IllustrationCAR DIED WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE SHUT OFF, LIGHTS SHUT OFF. *LA
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
24 reportsPURCHASED 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE1 WITH 3.4 LITER 3400 SFI V-6 ENGINE ON 7/30/03.N 8/27/03, 2624 MILES ON VEHICLE. EXPERIENCED MAJOR PROBLEM OF CAR DIED OUT AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING WAS ABLE TO RESTART AUTO WHICH WOULD DIED OUT AND STALLED 6 SEPARATE TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND RANGED FROM 15 SECONDS TO 2 MINS OF DRI…
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PURCHASED 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE1 WITH 3.4 LITER 3400 SFI V-6 ENGINE ON 7/30/03.N 8/27/03, 2624 MILES ON VEHICLE. EXPERIENCED MAJOR PROBLEM OF CAR DIED OUT AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING WAS ABLE TO RESTART AUTO WHICH WOULD DIED OUT AND STALLED 6 SEPARATE TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND RANGED FROM 15 SECONDS TO 2 MINS OF DRIVING TIME AND AT SPEEDS OF 5 TO 35 MPH. ( THE VEHICLE JUST QUIT RUNNING WITH NO WARNING!) HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR (JOE) ADVISE ME THAT AT THE REPAIR BAYS THEY EXPERIENCED/DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM 9 TIMES, BUT HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. STATED THEY HAD CALLS INTO GENERAL MOTORS TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND WERE WAITING FOR SOME POSSILE ANSWERS/SOLUTIONS. I AM REPORTING THIS OF TWO REASONS 1. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DIES/STALLS OUT AT THE WRONG TIME AND PLACE AN ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN. 2. I AM WITH OUT A VEHICLE WHICH I PURCHASED IN GOOD FAITH. (STILL SETTING IN THE SHOP). *AK
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH, WIRING. *MR THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, A BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, WIRING WAS TIGHTENED, A KEY IGNITION WAS ADDED, AND THE SWITCH LIGHTS/DASH COMPONENT(PROBLEM NOT SPECIFIED). WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH, THE LIGHTS WOULD ACT ERRATIC ALONG WITH THE RPM …
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THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH, WIRING. *MR THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, A BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, WIRING WAS TIGHTENED, A KEY IGNITION WAS ADDED, AND THE SWITCH LIGHTS/DASH COMPONENT(PROBLEM NOT SPECIFIED). WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH, THE LIGHTS WOULD ACT ERRATIC ALONG WITH THE RPM GOING DOWN. THE RPM AND LIGHT PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR ALMOST EVERYDAY AND SOMETIME THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OPERATES THE VEHICLE AND REQUESTED EITHER A NEW VEHICLE OR A REFUND. (MODEL GT) SCC
MY CAR DIES OUT WHILE DRIVING. *JB
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.