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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

29 reports
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159,000 miles · Aug 22, 2016
Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, AND SOMETIMES ON AGAIN BY THEMSELVES. THIS HAPPENS AFTER DARK, WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO HAPPENS IN EARLY EVENING WHEN HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE ON . THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW WEEKS . LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I SEE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS IN 2007 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI #10897810

161,000 miles · Aug 15, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND SMELT A BURNT ODOR, FOUND OUT MY LOW BEAMS WHERE NOT WORKING. ONCE HOME, I POPPED THE HOOD, OPENED THE FUSE BOX AND FOUND IT SMOKING. QUICKLY DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE. FURTHER OBSERVATION, FOUND LOW BEAM RELAY STARTED MELTING AND MUST HAVE CAUSED SMALL FIRE. BURNT PART OF THE FUSE BOX.

NHTSA ODI #10896036

77,000 miles · Jan 5, 2016
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED TO FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ UPDATED 02/29/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10818139

98,500 miles · Dec 21, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THIS VEHICLE KEEPS BLOWING THE FUSE FOR FRONT PARK LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. WITHOUT LIGHTS, CANT DRIVE VEHICLE AT NIGHT OR LOW LIGHT, INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. INITIAL INVESTIGATION/TROUBLESHOOTING LEADS TO FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PROVIDES GROUND CIRCUIT FOR MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON VEHI…

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THIS VEHICLE KEEPS BLOWING THE FUSE FOR FRONT PARK LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. WITHOUT LIGHTS, CANT DRIVE VEHICLE AT NIGHT OR LOW LIGHT, INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. INITIAL INVESTIGATION/TROUBLESHOOTING LEADS TO FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PROVIDES GROUND CIRCUIT FOR MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS OVERLOADING AND CATCHING FIRE. PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH MANUFACTURER. THIS FAULT CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. FAULT OCCURS SIMPLY BY TURNING IGNITION SWITCH TO ON POSITION AND/OR ACTIVATING THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO ACTIVATE HEADLIGHTS AND THE FUSE BLOWS IMMEDIATELY. SIMPLY REPLACING THE FUSE DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DIAGNOSED BY GM DEALER TO VALIDATE PROPER FUNCTION OF LIGHTS/LIGHTING SYSTEM TO PINPOINT PROBLEM. LEFT ALONE, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CAN FAIL AND RESULT IN VEHICLE ELECTRICAL FIRE. SEE ATTACHED PHOTO OF FUSE BLOCK SHOWING DAMAGE TO AREA FOR PARKING LIGHT FUSE.

NHTSA ODI #10811441

110,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10790055

129,500 miles · Nov 7, 2015
Exterior Lighting

2008 GRAND PRIX LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. LIGHTS WILL WORK WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND WILL GO OUT AS I AM DRIVING OR WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. VIN SEARCH SAYS NO RECALL ON MY YEAR, BUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE IS IN RECALL FOR 2007 AND 2006 GRAND PRIXS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE F…

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2008 GRAND PRIX LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. LIGHTS WILL WORK WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND WILL GO OUT AS I AM DRIVING OR WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. VIN SEARCH SAYS NO RECALL ON MY YEAR, BUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE IS IN RECALL FOR 2007 AND 2006 GRAND PRIXS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE NOW BEEN PULLED OVER AND TICKETED BY THE POLICE FOR HAVING HEADLIGHT ISSUES. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE HDM/HEADLIGHT RELAY FUSE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE TO BE THE FUSE SOCKET OR FUSEBOX ITSELF THAT IS OVERHEATING THE HDM

NHTSA ODI #10788997

70,000 miles · Oct 30, 2015
Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAM AND DRIVING LAMPS KEEP CUTTING OUT, STOP WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY WORK CORRECTLY THEN GO THROUGH A SERIES OF SHUT DOWNS. ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT I HAVE TO USE HI BEAMS TO GET OFF THE ROAD OR GET HOME.

NHTSA ODI #10787167

105,000 miles · Oct 27, 2015
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLAMP MODULE STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE LOW BEAMS TO GO OUT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING. I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECALL FOR CARS THROUGH 2007 BUT GM REFUSED TO HANDLE THIS ON MY 2008.

NHTSA ODI #10786340

123,000 miles · May 27, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

LOWBEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY QUIT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST RUN OFF ROAD. THIS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE GM RECALL #14291 CONCERNING THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE HDM WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE RECALL NOT COVER MY 2008 PONTIAC AT THIS TIME. WAS TOLD "UNDER INVESTIGATION". THIS NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED BY GM OR FEDERA…

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LOWBEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY QUIT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST RUN OFF ROAD. THIS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE GM RECALL #14291 CONCERNING THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE HDM WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE RECALL NOT COVER MY 2008 PONTIAC AT THIS TIME. WAS TOLD "UNDER INVESTIGATION". THIS NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED BY GM OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SINCE IT IS A DEADLY MATTER. SUDDEN LOSS OF LIGHTS AT HIGHER SPEEDS WILL CAUSE DEATHS.

NHTSA ODI #10721703

60,000 miles · Dec 5, 2014
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS 1-3 TIMES PER MONTH & NOT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. GM DEALER TESTED EXTENSIVELY AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE IN SHOP. SUGGESTED I DRIVE TO THEIR SHOP WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT AGAIN, BUT NOT OPEN AT NIGHT! GM RECALL ON OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM 12-2014. WHEN I CALLED…

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HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS 1-3 TIMES PER MONTH & NOT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. GM DEALER TESTED EXTENSIVELY AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE IN SHOP. SUGGESTED I DRIVE TO THEIR SHOP WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT AGAIN, BUT NOT OPEN AT NIGHT! GM RECALL ON OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM 12-2014. WHEN I CALLED GM THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE LIGHTING ISSUE I AM SUDDENLY HAVING. THEY AGREED TO HAVE THE SHOP LOOK AT IT AGAIN BUT PER [XXX] AT 866-790-5700 X [XXX], IF THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT IN THE SHOP "HOW CAN WE PROVE THERE IS A PROBLEM". I EXPLAINED I HAD HEARD ON THE NEWS THAT OTHER GM CAR'S HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND WOULD I NEED TO VIDEO WHEN IT HAPPENS? HE SAID WE WOULD START WITH THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT. I AM WILLING TO TRY AGAIN WITH THE EXCELLENT SHOP BUT I DON'T EXPECT RESOLUTION. THANK YOU AS I SUSPECT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662397

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.