS DENIED SERVICE, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE.*AK
THE IGNITION SWITCH/REAR HUB ASSEMBLY, AND FAN MOTOR, HAVE BEEN EITHER SERVICED AND/OR REPLACED DUE TO FLUIDS LEAKING OUT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE SHUT OFF, LIGHTS SHUT OFF. *LA
Official recalls
214V400000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jul 3, 2014
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
04V528000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
Nov 1, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM AND REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.