IllustrationKorr’s Automotive wants $55Ø to repair our exhaust leak. Fuel lines are too close to engine, which can cause death or injury upon impact. You’re welcome for [XXXXXX] upon request! Driver seat is out of commission on power. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2003 Pontiac Grand Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Grand Am years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than the model-year median of 82.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Am 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
350–25K
4825–50K
5250–75K
3975–100K
41100–150K
23150K+
238 reports with mileage · 87 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 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports5 fire reports23 injury reports
Seats complaints
4 reportsEcotec Gen I was re–engineered to be smoother and more efficient than its predecessor. Featuring an dual in–block balance shafts, power–steering pump, water–pump housing, and removable oil filter housing. This engine replaced the Quad–4 and GM 122 in North America and first appeared. GM offers an official kit which can be co…
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Ecotec Gen I was re–engineered to be smoother and more efficient than its predecessor. Featuring an dual in–block balance shafts, power–steering pump, water–pump housing, and removable oil filter housing. This engine replaced the Quad–4 and GM 122 in North America and first appeared. GM offers an official kit which can be converted into 2.2 supercharged versions using modified ECM software. Model L42 is an CNG version of the Ecotec 2.2, producing 129 hp and 129 ft⋅lb. This LSJ was listed as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines in 2006! Sealed transmissions elude fluid access to function like regular transmission systems without requiring fluid changes for maintenance. A sealed transmission has fill and inspection plugs, with the inspection plug removing excess fluid and the fill plug adding fluid. Nobody told me during my tenure in ‘shop class!’ Knorr’s Automotive wants $55Ø to fix an exhaust leak, which is their disastrous mishandling. This situation is only going to get marked by more confusion & errors. Vehicle fires are rare and small leaks in fuel tanks or lines can ignite, in defective vehicles during crashes.
FAILURE OF DRIVER SEAT ACTUATORS ON MY 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE SEAT WOULD ACTUALLY MOVE FROM FRONT TO BACK EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED, A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 571.207 STATES EACH SEAT SHALL REMAIN IN ITS ADJUSTED POSITION WHEN TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEST PROCEDURE IN ALSO INC…
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FAILURE OF DRIVER SEAT ACTUATORS ON MY 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE SEAT WOULD ACTUALLY MOVE FROM FRONT TO BACK EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED, A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 571.207 STATES EACH SEAT SHALL REMAIN IN ITS ADJUSTED POSITION WHEN TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEST PROCEDURE IN ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS STANDARD ARE SEAT ADJUSTERS, WHICH THE STANDARD DEFINES AS THE PART OF THE SEAT THAT PROVIDES FORWARD AND REARWARD POSITIONING OF THE SEAT. MY SEAT DID NOT MEET THIS LEGAL REQUIREMENT. PONTIAC HAS DECLINED TO REIMBURSE THE $379.15 REPAIR COST. *TR
THE SEAT MOVED FORWARD 1/4 OF AN INCH WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. TRACKS WERE REPLACED PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *TT
Official recalls
214V400000 · 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.
04V528000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
Nov 1, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM AND REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.