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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

35 reports
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70,000 miles · Jan 13, 2020
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

**THIS IS NOT A STANDARD 2003 PONTIAC, SINGLE OWNER CURRENT MILEAGE OF 70,000** UPON VEHICLE REACHING OPERATING TEMPERATURE IT EXHIBITS THE SYMPTOMS OF RECALL #04092 124/ ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.FAILURE RESULTS IN LOSS OF RPM AND SPEED CONTROL.THIS ITEM WAS ADDRESSED ON 1-11-2004 BY APPROVED DEALER. CAR LAST FAILURE OCCURRENCE W…

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**THIS IS NOT A STANDARD 2003 PONTIAC, SINGLE OWNER CURRENT MILEAGE OF 70,000** UPON VEHICLE REACHING OPERATING TEMPERATURE IT EXHIBITS THE SYMPTOMS OF RECALL #04092 124/ ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.FAILURE RESULTS IN LOSS OF RPM AND SPEED CONTROL.THIS ITEM WAS ADDRESSED ON 1-11-2004 BY APPROVED DEALER. CAR LAST FAILURE OCCURRENCE WAS ON 1/12/2020. THIS VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN RECALL#14350 IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN FAILURE OCCURS LOSS OF POWER,SPEED,AIR BAGS,ECT.. INITIAL RECALL REPAIR WAS ON 3-07-2014. AT THAT TIME A NEW KEY WAS CUT TO RESOLVE ISSUE. FAILURE HAS REOCCURED, LAST TIME BEING 12-23-19 WHILE DRIVING MID DAY NO EXCESSIVE TEMP OR DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11299042

55,345 miles · Aug 2, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BY RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE PEDAL FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THIS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BY RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE PEDAL FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (GETTEL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC, 1901 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PUNTA GORDA, FL 33950), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 8-446-6959426 WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,345.

NHTSA ODI #11115306

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED, IT NOW FAILS TO RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION, REQUIRING ONE TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE PEDAL BACK UP. AFTER THE NEAR ACCIDENT, MY DAUGHTER DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISC…

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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED, IT NOW FAILS TO RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION, REQUIRING ONE TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE PEDAL BACK UP. AFTER THE NEAR ACCIDENT, MY DAUGHTER DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR STICKING ACCELERATOR ON THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM, BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE RECALL. I CALLED PONTIAC ON THE TOLL FREE NUMBER LISTED ON THE RECALL NOTICE ON YOUR SITE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER ASKING TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR SEVERAL TIMES, I WAS FINALLY CONNECTED TO THE SUPERVISOR WHO ALSO SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. I TOLD HER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL AND SHE SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL FOR THE ACCELERATOR ON A 2003 GRAND AM. I GAVE HER THE RECALL NUMBER AND SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THAT RECALL, AND THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD SO PONTIAC WASN'T GOING TO PAY ANYTHING TO HAVE IT FIXED. SHE SAID I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF AND IF THEY EVER DID ISSUE A RECALL AND I KEPT THE RECEIPTS, THEY WOULD ISSUE A REFUND. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR WHOSE LIVES MAY WELL BE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712677

77,000 miles · Jan 2, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN UPDATED 9/12/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10669629

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

MY CAR HAS AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. IN SAID RECALL IT DESCRIBES THAT IN THE EVENT OF IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN IN MY CAR 99% OF THE TIME AND THIS MAKES ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS. I CALLED A NUMBER TO GET A RENTAL CAR UNTIL MINE CAN BE FIXED DUE TO THE FACT NO DEALER HAS THE PARTS AND T…

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MY CAR HAS AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. IN SAID RECALL IT DESCRIBES THAT IN THE EVENT OF IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN IN MY CAR 99% OF THE TIME AND THIS MAKES ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS. I CALLED A NUMBER TO GET A RENTAL CAR UNTIL MINE CAN BE FIXED DUE TO THE FACT NO DEALER HAS THE PARTS AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE. THE MAN ON THE PHONE TOLD ME I DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE IT WASN'T THAT BIG A DEAL. I FEEL THAT IT IS A BIG DEAL AND BECAUSE I HAVE CHILDREN AND I SHOULD ENTITLED TO A RENTAL COURTESY OF GM. I AM VERY DISPLEASED AND HOPE THAT THIS SITUATION CAN BE RECTIFIED. I WILL GO TO THE LOCAL NEWS AND EXPRESS MY CONCERN IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633122

39,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL ACCELERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL ACCELERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,594.

NHTSA ODI #10608850

39,000 miles · Jun 29, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING IT VERY MUCH AS IT WAS GOING TO BE FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE YET. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT KEPT ACCELERATING. I DID NOT EVEN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT GOT UP TO 60 MPH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND SWITCHED IT INTO NEUTRAL WHE…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING IT VERY MUCH AS IT WAS GOING TO BE FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE YET. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT KEPT ACCELERATING. I DID NOT EVEN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT GOT UP TO 60 MPH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND SWITCHED IT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN I GOT IT SLOWED DOWN, THEN INTO PARK. I PUMPED THE GAS AND IT WENT DOWN TO IDLE SPEED. JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THAT I NOTICED I HAD TO PRESS REALLY HARD ON THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO STAY STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I KNOW CARS CAN IDLE A LITTLE FAST SOMETIMES AND MOVE SOME, BUT I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE REALLY HARD AND WAS ON AN INCLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606861

20,000 miles · Jun 4, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

I HAD 2 KIDS IN THE CAR,THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK,CAR KEPT SPEEDING UP.. I WAS USING BOTH FEET ON BRAKE & ER BRAKE AS WELL!! I WAS SWERVING IN & OUT OF TRAFFIC,RUNNING RED LIGHTS & PRAYING FOR OUR LIVES,WE GOT UP TO 85 MILES PER HOUR IN A 35MPH ZONE!! THE CAR WAS REVVING OUT OF CONTROL & BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER T…

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I HAD 2 KIDS IN THE CAR,THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK,CAR KEPT SPEEDING UP.. I WAS USING BOTH FEET ON BRAKE & ER BRAKE AS WELL!! I WAS SWERVING IN & OUT OF TRAFFIC,RUNNING RED LIGHTS & PRAYING FOR OUR LIVES,WE GOT UP TO 85 MILES PER HOUR IN A 35MPH ZONE!! THE CAR WAS REVVING OUT OF CONTROL & BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD! I MANAGED TO SLAM IT INTO PARK & WE ALL JUMPED OUT & RAN,VERY FRIGHTENING & ALMOST ENDED IN A COLLISION. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED AT 1YR OLD AND 10,000 MILES,THE TIRES NEEDED RESEALING AT 5000 MILES. RIDICULOUS!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596041

85,337 miles · Mar 2, 2014
Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

CAR DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING BUT RESTARTED AFTER VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566668

156,000 miles · Jan 2, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK NEAR THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE PUSHED SHARPLY ON THE BRAKE AND THREW THE CAR IN PARK. SHE NOTED THAT THE RPM'S REVVED ABOVE 3000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558261

Official recalls

2

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.