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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKELINE CONNECTION UNDER VEHICLE (IN FRONT OF WHERE DRIVER SITS) COULD BECOME CRACKED OR BROKEN IF KNOCKED BY ROAD DEBRIS, OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I NOTICED THIS ON MY 2008 GRAND PRIX GXP, SO NOT SURE IF THIS MODEL SITS LOWER TO THE GROUND THAN OTHER GRAND PRIX MODELS. WATCHING RESERVOIR FLUID LEVEL TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH IS LOST…

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BRAKELINE CONNECTION UNDER VEHICLE (IN FRONT OF WHERE DRIVER SITS) COULD BECOME CRACKED OR BROKEN IF KNOCKED BY ROAD DEBRIS, OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I NOTICED THIS ON MY 2008 GRAND PRIX GXP, SO NOT SURE IF THIS MODEL SITS LOWER TO THE GROUND THAN OTHER GRAND PRIX MODELS. WATCHING RESERVOIR FLUID LEVEL TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH IS LOST OVER A MONTH. I DISCOVERED AFTER NOTICING A BURNT FLUID SMELL IN THE CABIN AFTER 16 MAR 2012. PARTICULARLY STRONG AFTER HARD BRAKE SITUATION I WAS TOLD BY LOCAL DEALER THAT THERE WAS NO WARRENTY ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT THE PARTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE ANYMORE.

NHTSA ODI #10453454

12,250 miles · Sep 11, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UNDER HARD HIGH SPEED BRAKING THE FRONT BRAKES SHUDDER BADLY CAUSING A SEVERE FRONT END SHIMMY DUE TO WARPED ROTORS MAKING STOPPING DIFFICULT. IF PRESSURE ON PEDAL IS NOT RELEASED THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH. IT IS WORSE IF GOING DOWNHILL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON GM CARS BUILD IN THE LAST 8 YEARS. THE…

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UNDER HARD HIGH SPEED BRAKING THE FRONT BRAKES SHUDDER BADLY CAUSING A SEVERE FRONT END SHIMMY DUE TO WARPED ROTORS MAKING STOPPING DIFFICULT. IF PRESSURE ON PEDAL IS NOT RELEASED THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH. IT IS WORSE IF GOING DOWNHILL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON GM CARS BUILD IN THE LAST 8 YEARS. THERE ARE POSTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS. THE PROBLEM IS WITH POORLY MADE BRAKE ROTORS THAT WARP AT UNDER 15,000 MILES OF NORMAL USE. I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY WIFE'S 2003 IMPALA. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE ROTORS REPLACED WITH PARTS OF ADEQUATE QUALITY. IF YOU CAN GET THE ISSUE ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER WILL ONLY EITHER TURN THE DEFECTIVE ROTORS OR REPLACE THEM WITH THE SAME OEM JUNK. THE ONLY FIX I HAVE FOUND IT TO REPLACE THEM WITH AFTERMARKET ROTORS AND PADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424628

24,436 miles · Feb 12, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels

2008 GRAND PRIX GXP FRONT WHEEL CRACKED, LOSING AIR WITH 24K MILES. THE WEEK BEFORE IT WAS BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. TOTAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES 1,200.00 IN TWO WEEKS. I FIND THIS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR WITH BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE. JUST EXACTLY WHAT DO THEY COVER? LAST I CHECKED MY WHEELS WERE BETWEEN MY BUMPERS, AND…

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2008 GRAND PRIX GXP FRONT WHEEL CRACKED, LOSING AIR WITH 24K MILES. THE WEEK BEFORE IT WAS BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. TOTAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES 1,200.00 IN TWO WEEKS. I FIND THIS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR WITH BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE. JUST EXACTLY WHAT DO THEY COVER? LAST I CHECKED MY WHEELS WERE BETWEEN MY BUMPERS, AND IF GM CAN'T BUILD A CAR ROAD WORTHY OF A MICHIGAN WINTER THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SELL THEM HERE. THIS WOULD BE ALOT EASIER TO SWALLOW IF IT WERE A USED CAR, BUT NEW WITH 24K MILES IS ABSURD! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310079

400 miles · Nov 3, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE PAINT BEGAN PEELING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO ACID RAIN AND THEY OFFERED TO RE-PAINT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO FELT A HARD VIBRATION WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATING TO …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE PAINT BEGAN PEELING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO ACID RAIN AND THEY OFFERED TO RE-PAINT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO FELT A HARD VIBRATION WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATING TO 55-65 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA ODI #10247614

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.