IllustrationFRONT DASH IS PEELING UP ON BOTH CORNERS AND VENTING ON DASH IS TOTALLY CRACKED. ALL DAMAGES FROM EXTREME HEAT TEMPS. *TR
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
What owners actually said
325 reportsTHE OTHER DRIVER RAN A RED LIGHT AND I T-BONED HER JEEP, THE CRASH SPUN MY GRAND AM AROUND AND RIPPED THE FRONT END ALMOST ALL THE WAY OFF MY CAR. MY AIR-BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY I SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO MY SHOULDER THAT IS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. AS HARD AS THE HIT WAS, MY AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. WHY DID IT NOT? *JS
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
FAST CLICKING SOUND AROUND STEERING COLUMN (SOUNDS LIKE THE BLINKER IS GOING BUT IT IS NOT). *TR
CAR WILL NOT START, SECURITY LIGHT BLINKING ON DASH. CAR "THINKS" IT'S BEING STOLEN AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. I'M BEING TOLD IT'S RELATED TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. *TR
IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR DOES NOT START CONSISTENTLY. I HAVE HAD TO PICK MY DAUGHTER UP AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE WORK BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT GET HER CAR STARTED. THE CAR HAS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF IN INTERSECTIONS, AND AT HIGH SPEEDS. WE ARE USING MY CAR BECAUSE HER CAR IS EXTR…
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IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR DOES NOT START CONSISTENTLY. I HAVE HAD TO PICK MY DAUGHTER UP AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE WORK BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT GET HER CAR STARTED. THE CAR HAS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF IN INTERSECTIONS, AND AT HIGH SPEEDS. WE ARE USING MY CAR BECAUSE HER CAR IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO GET FIXED. I CHECKED IF IT WAS ON THE LIST OF RECALLS. IT IS NOT, BUT I DO FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE COMPENSATE ME OR DIRECT ME WHERE TO GET COMPENSATED FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT WILL TAKE TO REPLACE THE KEY AND IGNITION MODULE. THAT IS WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME HAD TO BE REPLACED.
WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY OR STREET THE CAR STALLS WITHOUT ANY WARNING . THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY DIED CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. MUST TRY TO MERGE OFF AND OUT OF TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY. HAPPENS ON SMOOTH AND ROUGH ROADS. UNSAFE. DRIVING A 2003 GRAND AM WITH SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. PLEASE ADVISE, SUPPORT AND SERVICE.…
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WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY OR STREET THE CAR STALLS WITHOUT ANY WARNING . THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY DIED CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. MUST TRY TO MERGE OFF AND OUT OF TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY. HAPPENS ON SMOOTH AND ROUGH ROADS. UNSAFE. DRIVING A 2003 GRAND AM WITH SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. PLEASE ADVISE, SUPPORT AND SERVICE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,00…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TR
CAR DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING BUT RESTARTED AFTER VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. *TR
I HAVE TO DO THIS EVERYTIME I START THE CAR. TURN MY KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION, AND WAIT TEN MINUTES THEN TURN THE KEY TO START IT, AND IT WILL START AFTER THE 2ND OR 3RD ATTEMPT AT THIS. MY SISTER BOUGHT THE CAR FOR ME IN JULY 2013, AND IT WAS STARTING FINE BEFORE OCTOBER, THEN AFTER OCTOBER, WHEN I GO SOMEWHERE, TURN OFF THE CA…
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I HAVE TO DO THIS EVERYTIME I START THE CAR. TURN MY KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION, AND WAIT TEN MINUTES THEN TURN THE KEY TO START IT, AND IT WILL START AFTER THE 2ND OR 3RD ATTEMPT AT THIS. MY SISTER BOUGHT THE CAR FOR ME IN JULY 2013, AND IT WAS STARTING FINE BEFORE OCTOBER, THEN AFTER OCTOBER, WHEN I GO SOMEWHERE, TURN OFF THE CAR, AND HAVE TO TURN THE KEY ON AND LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES, AND THE CAR STARTS RIGHT OFF. HAVE A WARRANTY ON IT. BOUGHT THE CAR AT NISSAN OF NEWPORT NEWS, VA. I MOVED TO LYCHBURG VA AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH PINKERTON CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER FOR FEB. 2, 2014. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME, AND MY SISTER IS PAYING OFF THE CAR. *TR
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.