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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
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28,000 miles · Feb 2, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ODI #10949077

126,000 miles · Jan 9, 2017
Electrical System

THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION WHEN PARKED. YOU COULD NOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH AND KEY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET IT OUT. IF I DROVE THE CAR I HAD TO LEAVE KEY IN IGNITION. *AS

NHTSA ODI #10943824

60,000 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MELTED ONTO THE ELECTRICAL PARTS INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10897153

65,000 miles · Jun 17, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE KEY FOB WAS REPLA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE KEY FOB WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 08/04/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10874893

72,000 miles · Jan 4, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10817565

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2015
Electrical SystemCrashInjury

2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECEIVING SEVERAL IGNITION KEY RECALL NOTICES AFTER VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER AS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10806840

236,755 miles · Oct 13, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 236,755.

NHTSA ODI #10781531

98,000 miles · Jul 15, 2015
Electrical System

THE CAR CONSTANTLY WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN YOU ENTER IT. YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN IN ORDER FOR IT TO START. IT HAS ALREADY HAD A $400 IGNITION REPLACEMENT AND I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10734102

58,494 miles · Jul 13, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE PRECEDING VEHICLE REVERSED AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE PRECEDING VEHICLE REVERSED AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A TECHNICIAN FROM THE MANUFACTURER CAME OUT TO ASSESS THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE PROCEDURE WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,494.

NHTSA ODI #10733585

177,724 miles · Jun 30, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED TO WORK WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED TO WORK WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE IGNITION FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,724. UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ UPDATED 11/02/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10731308

Official recalls

2

14V400000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.