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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

102 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2014
Electrical System

MY CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ,HAD TO TURN KEY TO ACC AND LET IT SIT FOR 9 TO 10 MINUTES. FLASHING SECURITY LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AND CAR WOULD START. I CALLED GM ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THERE HAD NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO DO A RECALL. WHEN YOU HAVE A 89 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN …

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MY CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ,HAD TO TURN KEY TO ACC AND LET IT SIT FOR 9 TO 10 MINUTES. FLASHING SECURITY LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AND CAR WOULD START. I CALLED GM ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THERE HAD NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO DO A RECALL. WHEN YOU HAVE A 89 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN THE CAR AND IT IS 90 OR 32 DEGREES IT IS A PROBLEM. I POSTED ON THEIR PAGE ABOUT IT AND WHY GM IS NOT A CAR TO BUY. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT PEOPLE! IF YOU GOOGLE IT THERE ARE STORIES ABOUT IT FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE (HAD)THE PROBLEM. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SWITCH PUT IN, WHICH I DID. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568095

90,000 miles · May 26, 2013
Electrical System

SECURITY SYSTEM FAILURE- ACCORDING TO A >120 PAGE ONLINE FORUM, MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING A PASSLOCK FAILURE. I TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, NOTHING HAPPENS, THE CAR DOES NOT START. THEN, IN THE SAME DAY, I CAN TRY STARTING THE CAR AGAIN, AND IT WILL START. THE NEXT DAY, SAME THING, TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513583

49,000 miles · Sep 26, 2012
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE REGULATOR HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE REGULATOR HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10477200

88,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
SteeringStructureSuspension

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO SEE IF THEY COULD TELL ME WHY MY STEERING KEPT GOING TO THE LEFT SIDE AND BECAUSE I KEPT HEARING A POPPING NOISE, WHILE AT THE AUTO STORE THEY LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE MAN TOLD ME LOOKED LIKE THE FRAME WAS RUSTED, AND NOT TO DRIVE IT, AFTER CALLING A TOW TRUCK THE TOW TRUCK DR…

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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO SEE IF THEY COULD TELL ME WHY MY STEERING KEPT GOING TO THE LEFT SIDE AND BECAUSE I KEPT HEARING A POPPING NOISE, WHILE AT THE AUTO STORE THEY LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE MAN TOLD ME LOOKED LIKE THE FRAME WAS RUSTED, AND NOT TO DRIVE IT, AFTER CALLING A TOW TRUCK THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAID THE ENGINE CROSSMEMBER BAR /CRADLE WAS RUSTED OUT WHICH HELD THE RACK AND PINION STEERING, TOWED IT TO AN AUTO BODY PLACE WHICH INFORMED ME TO CALL GENERAL MOTORS, CALLED GENERAL MOTORS THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP,AND IT IS NOW AT A GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP, WAITING TO SEE WHAT GENERAL MOTORS IS GOING TO DO, DEALERSHIP ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE CROSSMEBER BAR WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, WHICH IS WHY THE STEERING WENT HAYWIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469050

119,764 miles · Feb 3, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR PRIOR, THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR PRIOR, THE VEHICLE STALLED RIGHT AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,764 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,479.

NHTSA ODI #10446399

68,000 miles · Jan 5, 2012
Electrical System

MY 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF NOW HAS FAILED TO START EVERY TIME. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON, WHICH SOMETIMES IS A FEW SECONDS OR MINUTES. ASIDE FROM THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HAZARD SWITCH TWICE NOW BECAUSE MY BLINKERS DON'T BLINK THEY STAY SOLI…

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MY 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF NOW HAS FAILED TO START EVERY TIME. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON, WHICH SOMETIMES IS A FEW SECONDS OR MINUTES. ASIDE FROM THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HAZARD SWITCH TWICE NOW BECAUSE MY BLINKERS DON'T BLINK THEY STAY SOLID. THE CAR RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT, WITH NO WARNING AND CAN ONLY NOTICE BECAUSE THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK. RECENTLY THE CHIMING NOISE WHEN PROGRAMMING THE CLOCK SOUNDS OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND THE DOORS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES OVER AND OVER FOR AWHILE. NOW HOWEVER THE DOORS ARE PERMANENTLY LOCKED ONCE THE CAR HITS THE REQUIRED SAFETY SPEED AND DO NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND KEY TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION, SO IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS IS WITH THE KEY FAB BECAUSE THE INTERIOR AUTOMATIC LOCKS DO NOT WORK NOR THE MANUAL LOCKS EITHER. THIS CAR HAS HAD MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAN ANY CAR I HAVE HEARD OF UNTIL RESEARCHING THE ISSUES AND REALIZING THAT THESE ARE COMMON GM PROBLEMS ON CERTAIN MODELS AND MANUFACTURED YEARS AND GM REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442534

