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2005 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Pontiac Grand Am do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 82.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

79 reports with mileage · 23 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 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

40 reports
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36,000 miles · Oct 6, 2008
Electrical System

FOR THE LAST YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE ON MY 2005 GRAND AM HAS GONE BERSERK. IT RANDOMLY PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING MY CAR. I HAVE TO LEAVE 10 MINUTES EARLY FOR EVERYTHING SO I AM NOT LATE BECAUSE IT TAKES 10 MINUTES TO RE-SET THE DEVICE. IT IS SHAMEFUL PONTIAC WON'T RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS MANY PEOPLE A…

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FOR THE LAST YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE ON MY 2005 GRAND AM HAS GONE BERSERK. IT RANDOMLY PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING MY CAR. I HAVE TO LEAVE 10 MINUTES EARLY FOR EVERYTHING SO I AM NOT LATE BECAUSE IT TAKES 10 MINUTES TO RE-SET THE DEVICE. IT IS SHAMEFUL PONTIAC WON'T RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING IT. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THE 200 + DOLLARS AN HOUR TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP FIX IT. THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU ATTEMPT TO FIX IT YOURSELF (I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S A SENSOR ISSUE) YOU COULD END UP SETTING THE ANTI-THEFT/PASSLOCK DEVICE OFF AND NEVER GET IT TO RE-SET. AS IT IS, I KNOW I CAN RE-SET IT IN 10 MINUTES (THOUGH BY THEN I'M OFTEN HOT AND SWEATY AND GRUMPY WITH MELTED ICE CREAM). HELP! IT'S JUST NOT FAIR. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TELL MY MECHANIC HOW TO FIX IT; THEY WANT ME TO BRING IT IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244508

68,000 miles · Apr 21, 2008
Electrical System

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH, WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK. SOMETIMES GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK UNTIL A FEW MINUTES AFTER STARTING CAR. HAD THE GEAR SHIFT REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. ISN'T AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM IN WARM WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225217

52,000 miles · Apr 16, 2008
Electrical System

WENT TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE ONE DAY AND THE MY CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I WAS LEAVING. HAD SOMEONE PICK ME UP. TOOK ME BACK TO MY CAR A FEW HOURS LATER AND IT STARTED. SEEMS TO BE A PASSLOCK ISSUE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I WAS STRANDED AGAIN AWAY FROM HOME WITH THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN WAITED A FEW HOURS AND CAR STARTED. NOW THE C…

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WENT TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE ONE DAY AND THE MY CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I WAS LEAVING. HAD SOMEONE PICK ME UP. TOOK ME BACK TO MY CAR A FEW HOURS LATER AND IT STARTED. SEEMS TO BE A PASSLOCK ISSUE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I WAS STRANDED AGAIN AWAY FROM HOME WITH THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN WAITED A FEW HOURS AND CAR STARTED. NOW THE CARS STARTER IS GOING OUT AND IT NEEDS COMPLETE BRAKE REPAIR. IT ONLY HAS 52K MILES ON IT. TODAY STRANDED AT WORK WITH YET AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD SOMEONE ELSE COME PICK ME UP AND DROP ME OFF A HALF HOUR AWAY. WILL HAVE TO GO PICK IT UP TOMORROW. TRIED E-MAILING PONTIAC AND CALLING THE NUMBER IN THE BACK OF MY OWNERS MANUAL ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE ALSO TRIED TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AS OF RIGHT NOW I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS ON THIS VEHICLE. I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND MONEY THAT I DON'T HAVE FIXING SOMETHING THAT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT CANNOT BE FIXED. ALL FIXES I HAVE READ ABOUT HAVE ONLY REMAINED TEMPORARY WITH THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM RETURNING. I STILL OWE 13K ON THIS CAR AND FEAR TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED AGAIN. I AM 4 MONTHS PREGNANT AND CANNOT JUST GET STRANDED PLACES. THIS PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS SUPPOSE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM STEALING MY CAR NOT TO KEEP ME FROM DRIVING IT. IT IS THE SAME AS ME USING THE CORRECT PASSWORD ON MY COMPUTER BUT THE COMPUTER SAYING, "EVEN THOUGH THAT IS THE CORRECT PASSWORD WE ARE CHOOSING NOT TO LET YOU IN TODAY." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224661

