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2005 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Pontiac Grand Am do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 82.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

79 reports with mileage · 23 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 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

10 reports
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144,480 miles · Jan 28, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER IMPACT AND NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER IMPACT AND NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,480.

NHTSA ODI #10679431

140,000 miles · Nov 17, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10658688

111,000 miles · Nov 12, 2014
Air BagsEngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ODI #10654327

36,000 miles · Sep 30, 2014
Air BagsExterior LightingStructureCrash

IN MANY OCCASIONS I HAD A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS, ONE BECAUSE OF A YELLOW POLE AND ANOTHER BECAUSE OF AN OBJECT IN THE FREEWAY. AND THE AIR BAG WOULDN'T DEPLOYED. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND I AM STILL DRIVING THIS CAR. AFTER READING THE LETTER I RECEIVED I HAVE COME TO ONE UNDERSTANDING THAT IS THAT THE CAR ISN'T SAFE. WHAT IS YOU …

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IN MANY OCCASIONS I HAD A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS, ONE BECAUSE OF A YELLOW POLE AND ANOTHER BECAUSE OF AN OBJECT IN THE FREEWAY. AND THE AIR BAG WOULDN'T DEPLOYED. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND I AM STILL DRIVING THIS CAR. AFTER READING THE LETTER I RECEIVED I HAVE COME TO ONE UNDERSTANDING THAT IS THAT THE CAR ISN'T SAFE. WHAT IS YOU RECOMMENDATION ON MY CONCERNS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640195

120 miles · Sep 28, 2014
Air BagsCrash

MY DAUGHTER JUST LEFT HOUSE DROVE DOWN STREET HIT A TREE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAR WAS WRECKED DO WE GET COMPENSATED FOR THIS SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR IGNITION RECALL#14350 SHE SAID IT LOCKED UP LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639670

120,000 miles · Sep 28, 2014
Air BagsStructureVisibility/wiperCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 50 MPH WHEN I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLOWING DOWN. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AS THEY SHOULD. I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM IN THE PAST DAYS AND IT SEEMED TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE. THE CAR DID NOT STOP BECAUSE THE BRAKES SEEM…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 50 MPH WHEN I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLOWING DOWN. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AS THEY SHOULD. I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM IN THE PAST DAYS AND IT SEEMED TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE. THE CAR DID NOT STOP BECAUSE THE BRAKES SEEMED TO HAVE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN INCLUDING THE POWER BREAK. SO I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED. SOME WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FOR MY CAR (RECALL 14350). IT STATES THAT IF I HAVE ANY WEIGHT ADDED ON TO MY KEY RING IT MIGHT MOVE MY KEY FROM THE "RUN" POSITION. BY THAT HAPPENING, MANY THINGS WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN. ONE OF THEM BEING THE POWER BRAKE. WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE RISK OF OF BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH, AND IN MY CASE I WAS. IF I HAD BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THIS RECALL BEFORE I WOULD'VE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED ANY EXTRA WEIGHT ON MY KEY RING TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE LETTER ALSO STATES THAT MY DEALER WILL FIX THE DEFECT BUT I AM AFRAID THAT IS TOO LATE SINCE MY CAR IS TOTALED AND MY INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER THE DAMAGE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO SINCE CLEARLY THIS WAS NOT MY FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639630

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2014
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED IN MAY OF 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10637528

90,000 miles · Sep 19, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10637496

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2008
Air Bags

HORN KEEPS STICKING, AND IF YOU DISCONNECT THE FUSE FOR THE HORN THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK IF IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IN 35,000 MILES OF USE. THE HORN SPRING IS IN THE AIR BAG MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224081

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT. IN ADDITION, THE CRASH BENT THE FRONT PASSENGER RIM. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE DEALER…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT. IN ADDITION, THE CRASH BENT THE FRONT PASSENGER RIM. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97130. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. UPDATED

NHTSA ODI #10213595

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.

05V054000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 14, 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS THAT ARE NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FRACTURE UNDER HIGH LOADS THAT CAN OCCUR IN SOME DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BOLT FRACTURE, THE REAR SUSPENSION LINKAGE COULD DETACH FROM THE KNUCKLE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING COULD OCCUR, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

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.