28,000 miles · Nov 13, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHASED MY 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE USED IN MAY OF 2008 WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST ISSUE BEGAN ONLY ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE. FIRST THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK...A FEW WEEKS LATER, THAT WAS NO LONGER A PROBLEM. THEN THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING. VERY RANDOM, SOMETIMES IT WOULD START AFTER A FEW TRIES, SOM…

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE USED IN MAY OF 2008 WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST ISSUE BEGAN ONLY ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE. FIRST THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK...A FEW WEEKS LATER, THAT WAS NO LONGER A PROBLEM. THEN THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING. VERY RANDOM, SOMETIMES IT WOULD START AFTER A FEW TRIES, SOMETIMES IT WOULD START AFTER 30 MINUTES. THEN IT GOT WORSE. THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AS I WAS DRIVING...NO WARNING AT ALL...JUST TURNED OFF AS IF I TURNED THE KEY OFF. THIS ALSO IS EXTREMELY RANDOM..MECHANICS HAVE CHECKED MY FUEL PUMP PRESSURE, CLEANED THE LINES TWICE...I WAS TOLD THE PRESSURE WAS RIGHT TO SPECIFICATIONS. IT HAS BEEN 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE THE CAR..COULD NOT AFFORD TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER. I CHECKED AND CLEANED THE FUSES RELATED TO THE IGNITION..AFTER I DID THAT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS MY CAR DID NOT SHUT OFF. THAT LASTED ABOUT 2 WEEKS, NOW IT IS STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN. I HAVE GOTTEN STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, UP ON MOUNTAINOUS ROADS, AT RED LIGHTS, VERY DANGEROUS. MY CAR STILL HAS TROUBLE STARTING AT TIMES AND NOW IT RETURNED TO THE DANGER OF THE CAR SHUTTING OFF. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOMETIMES GOES CRAZY WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF..SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. SOMETIMES THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN TURNING ON MY DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL..SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. SOMETIMES IT SHUTS OFF AT A STOP SIGN..SOMETIMES IT SHUTS OFF DRIVING 55 MPH. IF THIS WERE MY FUEL PUMP, IT WOULD HAVE DIED YEARS AGO. THIS IS GM'S POOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS PROVEN TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE GRAND AM AND OTHER MODELS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435398

132,000 miles · Aug 26, 2011
Visibility

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW IS STUCK DOWN. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IT HAS QUIT WORKING. IT HAS HAD THE ARM MECHANISM REPLACED TWICE AND THE MOTOR REPLACED ONCE. ALL OF THE OTHER 3 WINDOWS HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKED ON FOR THE SAME THING. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10421544

116,054 miles · Jul 23, 2011
Seat Belts

ON JULY 21, 2011 WE DROVE TO THE STORE. WHEN WE CAME OUT AND GOT INTO THE CAR (2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT. IT IS COMPLETELY RETRACTED AND WILL NOT BUDGE. WE DID NOT DAMAGE IT IN ANY WAY. NOW WE CANNOT LEGALLY HAVE ANYONE IN THE FRONT SEAT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT ENGAGE. …

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ON JULY 21, 2011 WE DROVE TO THE STORE. WHEN WE CAME OUT AND GOT INTO THE CAR (2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT. IT IS COMPLETELY RETRACTED AND WILL NOT BUDGE. WE DID NOT DAMAGE IT IN ANY WAY. NOW WE CANNOT LEGALLY HAVE ANYONE IN THE FRONT SEAT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT ENGAGE. I SCHEDULED A REPAIR APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, WHO TELLS ME IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT. ROUGH ESTIMATE ON COST IS $300.00!!! I AM CERTAIN THE GARAGE WILL WANT TO REPLACE THE UNIT TO GET FULL MONEY OUT OF US. I WILL KEEP THE DEFECTIVE ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10414851

56,492 miles · Jun 9, 2011
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting

MY TURN SIGNALS WOULDN'T TURN OFF AND THEY JUST CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK. IT COST ME OVER $300.00 TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I WAS NEVER AWARE OF ANY RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE READ THE DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. THESE CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. IF THE WERE, I WAS NEVER NO…

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MY TURN SIGNALS WOULDN'T TURN OFF AND THEY JUST CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK. IT COST ME OVER $300.00 TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I WAS NEVER AWARE OF ANY RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE READ THE DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. THESE CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. IF THE WERE, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR WHAT I PAID TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405803

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.