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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
45,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE DASHBOARD WAS BANGED THE ABNORMAL NOISE WOULD TEMPORARILY GO AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE DASHBOARD WAS BANGED THE ABNORMAL NOISE WOULD TEMPORARILY GO AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE 4-WAY FLASHER, IGNITION SWITCH, AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617259

56,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10615627

181,234 miles · Jul 22, 2014
Electrical System

THE CAR WON'T TURN ON. THE KEY WON'T WORK. THE CAR DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615493

89,000 miles · Jul 12, 2014
Electrical System

I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR WILL NOT START, AND THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND 170 DOLLARS LATTER I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT COMES IN TWO PARTS AND NO ONE KNOW WHICH PART IT NEEDS. I'VE SEEN TWO OTHER MECHANICS SINCE, SAME STORY. …

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I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR WILL NOT START, AND THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND 170 DOLLARS LATTER I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT COMES IN TWO PARTS AND NO ONE KNOW WHICH PART IT NEEDS. I'VE SEEN TWO OTHER MECHANICS SINCE, SAME STORY. THIS MONTH FINALLY, THE PONTIAC GRAND AM WAS ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST FOR THE IGNITION PROBLEM,,,,MY MODEL AND YEAR. NO ONE CAN TELL ME YET IF MY CAR IS OR IS NOT ONE OF THE CARS BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE RECALL...THIS RECALL IS ON THE PONTIAC GRAND AM 1999- 2005....MINE IS A 2003. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT IF THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610077

104,800 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Electrical System

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A FREEWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND COULD COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED FOR HELP ON THE ROADSIDE AND WAITED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I CRAW…

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I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A FREEWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND COULD COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED FOR HELP ON THE ROADSIDE AND WAITED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND KNOCKED ON THE GAS TANK. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. IT STARTED FINE. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO NOT STARTED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS. WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609142

39,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL ACCELERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL ACCELERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,594.

NHTSA ODI #10608850

75,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014
Electrical System

PARKED CAR TO SHOP. UPON RETURNING, CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TOWED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFETY SWITCH FOR IGNITION. DURING THIS TIME A CLICKING SOUND WOULD EMIT PERIODICALLY FROM THE IGNITION OR TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLIES. HAD IGNITION ASSEMBLY REPLACED. WORKED FOR A WHILE AND THEN DECEMBER OF 2013, CLICKING SOUND REAPPEARED AND…

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PARKED CAR TO SHOP. UPON RETURNING, CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TOWED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFETY SWITCH FOR IGNITION. DURING THIS TIME A CLICKING SOUND WOULD EMIT PERIODICALLY FROM THE IGNITION OR TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLIES. HAD IGNITION ASSEMBLY REPLACED. WORKED FOR A WHILE AND THEN DECEMBER OF 2013, CLICKING SOUND REAPPEARED AND HASN'T STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607501

39,000 miles · Jun 29, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING IT VERY MUCH AS IT WAS GOING TO BE FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE YET. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT KEPT ACCELERATING. I DID NOT EVEN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT GOT UP TO 60 MPH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND SWITCHED IT INTO NEUTRAL WHE…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING IT VERY MUCH AS IT WAS GOING TO BE FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE YET. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT KEPT ACCELERATING. I DID NOT EVEN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT GOT UP TO 60 MPH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND SWITCHED IT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN I GOT IT SLOWED DOWN, THEN INTO PARK. I PUMPED THE GAS AND IT WENT DOWN TO IDLE SPEED. JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THAT I NOTICED I HAD TO PRESS REALLY HARD ON THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO STAY STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I KNOW CARS CAN IDLE A LITTLE FAST SOMETIMES AND MOVE SOME, BUT I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE REALLY HARD AND WAS ON AN INCLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606861

110,000 miles · Jun 22, 2014
Electrical System

2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SUFFERED IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE THAT IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL IN OTHER GM VEHICLES. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN, AFTER GOING OVER A SUBSTANTIAL BUMP, THE WEIGHT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF KEYS PULLED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CAUSED IT TO TURN THE CAR…

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2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SUFFERED IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE THAT IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL IN OTHER GM VEHICLES. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN, AFTER GOING OVER A SUBSTANTIAL BUMP, THE WEIGHT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF KEYS PULLED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CAUSED IT TO TURN THE CAR OFF. AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF PANIC, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND START IT UP AGAIN. LUCKILY, NO COLLISION OR OTHER INJURY RESULTED. VEHICLE IS STILL OWNED BY SAME DRIVER BUT DRIVEN VERY LITTLE NOW DUE TO FEAR OF PROBLEM RECURRING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605087

97,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

THE DASH IS PEELING AND ROLLING UP IT HAS BROKE ALL THE VENTS AND HAS PUSHED THE TRIM AROUND THE SPEEDOMETER/ RIM ET DOWN AND OFF. MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN AND IT IS A CONCERN FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG THAT IS STARTING TO PUSH UP THE COVER. STARTING TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO IT PUSHING PRESSURE ON THE FUSE B…

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THE DASH IS PEELING AND ROLLING UP IT HAS BROKE ALL THE VENTS AND HAS PUSHED THE TRIM AROUND THE SPEEDOMETER/ RIM ET DOWN AND OFF. MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN AND IT IS A CONCERN FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG THAT IS STARTING TO PUSH UP THE COVER. STARTING TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO IT PUSHING PRESSURE ON THE FUSE BOXES. I ALSO HAVE IT PUSHING ON THE DOOR ALLOWING WATER TO RUN INTO MY CAR AT THE FUSE BOX SPEAKER AND INTO MY FLOOR. I SEE THIS PROBLEM IN SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE DASH. THESE PROBLEMS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED BY GMC BEFORE A FAILURE TO ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599139

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.