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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

Steering complaints

14 reports
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220,000 miles · Dec 31, 2019
SteeringSuspension

I WAS DRIVING AND MY RACK AND PINION BROKE LOOSE FROM THE SUB FRAME CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL STEERING AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR HEAD ON THIS IS A WEEK AFTER I REPLACED IT FOR THE SAME REASON I NOTICED THE SUBFRAME WELDS ARE BROKE LOSE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS AND NEEDS FIXED IMMEDIATELY IVE SINCE READ ONLINE …

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I WAS DRIVING AND MY RACK AND PINION BROKE LOOSE FROM THE SUB FRAME CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL STEERING AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR HEAD ON THIS IS A WEEK AFTER I REPLACED IT FOR THE SAME REASON I NOTICED THE SUBFRAME WELDS ARE BROKE LOSE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS AND NEEDS FIXED IMMEDIATELY IVE SINCE READ ONLINE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WHATS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR GM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE SOMEONE IS GOING TO END UP LOSING THERE LIFE IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY I WILL MAKE SURE TO POST PICTURES AND MY STATEMENT ONLINE FOR ALL TO SEE BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS YOU SPEND MONEY THANKING YOU HAVE A SAFE CAR FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY THEN FIND OUT THAT ITS NOT AND ALL THAT MATTERS TO THESE CAR COMPANIES IS THE MONEY THERE MAKING AND NOT THE QUALITY OF THERE PRODUCT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM GM UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED WHICH I KNOW IT NEVER WILL BECAUSE LIKE I SAID WE AS CONSUMERS DON'T MATTER JUST THE MONEY THESE COMPANIES MAKE DOES.

NHTSA ODI #11292291

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2019
SteeringStructure

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET AND AS I TURNED RIGHT I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY STEERING WHEEL FROZE MAKING ME UNABLE TO STEER IN ANY DIRECTION. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT MY STEERING RACK HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE SUBFRAME. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED …

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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET AND AS I TURNED RIGHT I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY STEERING WHEEL FROZE MAKING ME UNABLE TO STEER IN ANY DIRECTION. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT MY STEERING RACK HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE SUBFRAME. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH STEERING SO THIS WAS TOTALLY SHOCKING ALONG WITH THE REPAIR COST. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THIS VERY SAME THING AND GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO ENSURE CONSUMERS SAFETY. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO BEFORE SOMEONE DIES AS A RESULT OF POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP ON GMS BEHALF. THIS ISN'T A REPAIR CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE ON.

NHTSA ODI #11290077

139,000 miles · Mar 30, 2015
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND CRASH INTO A CURB AND THEN A STOP S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND CRASH INTO A CURB AND THEN A STOP SIGN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND WHIPLASH, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 5/29/15*CN THE CONSUMER HIT A CURB THEN A FIRE HYDRANT. UPDATED 04/05/16. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10702555

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE RIDGE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, THE CONTACT ADDED THAT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE RIDGE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, THE CONTACT ADDED THAT DUE TO THE FAILURE ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10653891

100,000 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A GARAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK PAIN AND LACERATIONS TO THE ARM, CHEST AND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A GARAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK PAIN AND LACERATIONS TO THE ARM, CHEST AND FACE AREA WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10652191

85,337 miles · Mar 2, 2014
Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

CAR DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING BUT RESTARTED AFTER VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566668

30,000 miles · Oct 12, 2012
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND-AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT FAILED TO TURN OVER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD GO OFF BY ITSELF AT DIFFERENT HOURS OF THE DAY AND IN ORDER TO DEACTIVATE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND-AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT FAILED TO TURN OVER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD GO OFF BY ITSELF AT DIFFERENT HOURS OF THE DAY AND IN ORDER TO DEACTIVATE IT HE HAD TO PUSH ON THE HORN MULTIPLE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT LOCK AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE CAUSE BY AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND HE WOULD NEED TO CONSULT WITH HIS LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10479906

104,718 miles · Aug 27, 2010
SteeringFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITH SMOKE EMITTING. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITH SMOKE EMITTING. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,718.

NHTSA ODI #10352382

41,156 miles · Mar 4, 2010
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE POWER STEERING FAILED CONSISTENTLY IN COLD WEATHER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE POWER STEERING FAILED CONSISTENTLY IN COLD WEATHER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,156.

NHTSA ODI #10316669

59,611 miles · Jan 30, 2009
Steering

ORIGINALLY, I HAD NOTIFIED THAT WHENEVER I HAD MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON FOR MORE THEN 10 MINUTES, THEY WOULD FREEZE AND STOP MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS EASILY FIXED BY TURNING THE WIPER OFF, THEN BACK ON AGAIN; THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR EVERY 10 MINUTES. LESS THEN A WEEK LATER, THE CLICKING NOISE THAT OCCU…

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ORIGINALLY, I HAD NOTIFIED THAT WHENEVER I HAD MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON FOR MORE THEN 10 MINUTES, THEY WOULD FREEZE AND STOP MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS EASILY FIXED BY TURNING THE WIPER OFF, THEN BACK ON AGAIN; THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR EVERY 10 MINUTES. LESS THEN A WEEK LATER, THE CLICKING NOISE THAT OCCURS WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE BLINKING, BEGAN TO CLICK ALL THE TIME, EVEN WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE NOT IN OPERATION. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE WIPER INCIDENT HAPPENED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, AND INHERENTLY OBSTRUCTING MY VISION. THESE FACTORS WERE VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALL ISSUED TO THE 1998-2002 GRAND AM MODEL YEARS, AND SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEMS IN MY 2003. THE PROCEDURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO INITIALLY JUST CLEAN THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THEN REPLACE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256986

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.