IllustrationCar cuts off without notice while driving . Starts back up but eventually shuts off again . Also when put in reverse it shuts off
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Prix years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
1425–50K
1950–75K
3075–100K
29100–150K
12150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
4 reportsHAVE HAD 2 MOTOR ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BIG NEVER DEPLOYMENT
MY VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT MY RACK AND PINON ASSEMBLY COLUMN NEEDS REPLACING BECAUSE OF A LEAK. MY AIRBAGS INTERMITTENT WORK WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. MY CAR DOES THIS WEIRD JERKING MOTION WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. I NOT SURE IF IT'S MY TRANSMISSION OR MY ENGINE. I…
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MY VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT MY RACK AND PINON ASSEMBLY COLUMN NEEDS REPLACING BECAUSE OF A LEAK. MY AIRBAGS INTERMITTENT WORK WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. MY CAR DOES THIS WEIRD JERKING MOTION WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. I NOT SURE IF IT'S MY TRANSMISSION OR MY ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE AND I HAVEN'T NOTICED ANY CHANGES. I WAS GM WOULD ADDRESS MY CONCERNS BECAUSE I AM GREATLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILIES.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX FROM ENTERPRISE USED CAR. THEY LET ME DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK, IT WAS COMFORTABLE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HOME ON THE FREEWAY, IT STARTED TO SHAKE REALLY BAD. WHEN I GOT OFF OF THE FREEWAY I COULD HEAR THIS THUNK IN THE BACK TIRE. SO THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT BACK AND TOLD THEM I D…
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX FROM ENTERPRISE USED CAR. THEY LET ME DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK, IT WAS COMFORTABLE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HOME ON THE FREEWAY, IT STARTED TO SHAKE REALLY BAD. WHEN I GOT OFF OF THE FREEWAY I COULD HEAR THIS THUNK IN THE BACK TIRE. SO THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT BACK AND TOLD THEM I DON'T WANT THIS CAR SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH IT. SO THEY PUT IT IN THE SHOP, AND I TEST DROVE OTHER VEHICLES. THIS TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS. AT THE END OF THE WEEK, I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING I LIKED. THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS DONE, I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T WANT THAT CAR. THEY ENDED UP PUSHING IT ON ME. THEY SAID THEY PUT NEW TIRES ON IT. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FRWY, IT STARTED SHAKING AT 65MPH. I DON'T WANT THIS CAR. AND THEY TELL ME THEY CANT TAKE IT BACK. I FEEL THEY SOLD ME AN UNSAFE CAR. WHAT CAN I DO FOR THEM TO TAKE BACK THEIR 15,000.00 UNSAFE LEMON? *TR
Official recalls
114V400000 · 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
1RQ17002 · 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.