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 reports
30,000 miles · Sep 17, 2007
Exterior Lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS LOW VISIBILITY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. HE FELT THAT THE CLOUDED LENSES CAUSED THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT CHEMICALS FROM A CAR WASH WERE THE CAUSE. AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS LOW VISIBILITY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. HE FELT THAT THE CLOUDED LENSES CAUSED THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT CHEMICALS FROM A CAR WASH WERE THE CAUSE. AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,720. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER IS AT FAULT, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER STATED WILL NOT BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT. UPDATED 10/03/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10203162
25,750 miles · Aug 18, 2007
Electrical System
PASSLOCK SYSTEM ON 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT MADE MY DAUGHTERS CAR GO DEAD AND IT WOULD NOT START. LEFT HER STRANDED ON SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED AND PASSLOCK SYSTEM REPROGRAMMED. TOTAL COST OF $250.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10200014
102,000 miles · Aug 14, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE SPEED INCREASED TO 45 MPH. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES OTHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. THE CURRENT A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE SPEED INCREASED TO 45 MPH. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES OTHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102,000.
NHTSA ODI #10199536
47,212 miles · Aug 7, 2007
Electrical System
PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON, WHICH SHUTS DOWN FUEL PUMP AND WILL NOT ALLOW CAR TO START. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10198702
15,000 miles · Jul 27, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED IN HOT WEATHER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. RECALL NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED IN HOT WEATHER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. RECALL NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ
NHTSA ODI #10197629
42,000 miles · Jul 20, 2007
Exterior Lighting
MY 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM HAS HAD THIS CLICKING NOISE, COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SOUND THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD MAKE, BUT A LITTLE FASTER. AND IT COMES AND GOES AND LASTS FOR DIFFERENT DURATIONS OF TIME. I NOTICE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON, THEN THE NOISE GOES AWAY. ALSO, WHEN I SLIGHTLY …
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MY 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM HAS HAD THIS CLICKING NOISE, COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SOUND THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD MAKE, BUT A LITTLE FASTER. AND IT COMES AND GOES AND LASTS FOR DIFFERENT DURATIONS OF TIME. I NOTICE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON, THEN THE NOISE GOES AWAY. ALSO, WHEN I SLIGHTLY HOLD THE HAZARD BUTTON IN, WITHOUT ACTUALLY TURNING IT ON, THE NOISE ALSO STOPS, BUT THEN MY TURN SIGNALS WON'T WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT IT MIGHT BE THE HAZARD SWITCH. HOWEVER, WITH THE NEW SWITCH IN PLACE, THE PROBLEM AND ANNOYING SOUND CONTINUED! *JB
NHTSA ODI #10197089
51,000 miles · Jul 9, 2007
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH/CYLINDER WENT BAD AGAIN WITHIN 2 YEARS AFTER BEING REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10195600
80,000 miles · Jun 26, 2007
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE WITH THE PATH-LOCK SYSTEM. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10194712
29,414 miles · Jun 19, 2007
Electrical System
ON A TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER FAILED TO START. FAMILY STRANDED IN MOUNTAINS. $213 TOW . I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $450 AND $1000 TO GET IT FIXED. STILL WON'T START AFTER FOLLOWING OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO DISABLE IT TO PREVENT BEING STRANDED IN FUTURE.
NHTSA ODI #10193770
50,000 miles · Jun 15, 2007
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 4-DOOR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM HERTZ WITH 23000 MILES. SINCE NOVEMBER 2006 IT FAILED TO START ON 4 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE SHOP REPLACED THE BATTERY. TWO WEEKS LATER IT FAILED AGAIN , USUAL SCENARIO IS FOR ALL DASH LIGHTS TO BE DISPLAYED, BUT ONLY A CLICK OR NO INDICATION T…
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THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 4-DOOR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM HERTZ WITH 23000 MILES. SINCE NOVEMBER 2006 IT FAILED TO START ON 4 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE SHOP REPLACED THE BATTERY. TWO WEEKS LATER IT FAILED AGAIN , USUAL SCENARIO IS FOR ALL DASH LIGHTS TO BE DISPLAYED, BUT ONLY A CLICK OR NO INDICATION THAT A CONNECTION HAD BEEN MADE WHEN IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED. THIS TIME, SHOP SAID STARTER FAILED. NEXT WEEK, CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN. SHOP TOWED CAR AND REPROGRAMMED SYSTEM. IN APRIL 2007 SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
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.
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.
2003 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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