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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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55,000 miles · Nov 18, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN MY CAR FOR THE LAST 1-1/2 YEARS. WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR THE DASH LIGHTS/HEADLIGHTS/RADIO/WINDOWS AND HEATER/AC USUALLY WON'T WORK RIGHT AWAY. WHILE I AM DRIVING, THEY WILL POP ON OR OFF DEPENDING ON THE BUMPS ON THE ROAD. SIX MONTHS AGO, THE "SECURITY" LIGHT ON MY DASH STA…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN MY CAR FOR THE LAST 1-1/2 YEARS. WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR THE DASH LIGHTS/HEADLIGHTS/RADIO/WINDOWS AND HEATER/AC USUALLY WON'T WORK RIGHT AWAY. WHILE I AM DRIVING, THEY WILL POP ON OR OFF DEPENDING ON THE BUMPS ON THE ROAD. SIX MONTHS AGO, THE "SECURITY" LIGHT ON MY DASH STARTED TO GIVE ME TROUBLE. APPARENTLY, THE CAR SOMETIMES THINKS THAT I AM NOT USING THE CORRECT IGNITION KEY AND WON'T START. I NOW HAVE TO BUDGET AN EXTRA 10 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE TIME EVERYWHERE I GO ON THE CHANCE THAT THE CAR'S SECURITY SYSTEM NEEDS TO RESET ITSELF (I HAD TO FIND THE "FIX" TO THIS ISSUE ON YOUTUBE.COM WHICH ANOTHER GM CAR OWNER POSTED, SINCE THERE WAS NOTHING REMOTELY HELPFUL ABOUT IT IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL). I WENT TO A DEALER TO GET THE INSERT TO MY KEYS AND IT HAS NOT SOLVED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS TAKING MY CAR ON HIGHWAYS SINCE THESE ISSUES STILL EXIST, AND I AM DEATHLY AFRAID OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE KEY MOVING OUT OF THE "RUN" POSITION AND STOPPING COMPLETELY WHICH I AM AWARE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10658951

53,000 miles · Nov 12, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI #10654543

132,000 miles · Nov 10, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TURN SIGNALS WORK ONLY RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE THAT IS CONTINUOUS, LIGHT COMES ON IN DASH WHEN YOU FLIP CONTROL BUT TURN SIGNALS DO NOT BLINK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653764

69,000 miles · Nov 9, 2014
Electrical System

I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR SEPTEMBER 2013. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN JULY 2014. MY CAR WOULDNT START WITH THE FIRST TURN. BUT I WOULD TRY AGAIN AND IT STARTS. SO ONE DAY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. NEVER STARTED BACK UP. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE FUEL REGULATOR AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WHICH HE CHANGED . …

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I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR SEPTEMBER 2013. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN JULY 2014. MY CAR WOULDNT START WITH THE FIRST TURN. BUT I WOULD TRY AGAIN AND IT STARTS. SO ONE DAY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. NEVER STARTED BACK UP. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE FUEL REGULATOR AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WHICH HE CHANGED . I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING ON THE FIRST TRY. I FOUND OUT I HAD A RECALL ON THE IGNITIONS SWITCH WHICH WAS FINALLY CHANGED. I RECEIVED A LETTER AFTER THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED. BUT THE RECALL SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND THEY ONLY FIXED THE KEY RING. I THOUGHT THEY WOULD CHANGE THE IGNITION SWITCH. NOW MY CAR STILL DOE THE SAME AND MECHANICS ARE STATING THEY CAN NOT LOCATE THE ISSUE. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WILL STALL ON ME. I NEED TO GET THIS RESOLVED BEFORE THE HAZARDOUS ROADS CONDITIONS ARE AMONG US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653746

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2014
Electrical System

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND AFTER MY LEASE ENDED, I PURCHASED IT. AS OF A FEW YEARS AGO, I SIGNED IT OVER TO MY DAUGHTER. AS SHE WAS DRIVING IT, ALL DASH INSTRUMENTS WENT OUT, THEN ON, THEN OFF. SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T COME ON AT ALL. EVENTUALLY WE DISCOVERED BY BUMPING THE DASH, EVERYTHING WOULD COME ON.AS THIS BECAME…

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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND AFTER MY LEASE ENDED, I PURCHASED IT. AS OF A FEW YEARS AGO, I SIGNED IT OVER TO MY DAUGHTER. AS SHE WAS DRIVING IT, ALL DASH INSTRUMENTS WENT OUT, THEN ON, THEN OFF. SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T COME ON AT ALL. EVENTUALLY WE DISCOVERED BY BUMPING THE DASH, EVERYTHING WOULD COME ON.AS THIS BECAME A REAL ISSUE, I CALLED AROUND AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DASH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS BAD, SO I PURCHASED A NEW ONE. INSTALLED IT, AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I SENT IT IN FOR REPAIR, GOT IT BACK, RE-INSTALLED IT ONLY TO SEE THE SAME PROBLEM. I THEN PURCHASED A USED ONE,,,,,SAME THING. FINALLY DECIDED THAT IT MIGHT BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. REPLACED IT AND PROBLEM SOLVED. I OPENED UP THE OLD SWITCH AND FOUND IT WAS ALL SHORTED AND CORRODED. MY ISSUE IS THAT OCT. 2014, MY DAUGHTER JUST GOT A LETTER OF THAT DEFECT TO GET REPLACED. ALL THAT TIME SHE WAS DRIVING IT, ANYTHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED NOT TO MENTION ALL THE MONEY AND TIME IT COST ME. 11 YEARS LATER. WHY WAS GM ALOUD TO HIDE THE DEFECTS THAT LONG PUTTING SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AT RISK? THEY NEW OF THE PROBLEMS AND IGNORED THEM. I'M PISSED AND RIGHTFULLY SO. I JUST GOT A LETTER ON MY 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, 9 YEARS LATER. ALL GM IGNITION SWITCHES ARE BAD!! WHERE WERE YOU PEOPLE ALL THOSE YEARS AND WHAT TOOK SO LONG TO GET SOMETHING DONE ?? I BLAME YOU TOO. MAYBE YOUR ORGANIZATION NEEDS A SHAKE-UP ALSO. OH, ON MY CADILLAC,THE DEALER JUST REPROGRAMMED SOMETHING AND NEVER CHANGED THE SWITCH AND I WAS TOLD IT WILL BE OK NOW ???? WHAT ??? AND, MY DAUGHTER TRADED IN THE PONTIAC. YOU PEOPLE NEED TO QUIT SLAPPING THESE BIG COMPANIES ON THE WRIST. DON'T TELL ME THAT 9,,,11 YEARS, IT TOOK TO REALIZE A DEFECT. SOMEBODY ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. I AM A FORMER GM EMPLOYEE, RETIRED, 30 YEARS. LET ME TELL YOU HOW SCREWED OVER I GOT BY THEM. ENOUGH SAID,. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652745

238,000 miles · Nov 4, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER INTO THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER INTO THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 238,000.

NHTSA ODI #10652382

62,000 miles · Nov 4, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10652355

150,078 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,078.

NHTSA ODI #10652237

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10652229

137,072 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,072.

NHTSA ODI #10652157

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.