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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.

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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS COOLING FAN DOES NOT COME ON. FLUID LEVEL NEEDS REPLENISHED CONSTANTLY. ENGINE PRESSURE BUILD UP FROM THE OVERHEATING. STILL CANNOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR IN THE SHOP. PLEASE DO SOMETHING WITH THESE CARS HAVE RESEARCHED LOTS OF THE SAME ISSUES ON THE INTERNET. ESTIMATED COST …

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VEHICLE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS COOLING FAN DOES NOT COME ON. FLUID LEVEL NEEDS REPLENISHED CONSTANTLY. ENGINE PRESSURE BUILD UP FROM THE OVERHEATING. STILL CANNOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR IN THE SHOP. PLEASE DO SOMETHING WITH THESE CARS HAVE RESEARCHED LOTS OF THE SAME ISSUES ON THE INTERNET. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR 967.00. WHICH SOME PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEEM DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447115

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN CAR STARTED OVER HEATING AND JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD TO ROLL ONTO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WAS ALMOST HIT BY TWO DIFFERNT CARS. HAD IT TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM THEY FIXED THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT CAR IS STILL OVERHEATING. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10417173

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT INITIALLY START UP. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED AND TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES WITH THE HEAT OR AIR …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT INITIALLY START UP. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED AND TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES WITH THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONER ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL AND SHUT DOWN. SHE LET IT SIT FOR 30 MINUTES AND IT WOULD RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE A FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 07/01/11

NHTSA ODI #10393877

98,000 miles · Apr 10, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT STARTED NOT STARTING 8 MONTHS AGO, NOT A REGULAR THING ON/OFF, BEEN TOWED NUMEROUS TIMES HAS COST ALOT OF MONEY IN FEES, HAD NEW IGNITION, NEW KEY. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. TRIED TURNING KEY ON WAITING 10 MINUTES DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. CAR WILL START WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, SOMETIMES LEAVING MY YOUNG DAUG…

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2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT STARTED NOT STARTING 8 MONTHS AGO, NOT A REGULAR THING ON/OFF, BEEN TOWED NUMEROUS TIMES HAS COST ALOT OF MONEY IN FEES, HAD NEW IGNITION, NEW KEY. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. TRIED TURNING KEY ON WAITING 10 MINUTES DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. CAR WILL START WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, SOMETIMES LEAVING MY YOUNG DAUGHTER AT WORK LATE AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324860

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2003 GRAND AM GT, SEEN OTHERS HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD ISSUES TOO, HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2002 BUT NOT 2003, LOOKING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON IT, IF SO HOW DO I GO ABOUT FIXING IT, BECAUSE I ALREADY PAID $600 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I HAD TO, THE GRAND AM IS OUR MAIN CAR TO TRANSPORT BOTH CHILDREN PLACES. ALSO, THE ACCEL…

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I HAVE A 2003 GRAND AM GT, SEEN OTHERS HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD ISSUES TOO, HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2002 BUT NOT 2003, LOOKING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON IT, IF SO HOW DO I GO ABOUT FIXING IT, BECAUSE I ALREADY PAID $600 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I HAD TO, THE GRAND AM IS OUR MAIN CAR TO TRANSPORT BOTH CHILDREN PLACES. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR ISSUES...I HAVE YET TO GET A EMAIL, OR LETTER OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER ABOUT ANY OF THE RECALLS ON THIS VEH...DO THEY PICK AND CHOOSE WHO THEY SEND THEM TO OR WHAT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282470

27,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE, BUT TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFIED A DEFECT WITH THE PASS LOCK AND ANTI-THEFT DEVICE SYSTEM, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED STALLING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE DRIVER STATED THAT THIS WAS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,300.

NHTSA ODI #10277943

55,000 miles · Jul 2, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC GRAN AM GT RAM AIR FOUR DOOR SEDAN. SEVERAL WEEKS WE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE GAS PEDAL WAS QUICKLY DEPRESSED OR I HIT THE BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED …

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I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC GRAN AM GT RAM AIR FOUR DOOR SEDAN. SEVERAL WEEKS WE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE GAS PEDAL WAS QUICKLY DEPRESSED OR I HIT THE BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED A CABLE. THE PROBLEM ENDED THAN A FEW WEEKS LATER REAPPEARED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A PONTIAC DEALER (ADAMS/ANNAPOLIS) AND THEY CLEANED OUT SOME CONNECTIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED SHORTLY AFTER THIS. I RETURNED THE CAR TO ADAMS AND THEY REPLACE THE COMPUTER. THIS APPEARED TO END THE PROBLEM BUT I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ONCE YESTERDAY BUT IT HAS NOT REOCCURRED SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275642

84,000 miles · Jun 30, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD FAIL TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000. UPDATED 08/14/09. *LJ TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD FAIL TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000. UPDATED 08/14/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITHIN THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD CLICK WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 08/14/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10275314

10,700 miles · Apr 28, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE CHECK OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON THERE WAS LESS THAN A QUART OF OIL IN MY CAR AND IT BLEW MY MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267066

85,000 miles · Apr 21, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

THIS DIDN'T INVOLVE ANYTHING TRAGIC. I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC GRANDAM AND IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LEAKING COOLANT AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO LEARNED FROM THE MECHANIC THAT I TOOK IT TO THAT THIS MODEL OF CAR IS INFAMOUS FOR HAVING THAT PROBLEM AND HIS DOES SEVERAL REP…

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THIS DIDN'T INVOLVE ANYTHING TRAGIC. I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC GRANDAM AND IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LEAKING COOLANT AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO LEARNED FROM THE MECHANIC THAT I TOOK IT TO THAT THIS MODEL OF CAR IS INFAMOUS FOR HAVING THAT PROBLEM AND HIS DOES SEVERAL REPAIRS OF THE SAME TYPE OF CAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS EVERY MONTH AND I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE GM MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE THEY PUT A FAULTY PART ON THIS TYPE OF CAR AND IT IS GOING BAD AND COULD SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSE THE HEAD GASKETS TO BLOW ON THE CAR IF IT IS NOT REPAIRED AND ALSO I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR AND WHEN I CALLED ABOUT A RECALL THEY TOLD ME THAT FOR MY VIN ON MY CAR THEIR WAS CURRENTLY NO RECALLS WHICH IS A BUNCH OF BULL BECAUSE MY CAR IS ALSO HAVING THAT PROBLEM MY ACCELERATOR IS STICKING AND THE CAR KEEPS GOING EVEN WHEN I AM NOT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AND IT IS REALLY SCARY SOMETIMES BUT IT DOESN'T DO IT EVERY TIME I START THE CAR ITS JUST UNPREDICTABLE AND HAPPENS OUT OF THE BLUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266310

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.