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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

What owners actually said

325 reports
177,233 miles · May 12, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WALK HIM THROUGH ON HOW TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WALK HIM THROUGH ON HOW TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,233.

NHTSA ODI #10985452

87,000 miles · Mar 5, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingFire

SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2015, I HAVE HAD A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH MY TURN SIGNAL ON PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HINDERING MY ABILITY TO SIGNAL PROPERLY AND RENEWING MY STATE INSPECTION EACH YEAR. HAVE SPEND LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY ATTEMPTING TO FIX THIS ONLY TO REALIZE THIS IS WIDESPREAD AND VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH MY TYPE AND YEAR VEHICLE…

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SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2015, I HAVE HAD A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH MY TURN SIGNAL ON PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HINDERING MY ABILITY TO SIGNAL PROPERLY AND RENEWING MY STATE INSPECTION EACH YEAR. HAVE SPEND LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY ATTEMPTING TO FIX THIS ONLY TO REALIZE THIS IS WIDESPREAD AND VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH MY TYPE AND YEAR VEHICLE. GM IS AWARE OF THIS DEALER SAFETY MALFUNCTION BUT IS ONLY RECALLED CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS AS TO FIX AS FEW AS POSSIBLE. NOT HAVING TURN SIGNALS HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. PLEASE HELP ME AND TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO. NOW ON MY THIRD YEAR AND ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS ONGOING SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #10958673

82,000 miles · Feb 13, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR INTENSIFIED WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR INTENSIFIED WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10954240

28,000 miles · Feb 2, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ODI #10949077

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER ,ENGINE SHUTS OFF) WHILE DRIVING! STARTS RIGHT BACK UP , BUT CONSIDERABLE DANGER AS IT STOPS WITH NO WARNING OF ANY KIND, HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY VEHICLE BEHIND ME NOT KNOWING THAT I HAD NO POWER TO DO ANYTHING, AFTER CAR COMES TO STOP, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART.. MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN S…

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VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER ,ENGINE SHUTS OFF) WHILE DRIVING! STARTS RIGHT BACK UP , BUT CONSIDERABLE DANGER AS IT STOPS WITH NO WARNING OF ANY KIND, HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY VEHICLE BEHIND ME NOT KNOWING THAT I HAD NO POWER TO DO ANYTHING, AFTER CAR COMES TO STOP, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART.. MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING DOWN, OR TAKING FOOT OFF OF ACCELERATOR. GOING DIFFERENT SPEEDS, HAPPENED 6 TIMES JUST TAKING IT TO SHOP VEHICLE HAS 134300MI , HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10945865

126,000 miles · Jan 9, 2017
Electrical System

THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION WHEN PARKED. YOU COULD NOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH AND KEY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET IT OUT. IF I DROVE THE CAR I HAD TO LEAVE KEY IN IGNITION. *AS

NHTSA ODI #10943824

117,000 miles · Sep 21, 2016
Exterior Lighting

DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY

NHTSA ODI #10908615

60,000 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MELTED ONTO THE ELECTRICAL PARTS INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10897153

123,000 miles · Jun 28, 2016
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

NHTSA ODI #10877118

65,000 miles · Jun 17, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE KEY FOB WAS REPLA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE KEY FOB WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 08/04/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10874893

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.