IllustrationMY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK NEAR THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE PUSHED SHARPLY ON THE BRAKE AND THREW THE CAR IN PARK. SHE NOTED THAT THE RPM'S REVVED ABOVE 3000. *TR
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
What owners actually said
325 reportsBOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED. 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM 3.4L V6. CONSTANT TICKING FROM HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. GROUNDING PROBLEMS. LOOKED FOR RECALLS AT GM DEALERSHIP. NO RECALLS ON THE PROBLEM. NO CHOICE BUT TO REMOVE HAZARD LIGHT FUSE UNTIL REPAIR. SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY GM. GONNA COST US $500! THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES ROTTED A…
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BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED. 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM 3.4L V6. CONSTANT TICKING FROM HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. GROUNDING PROBLEMS. LOOKED FOR RECALLS AT GM DEALERSHIP. NO RECALLS ON THE PROBLEM. NO CHOICE BUT TO REMOVE HAZARD LIGHT FUSE UNTIL REPAIR. SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY GM. GONNA COST US $500! THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES ROTTED AWAY CAUSING COOLANT SPRAYING EVERYWHERE CAUSING WHITE SMOKE AND OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE. SPRAYING THE SERPENTINE BELT AND WATER PUMP. WITH VISUAL INSPECTION AND TOUCHING CONFIRMED SPOT. 3/4 OF RESERVOIR IS LEAKED OUT CAUSING RUST ON SUB FRAME. ALSO FRONT ROCKER PANEL BAD. FRONT PASSENGER PANEL ROTTED OUT. BAD OXIDIZING ON THE MANIFOLD COVER AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD COVER. SHAME ON GM FOR NOT COVERING ALL GAS ON THE HAZARD LIGHT MALFUNCTION AND MULTI SWITCH ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
CPSC:I13A0533A. 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CONSUMER STATED HER CAR ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. *LN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
PASSLOCK PROBLEMS HAD THE CYLINDER KIT REPLACED, CAR STILL GOES INTO THE SECURITY PASS PROBLEM,TOOK IT BACK SAME DAY AFTER IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, SAME PROBLEM CAR TURNS OVER BUT DOES NOT START, HAVE TO REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES THEN IT STARS, SECURITY RED LIGHT FLASHES ON WHEN TURNING OVER KEY TO START ENGINE, NO OTHER PROBLEMS DET…
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PASSLOCK PROBLEMS HAD THE CYLINDER KIT REPLACED, CAR STILL GOES INTO THE SECURITY PASS PROBLEM,TOOK IT BACK SAME DAY AFTER IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, SAME PROBLEM CAR TURNS OVER BUT DOES NOT START, HAVE TO REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES THEN IT STARS, SECURITY RED LIGHT FLASHES ON WHEN TURNING OVER KEY TO START ENGINE, NO OTHER PROBLEMS DETECTED BY DEALER SHIP, AGAIN GOING TO TAKE IT IN THIS FRIDAY OCT 11TH 2013, HAVE READ ON FORUMS OF THIS REPEATED PROBLEM WITH GM CARS FORUM IS TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0F6220/52 PONTIAC GRAND AM SECURITY PASSLOCK PROBLEMS. *TR
TURN SIGNALS ABOUT EVERY TWO TRIES WILL STOP WORKING AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET THEM TO COME BACK ON BY HITTING THE HAZARDS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE FUSE AND DISCONNECTED THE HORN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT EITHER THE HORN PAD OR THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE FUSE AND DISCONNECTED THE HORN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT EITHER THE HORN PAD OR THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,185.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND BECAME STUCK WHEN APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE PEDAL WOULD RELEASE MANUALLY OR WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND BECAME STUCK WHEN APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE PEDAL WOULD RELEASE MANUALLY OR WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
WHEN I GO TO BRAKE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE AND WHEN I BRAKE AND TURN TO THE LEFT ALL THREE LIGHTS COME N, NOT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE CHANGED BRAKES, AND ROTORS AND AM STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. *TR
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.