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2008 Pontiac Grand Prix

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 88.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

112 reports with mileage · 30 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 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine complaints

19 reports
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150,000 miles · Oct 12, 2020
Engine

I WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A CAR INFRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES AVOIDING A DEER CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON BRAKES EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD A OIL LEAK RUNNING DOWN THE MANIFOLD. I NEVER WRECKED INTO THE VECHILE IN FRONT OF ME I SEEN ON DIFFRENT YEAR PONIAC WERE SIMULAR RECALLS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ODI #11364028

130,837 miles · Feb 11, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY FOR TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB KING BUICK GMC (5115 NEW CENTRE DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403) AND KEPT FOR TWO WEEKS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5020128648. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,837.

NHTSA ODI #11176152

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2016
Engine

THE VEHICLE STARTS OK AT TIMES,BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU DRIVE IT AND STOP SOME PLACE YOU HAVE A HARD TIME RESTARTING IT. YOU HAVE TO LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MIN THEN IT WILL START ,THERE IS A LOT OG PLAY IN THE IGNITION,WHAT CAN THE CAUSE BE

NHTSA ODI #10928039

94,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ ISSUE ON GOING UPDATED 4/19/18*JB *CN

NHTSA ODI #10782460

120,000 miles · Sep 20, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed Control

REDUCED ENGINE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE LOSE POWER WHEN TRY TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW ON AND OFF. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO GET REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN CHANGED AND ALSO SENSORS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.

NHTSA ODI #10766222

133,700 miles · Aug 28, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY GRAND PRIX RECENTLY STARTED TO DISPLAY A MESSAGE STATING REDUCED ENGINE POWER. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING RANDOMLY FOR THE PAST WEEK. IT ONLY HAPPENS AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR. THE CAR SLOWS DRAMATICALLY, AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. AS I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 45 MPH, I HAD…

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MY GRAND PRIX RECENTLY STARTED TO DISPLAY A MESSAGE STATING REDUCED ENGINE POWER. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING RANDOMLY FOR THE PAST WEEK. IT ONLY HAPPENS AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR. THE CAR SLOWS DRAMATICALLY, AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. AS I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 45 MPH, I HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRAFFIC QUICKLY CAUGHT UP TO ME AND I WAS ALMOST HIT DUE TO THE CAR NOT ACCELERATING. I AM CURIOUS AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER AND FINDING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE FILED, OR HOW MANY DEATHS NEED TO OCCUR BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10759941

58,000 miles · Jan 14, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALER INTHE TRI-CITIES AREA OF EASTERN WASHINGTON IN 2010. THE CAR MAY HAVE BEEN A LEASE RETURN. HOWEVER ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS WITH THE CAR WAS THE REMOTE STARTER OPTION. THE WEATHER IN EASTERN OREGON WHERE WE LIVED AT THE TIME WAS A LIFE SAVER. HOWEVER WHEN THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND REPLACED…

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WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALER INTHE TRI-CITIES AREA OF EASTERN WASHINGTON IN 2010. THE CAR MAY HAVE BEEN A LEASE RETURN. HOWEVER ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS WITH THE CAR WAS THE REMOTE STARTER OPTION. THE WEATHER IN EASTERN OREGON WHERE WE LIVED AT THE TIME WAS A LIFE SAVER. HOWEVER WHEN THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND REPLACED AT THE DEALER THE REMOTE START QUIT WORKING. NOT ONLY QUIT WORKING BUT IT EVEN DISAPPEARED FROM THE VEHICLE DIC. THE REMOTE START IS EVEN LISTED IN THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL. BUT THE DEALER IN MEDFORD, OREGON, AIR PORT CHEVY/CADDI CANT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERS IN MEDFORD 6 TIMES. EVEN DURING THE RECALL FOR THE KEY FOB ISSUES AND IGNITION SWITCH FIRES, THE DEALERS ALSO LOOKED INTO THE DARN FAILURE OF THE REMOTE START BUT THEY NEVER DID FIX ANYTHING NOR DO THEY HAVE ANY IDEAS AS TO GET THE THING FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672515

181,104 miles · Dec 30, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HOOD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GAUGES FLUCTUATED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HOOD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GAUGES FLUCTUATED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN WIRES WERE MELTED. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE BLOCK AND THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO THE FAILURE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO PERFORMING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,104.

NHTSA ODI #10669172

81,000 miles · Oct 9, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ENGINE LOW POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI #10643645

105,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Air BagsEngineCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER, THE CONTACT TRIED TO REGAINED CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER, THE CONTACT TRIED TO REGAINED CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES DURING THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10639042

Official recalls

1

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.

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

1

RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights

Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.