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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

What owners actually said

142 reports
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

EVAL HOSE CAUSED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. GOT IT FIXED AND TESTED AND SAME DIAGNOSE WAS POPPING UP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593387

100,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I HIT A BRONCO I KNOCKED HIS TIRES OFF COMPLETE TOTAL OF MY VEHICLE THE HOOD WAS DESTROYED I HAVE PICTURES OF MY CAR THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND I HIT MY HEAD PRETTY HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL I'M GLAD IT WAS JUST ME AS MY KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED BUT MY CONCERN IS …

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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I HIT A BRONCO I KNOCKED HIS TIRES OFF COMPLETE TOTAL OF MY VEHICLE THE HOOD WAS DESTROYED I HAVE PICTURES OF MY CAR THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND I HIT MY HEAD PRETTY HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL I'M GLAD IT WAS JUST ME AS MY KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED BUT MY CONCERN IS WITH THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING EVEN THE COP ON SCENE SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588983

96,000 miles · May 5, 2014
Air BagsStructureCrash

A VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING A SUBSEQUENT CRASH RESULTING IN FRONT DAMAGE TO MY CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH BUMPER WAS TORN OFF AND HOOD BENT. ADDITIONALLY ASIDE FROM THE CRASH, MY CAR HAS STARTED LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER AND GET …

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A VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING A SUBSEQUENT CRASH RESULTING IN FRONT DAMAGE TO MY CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH BUMPER WAS TORN OFF AND HOOD BENT. ADDITIONALLY ASIDE FROM THE CRASH, MY CAR HAS STARTED LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER AND GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT FINALLY RESTARTED. IT WILL NOT START SOMETIMES. HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT CHECKED AND IT SHOWS THERE IS A SENSOR PROBLEM. WILL NOT IDENTIFY WHICH PEDAL SENSOR. FRUSTRATED AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586494

78,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Engine

2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ENGINE WILL AUTOMATICALLY STOP RUNNING WHEN DRIVING. THIS SHUTS DOWN THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. ALL BUT TWO TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR. TWO OF THE TIMES, THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO ST…

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2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ENGINE WILL AUTOMATICALLY STOP RUNNING WHEN DRIVING. THIS SHUTS DOWN THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. ALL BUT TWO TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR. TWO OF THE TIMES, THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO START - CAR WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. EVENTUALLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR STATED. OVER THE PAST YEAR THIS HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IN A CITY AT APPROXIMATE 30 MPH, COASTING DOWN A HILL, OR STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. HOWEVER, WE DID NOT TAKE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY VERY OFTEN SO WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS ISSUE HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. SO FAR, WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND HAD NO ACCIDENTS WITH THE CAR. SYMPTOM'S ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO TWO REPAIR PLACES AND THE DIAGNOSTICS WOULD NOT SHOW ANYTHING. WE RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY DETERMINED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODE P0335. THEY REPLACED 10456161 SENSOR AND EMISSIONS SYSTEM REPAIR. THEY ARE NOT 100% SURE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WE DO NOT ALLOW OUR KIDS TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF THEM BEING KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577890

80,000 miles · Mar 20, 2014
Engine

THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM CLOGGED UP MY THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT TURNED TO A BROWN CONSISTENCY AND THICKENED LIKE MUD. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COOLANT, DREX, CAN HAVE NO FLUIDS ADDED, AND NO WATER UNLESS IT IS DISTILLED. I DID NOT ADD ANY COOLANT OR WATER AND RECEIVED NO COOLANT LOW WARNING. I PREVIOUSLY HAD CAR WORKED ON ONE YE…