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2007
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. HAZARDOUS TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD, OUT OF NO WHERE. LIGHTS ON DASH GO CRAZY AND VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED GOT TOWED TO A SHOP SAID THERE IS POSSIBLE LEAKING OF THE FUEL TANK, ALSO SUGGESTED TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP, THEN DECIDED THAT WAS NOT NEEDED AND REP…

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VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. HAZARDOUS TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD, OUT OF NO WHERE. LIGHTS ON DASH GO CRAZY AND VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED GOT TOWED TO A SHOP SAID THERE IS POSSIBLE LEAKING OF THE FUEL TANK, ALSO SUGGESTED TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP, THEN DECIDED THAT WAS NOT NEEDED AND REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. VEHICLE WORKED FOR 3 MONTHS, BUT COULD STILL SMELL FUMES OF GAS WHEN FIRST STARTED CAR, THIS SMELL BEGAN FIRST WEEK I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SECOND TIME WAS TWO DAYS AGO ON THE HIGHWAY ONCE AGAIN. MECHANIC IS CONCERNED REGARDING FUEL TANK LEAK AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO IT BEING UNSAFE AND POSSIBLE FIRE OR EXPLOSION COULD OCCUR. WHO MANUFACTURES A VEHICLE THAT HAS INSUFFICIENT FUEL TANK WELDING??? THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211865

49,000 miles · Sep 18, 2007
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING. SHE NOTICED A FILM ON THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT, WHEN IT IS RAINING, OR WHEN THE DEFROST AND/OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OCCASIONALLY STICKS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING. SHE NOTICED A FILM ON THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT, WHEN IT IS RAINING, OR WHEN THE DEFROST AND/OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OCCASIONALLY STICKS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10203302

43,000 miles · Sep 6, 2007
Electrical System

I JUST READ THE VERY FIRST COMPLAINT ON MY CAR WHILE AGO..... EVERY SINGLE THING THATS HAPPENED TO HER, HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD TO NEVER BUY A GRANDAM....BUT I COULDNT REALLY AFFORD ANYTHING ELSE. I NEEDED SOMETHING RELIABLE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I BOUGHT MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. I HAVE HA…

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I JUST READ THE VERY FIRST COMPLAINT ON MY CAR WHILE AGO..... EVERY SINGLE THING THATS HAPPENED TO HER, HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD TO NEVER BUY A GRANDAM....BUT I COULDNT REALLY AFFORD ANYTHING ELSE. I NEEDED SOMETHING RELIABLE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I BOUGHT MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. I HAVE HAD LITTLE SMALL PROBLEMS, BUT NOTHING BIG TIL ABOUT 5 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I KEPT HEARING GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM MY FRONT ANXELS....NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THAT PROBLEM, SO ITS STILL OCCURING. MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STICKS AND GOES UP AND DOWN WHEN IT WANTS TO.... THE LOCK PAD ON MY DRIVERS SIDE, FELL OUT AND EVEN WITH IT, SCREWED DOWN TO THE DOOR PANEL, STILL WONT WORK RIGHT. THE CAR RIDES REALLY REALLY ROUGH. HAD EVERYTHING FROM SUSPENSION TO AXLES CHECKED OUT, NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG....BUT I KNOW THERES SOMETHING MESSED UP BADLY .... SOMEWHERE. MY IGNITION IS MY BIGGEST PROBLEM THO. I NOTICED IT AT ABOUT 44 THOUSAND MILES.... SOMETIMES WHEN I WENT TO CRANK IT..... IT WOULD HESITATE BADLY AND SOMETIMES NOT START AT ALL. IT HAS GOTTEN ALOT WORSE NOW..... NOW ALL IT DOES IS CLICK LIKE ITS A BATTERY PROBLEM.... IT WILL CLICK SOMETIMES, THEN ON THE SECOND TRY, IT WILL CRANK WITH HESITATION... OTHER TIMES, THERE IS NO SIGN OF A PROBLEM. MY BACK WINDOW LEAKS AIR CONSTANTLY AND LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS.... THE TRUNK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS.... WHAT ELSE?? HOW BOUT EVERYTHING!!!! MY CAR SUCKS!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10202008

