IllustrationTURN SIGNAL SWITCH ACTIVATES ALL BY ITSELF, AT WILL, AT ANY TIME. SWITCH IS COMBO FOR HAZARD AND TURN SIGNAL. (SAME SWITCH). CIRCUIT OPENS AND CLOSES RANDOMLY.
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
65 reportsI AM SEEKING ADVICE ABOUT A MATTER PERTAINING TO THE CAR I MOMENTARILY OWN. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAR SOLD TO ME HAS BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND REPAIRED. THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE OUT AND HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY FROM THE BEGINNING. AFTER INFORMING AND BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY FELT ALL THAT WAS N…
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I AM SEEKING ADVICE ABOUT A MATTER PERTAINING TO THE CAR I MOMENTARILY OWN. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAR SOLD TO ME HAS BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND REPAIRED. THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE OUT AND HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY FROM THE BEGINNING. AFTER INFORMING AND BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY FELT ALL THAT WAS NEEDED WAS FOR THEM TO BE LUBED. THEY SAY THE CAR IS FINE BUT I AM THE ONE DRIVING IT AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. I WENT TO A FEW DEALERSHIPS TO OBTAIN OTHER OPINIONS AND I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND FINALLY THEY REALIZED THE BRAKES WERE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. PARTS WERE REPAIRED. FOR A FEW WEEKS THE CAR WAS RUNNING OK BUT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I FELT A BUCKING EVERYTIME I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THE NEXT TIME THE ROTORS WERE FIXED. I HAVE INVOICES TO BACK WHAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2003 AND IN THE BEGINNING OF 2004 THE PROBLEMS ALREADY STARTED AND HAVE NOT STOPPED SINCE. I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL DECEMBER 2003, SINCE I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN NOVEMBER. THE PAINT ON THE HOOD STARTED IN 2004 TO COME OFF. THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAINTED. THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS FOG UP, WATER CONDENSATION IS BUILDING UP. THE CAR IS RUNNING AS IF THE BOTTOM WILL FALL OFF. IT SOUNDS LIKE AN OLD CAR. EVERY TIME I SAY THAT THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY AND ASK THEM TO TEST DRIVE IT, THEY ONLY FIX WHAT I STATE WHAT I THINK IS WRONG. I ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND SEE IF YOU CAN HELP ME CLEAR UP THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY MORE INFORMATION IS REQUIRED. I AM STATING THE VIN [XXX]. THANK YOU. [XXX]. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2003 WITH 1695 MILES ON IT. ONE MONTH LATER IT'S IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THERE WAS WATER LEAKING IN THROUGH THE MOONROOF'S OPEN/CLOSE BUTTON AND THE TRUNK FAILED TO OPEN USING THE REMOTE OR THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE DEALER HAD THE WINDSHIELD RESEALED AND FIXED THE CONNECTION PROBLEM FOR …
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2003 WITH 1695 MILES ON IT. ONE MONTH LATER IT'S IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THERE WAS WATER LEAKING IN THROUGH THE MOONROOF'S OPEN/CLOSE BUTTON AND THE TRUNK FAILED TO OPEN USING THE REMOTE OR THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE DEALER HAD THE WINDSHIELD RESEALED AND FIXED THE CONNECTION PROBLEM FOR THE TRUNK. NOW THE VEHICLE'S FOG LAMPS GO ON AND STAY ON FOR NO REASON, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. I HAD TO TAKE THE FUSE OUT FOR THE WEEKEND UNTIL I CAN TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS THE SECOND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I'VE HAD AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 4200 MILES ON IT. *PH
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.