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THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM CLOGGED UP MY THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT TURNED TO A BROWN CONSISTENCY AND THICKENED LIKE MUD. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COOLANT, DREX, CAN HAVE NO FLUIDS ADDED, AND NO WATER UNLESS IT IS DISTILLED. I DID NOT ADD ANY COOLANT OR WATER AND RECEIVED NO COOLANT LOW WARNING. I PREVIOUSLY HAD CAR WORKED ON ONE YEAR AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I WANT ALL VEHICLES EVERYWHERE WITH DREX FOR COOLANT RECALLED AND REPAIRED. DREX IN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS A DESIGN FLAW. I THINK EVENTUALLY IN A COOLANT SYSTEM SOME MOISTURE FORMS FROM THE HEATING UP AND COOLING DOWN PROCESS OF A RADIATOR AND CONDENSATION FORMS. THIS WOULD THEN GUM UP AND RUIN A CARS COOLING SYSTEM AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLE THE ENGINE TO BE RUINED. THIS IS THE SECOND CAR WHERE I HAD TO DO REPAIRS BECAUSE THE DREX CLOGGED UP THE RADIATOR AND MADE MY ENGINE OVERHEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573673

107,000 miles · Mar 14, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS DRIVING MY GRAND PRIX AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY FATHER-IN-LAW LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AT THE WHEEL AND THEY WENT LEFT OF CENTER AND RAN ANOTHER VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW GRABBED THE WHEEL TO AVOID A COLLISION AND THEY WENT OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT AND WENT AIRBORNE AND CRASH…

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MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS DRIVING MY GRAND PRIX AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY FATHER-IN-LAW LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AT THE WHEEL AND THEY WENT LEFT OF CENTER AND RAN ANOTHER VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW GRABBED THE WHEEL TO AVOID A COLLISION AND THEY WENT OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT AND WENT AIRBORNE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. MY FATHER-IN-LAW DIED IN THE CRASH AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED. THE CAR HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569277

150,000 miles · Dec 27, 2013
Exterior Lighting

BACK IN THE SUMMER THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK ON DIM AND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HDM MODULE UNDER THE HOOD. ON DECEMBER 23, 2013 THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK ON DIM AGAIN. HAD TO REPLACE THE HDM MODULE AGAIN. IT APPEARS LOOKING ON LINE THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY MY PROBLEM BUT OTHERS AS WELL. THIS IS A SAF…

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BACK IN THE SUMMER THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK ON DIM AND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HDM MODULE UNDER THE HOOD. ON DECEMBER 23, 2013 THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK ON DIM AGAIN. HAD TO REPLACE THE HDM MODULE AGAIN. IT APPEARS LOOKING ON LINE THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY MY PROBLEM BUT OTHERS AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557444

95,000 miles · Dec 23, 2013
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING THE 2008 GRAND PRIX GXP (5.3 WITH A 4SP AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE) AT LOW SPEED THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND SLIPPING IN GEAR. MADE IT HOME SLOWLY AND PULLED OVER AND CHECKED TO ENSURE TRANSMISSION FLUID FULL. CALL DEALER TO FILE WARRANTY CLAIM AND TRIED TO DRIVE TO DEALER AND CAR WENT 1/4 MILE AT 10-15 MPH AND CAR TRAN…

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WHEN DRIVING THE 2008 GRAND PRIX GXP (5.3 WITH A 4SP AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE) AT LOW SPEED THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND SLIPPING IN GEAR. MADE IT HOME SLOWLY AND PULLED OVER AND CHECKED TO ENSURE TRANSMISSION FLUID FULL. CALL DEALER TO FILE WARRANTY CLAIM AND TRIED TO DRIVE TO DEALER AND CAR WENT 1/4 MILE AT 10-15 MPH AND CAR TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT. NO GEARS IN REVERSE, DRIVE OR MANUAL MODE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. THIS IS A DAILY COMMUTER CAR TO WORK AND HOME AND I AM WORKING THIS WEEK AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED DURING THE HOLIDAYS. NO RENTALS AVAILABLE DUE TO HOLIDAYS. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE FROM A 2008 MODEL WITH LESS THAN 100,000 AND I PUT 12,000 ON IT SINCE APRIL WHEN I BOUGHT IT WITH 82,XXX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557081

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2013
Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAMS ON MY CAR COME ON AND OFF AT THE CAR'S PLEASURE. HIGH BEAMS WORK FINE BUT LOW BEAMS WILL WORK THEN GO OFF RANDOMLY. FOG LIGHTS WORK CORRECTLY AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555686

118,000 miles · Aug 29, 2013
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAD LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM CONTROL MODULE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL MOD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAD LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM CONTROL MODULE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE SEAT WAS NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10537983

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.