30,000 miles · Oct 29, 2006
Electrical SystemEquipmentLatches/locks/linkages

PONTIAC GRAND AM 2005, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE 2006. SINCE JUNE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW LOCK PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REATTACHED, BECAUSE IT FELL OUT. THE ENGINE STALLS AND WON'T START HALF THE TIME. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS AIR CONSTANTLY, …

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PONTIAC GRAND AM 2005, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE 2006. SINCE JUNE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW LOCK PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REATTACHED, BECAUSE IT FELL OUT. THE ENGINE STALLS AND WON'T START HALF THE TIME. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS AIR CONSTANTLY, AND WATER WHEN IT RAINS. BRAKES DON'T ALWAYS STOP AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. ALSO SOMETIME ACCELERATES WHEN HITTING BRAKE. ENGINE MAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING IT. CRUISE CONTROL ONLY WORKS EVERY NOW AND THEN, AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRES. THIS CAR ONLY HAS UNDER 36,000 MILES ON IT AND ALL THE PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING. I GAVE ALMOST $18,000 FOR THIS CAR (WHICH WAS WAY TO MUCH ANYWAYS, BUT THEY REASSURED ME THAT IT WAS A GOOD CAR, AND I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS OUT OF IT) AND AM PAYING $340.00 A MONTH. THE DEALERSHIP (ALEX MONTGOMERY) TELLS ME THEY CAN FIX IT BUT IT IS GOING TO COST ME. I DON'T HAVE A JOB NOW AND HAVEN'T HAD ONE SINCE JULY 2006. I AM EXPECTING MY THIRD CHILD, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER, I HAVE NO MONEY, AND THEY WON'T TRADE BECAUSE I AM UNEMPLOYED YOU CAN'T GET A LOAN WHEN YOUR UNEMPLOYED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172087

41,250 miles · Oct 11, 2006
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2006. SEPTEMBER OF 2006 THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY ITSELF, WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR IN PARK. I CHANGED THE BATTERY IN THE REMOTE CAR ALARM, BUT THAT DID NOT HELP. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND I AM NOT COMFORTABLE RIDING IN A VEHICLE WITH THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170555

153,000 miles · Aug 11, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE IGNITION WIRES FROM THE STARTER TO THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE RUBBED TOGETHER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V287000 REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: STARTER ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE IGNITION WIRES FROM THE STARTER TO THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE RUBBED TOGETHER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V287000 REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: STARTER ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA ODI #10165233

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2006
Electrical System

MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM IN DECEMBER 2005. SINCE THAT TIME, THE MAIN FUSE HAS BLOWN TWICE, LEAVING US STRANDED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 37 DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT AND IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCK. IT HAS BEEN EXACTLY 48 DAYS SIN…

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MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM IN DECEMBER 2005. SINCE THAT TIME, THE MAIN FUSE HAS BLOWN TWICE, LEAVING US STRANDED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 37 DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT AND IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCK. IT HAS BEEN EXACTLY 48 DAYS SINCE WE GOT IT BACK AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. WE ARE NOW FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN (IT HAS TO BE TOWED AS IT WON'T TURN OVER AT ALL) AND REPAIRED. WE ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM EVERYONE WE TALK TO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152393

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.

05V054000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 14, 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS THAT ARE NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FRACTURE UNDER HIGH LOADS THAT CAN OCCUR IN SOME DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BOLT FRACTURE, THE REAR SUSPENSION LINKAGE COULD DETACH FROM THE KNUCKLE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING COULD OCCUR, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

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.