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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

325 reports
88,000 miles · Apr 25, 2007
Seats

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

NHTSA ODI #10188792

69,925 miles · Apr 6, 2007
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING HOME AS I DO EVERYDAY AND THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SPATTERS AND STALLS. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START IT UP AGAIN, BUT NO LUCK. THE SECURITY PASS LOCK MALFUNCTIONED, AND HAVE TRIED THE RESET PROCEDURE AS DESCRIBED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO LUCK. CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ONGOING PROBL…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME AS I DO EVERYDAY AND THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM SPATTERS AND STALLS. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START IT UP AGAIN, BUT NO LUCK. THE SECURITY PASS LOCK MALFUNCTIONED, AND HAVE TRIED THE RESET PROCEDURE AS DESCRIBED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO LUCK. CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187167

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

MY 2003 PONTIAC HAS A CLICKING IN THE DASH UNDERNEATH THE HAZARD SWITCH. WHEN I TURN ON TURN SIGNAL THE CLICKING GOES IN RHYTHM WITH THE SIGNALS BUT WHEN I TURN THE SIGNALS OFF IT CONTINUES TO CLICK, SOMETIMES FAST SOMETIMES SLOW. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND I AM AFRAID THERE MAY BE A SHORT THAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE CHECKED TH…

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MY 2003 PONTIAC HAS A CLICKING IN THE DASH UNDERNEATH THE HAZARD SWITCH. WHEN I TURN ON TURN SIGNAL THE CLICKING GOES IN RHYTHM WITH THE SIGNALS BUT WHEN I TURN THE SIGNALS OFF IT CONTINUES TO CLICK, SOMETIMES FAST SOMETIMES SLOW. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND I AM AFRAID THERE MAY BE A SHORT THAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND COME TO FIND THAT MANY PONTIAC OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD PONTIAC ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY JUST IGNORE THE COMPLAINTS. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF THIS MATTER. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING IN MANY PONTIAC'S RANGING FROM 1995 TO 2004. I HAVE A 2003 GRAND AM GT. I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THROUGH MY INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND SO MANY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PONTIAC HAS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE'S VEHICLE CATCHES ON FIRE AND BURNS A HOUSE DOWN WITH AN ATTACHED GARAGE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND LET ME KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10185017

81,000 miles · Feb 6, 2007
Exterior Lighting

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. THE CONTACT 'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURETHE FAILURE THAT WAS MENTIONED IN RECALL #03V327000; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH WHERE THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN …

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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. THE CONTACT 'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURETHE FAILURE THAT WAS MENTIONED IN RECALL #03V327000; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH WHERE THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON 2-3-07. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10181790

55,000 miles · Jan 27, 2007
Power Train

A FEW TIMES, AS I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH, I FELT A TUGGING; I THOUGHT I HAD CAUGHT THE TOE OF MY SHOE ON THE FLOOR MAT. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS DRIVING AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL GRABBED TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT COME UP. WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED, THEY SAID THAT THE CABLE BETWEEN THE CLUTCH AND PEDAL HAD DISENGAGED; HOWEVER, TH…

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A FEW TIMES, AS I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH, I FELT A TUGGING; I THOUGHT I HAD CAUGHT THE TOE OF MY SHOE ON THE FLOOR MAT. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS DRIVING AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL GRABBED TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT COME UP. WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED, THEY SAID THAT THE CABLE BETWEEN THE CLUTCH AND PEDAL HAD DISENGAGED; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO BROKEN PARTS. WITHIN A WEEK OF THE COMPANY PUTTING THE CABLE BACK IN PLACE, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. AT 3.5 YEARS AND 55,000 MILES, I HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER BECAUSE THE CABLE WAS "GETTING HOOKED UP" IN THE CYLINDER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10180892

42,881 miles · Dec 27, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* - THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN IT STARTED SHAKING. THE BATTERY LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE EARLIER AND THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR LIGHTS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED. THE R…

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TL* - THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN IT STARTED SHAKING. THE BATTERY LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE EARLIER AND THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR LIGHTS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. \*AK UPDATED 02/22/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177060

48,000 miles · Dec 16, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM REAR HEAD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10176301

51,840 miles · Dec 11, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. PREVIOUSLY, A ROADSIDE SERVICE WAS CONTACTED, WHO SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. ON THIS OCCASION, SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. PREVIOUSLY, A ROADSIDE SERVICE WAS CONTACTED, WHO SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. ON THIS OCCASION, SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10175788

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAVING REPAIRS PERFORMED, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS LOOSE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXPRESSED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED A SAFETY INSPECTION WITH THE CONDITION THE HOOD LATCH WAS IN. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE. THE VE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAVING REPAIRS PERFORMED, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS LOOSE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXPRESSED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED A SAFETY INSPECTION WITH THE CONDITION THE HOOD LATCH WAS IN. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI #10175468

59,000 miles · Nov 29, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2003 GRAND AM GT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, MY CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY!!!! THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE BRAKES FELT VERY HARD TO PUSH, AND THE CAR ALMOST CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE ONLY THING THAT DIDN'T STOP WORKING WAS THE RADIO. I STARTED THE CAR…

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I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2003 GRAND AM GT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, MY CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY!!!! THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE BRAKES FELT VERY HARD TO PUSH, AND THE CAR ALMOST CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE ONLY THING THAT DIDN'T STOP WORKING WAS THE RADIO. I STARTED THE CAR AFTER FIVE MINUTES AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN, ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SHUT OFF WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING WHAT-SO-EVER!!!!! THE CAR STARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES BUT THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" AND TRAC OFF" LIGHTS CAME ON. THE NEXT MORNING WE STARTED THE CAR AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH DIDN'T COME ON. MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR THAT MORNING AND IT CUT OFF ON HIM WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON TELEGRAPH. HE STARTED THE CAR AFTER WAITING ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND IT STARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. WE PAID BELLE TIRE TO HOOK UP THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE TO THE CAR TO SEE IF THEY COULD DETECT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID SOMETHING SHOWED UP THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE ABS SENSOR. WE HAD THAT FIXED AND THOUGHT IT HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T.....THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN!!! IT HAPPENED ABOUT 10 MONTHS LATER (WHICH WAS JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO). I WAS AT A LIGHT, TURNED RIGHT AND ABOUT 3 SECONDS AFTER I TURNED, THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN WITH NO WARNING!!!! I WAITED A COUPLE MINUTES, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY. THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" LIGHT AND THE "TRAC OFF" LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE I DROVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO MY HOUSE. I PARKED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, STARTED IT UP AND THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE, AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. THERE'S A LITTLE OVER 59,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. LESS THEN TWO WEEKS LATER, JUST YESTERDAY 11/27/06, I WAS TURNING ONTO JEFFERSON IN DETROIT, WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174639

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.