2005 Pontiac Grand Prix

Routine

Owners filed 148 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
70,500 milesMedian miles at failure

116 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System36
130
Power Train21
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission14
100
Steering10
000
Service Brakes8
201
Engine8
020
Air Bags8
505
Vehicle Speed Control3
000
Unknown or Other3
000
Suspension3
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Ignition14V400000
Filed Jul 3, 20145,877,718 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Steering09E005000
Filed Feb 17, 2009979 vehiclesDorman Products, Inc.

Defect. DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

Risk. A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Feb 13, 2025130,000 milesWI

The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact asked his daughter to remove the keychains and lanyards from the key. The vehicle was started after removing the lanyards and keychains. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Power Train
Filed Aug 2, 2022100,000 milesKS

The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that it was difficult to shift the vehicle into gear. There was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the transmission fluid was flushed and refilled. The contact was also informed that a spacer was missing. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 15, 2022PA

Other unknown motor vehicles are in the same area and and different times of day monitoring my vehicle. I get car washed and park I return I have spray on the sides, hood, and directly in front of glass.

Electrical System
Filed May 10, 2022FL

The contact owned a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (Electrical System) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list as she does no longer own the vehicle. There was no further information provided.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 19, 2021MI

THE CAR WILL NOT ALWAYS START. HAVE TO TURN THE KEY MANY TIMES AND THEN IT FINALLY STARTS. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT UP AND THEN SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY MANY TIMES TO START.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 29, 2021200,000 milesMS

WHEN DRIVING 30 MPH UP TO 70 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REDUCED RNGINE LIGHT VOMES ON AND THE CAR STARTS DECELERATING TO 5 MPH AND SOMETIMES CUTS OFF CAUSING POWER STEERING TO NOT WORK. THIS STARTED AFTER THE WORKED ON YHE IGNITION RECALL. I ASKED ABOUT IT AND WAS CHARGED $75 FIR THEM TO PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER. THEN WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE OVER $700 FOR THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY SO L LET IT SIT UP FOR AWHILE ONLY TO BE YOLD IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE GAS PEDAL AND WOULDN'T COST THAT MUCH TO REPLACE... I'VE ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS BEFORE L COULD PULL OVER. IF IT CUTS OFF COMPLETELY IT CRANKS RIGHT BACK UP - SOMETIMES OT WILL TAKE ON OFF BUT OTHER TIMES L HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT BECAUSE IT WON'T ACCELERATE NO FASTER THAN 2 TO 5 MPH, LIKE SOMETHING HAS TO CATCH UP. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT FIXED YET BECAUSE L CAN'T AFFORD IT.

EngineFire
Filed Jun 25, 2019168,000 milesOH

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED SMOKING I PULLED OVER ADD A FRIEND WHO WAS IS MAYOR OF THE NEXT TOWN OVER TO LET IT COOL DOWN SO THAT I COULD LOOK TO SEE WHAT IT WAS WHEN I WALK TO THE GARAGE I TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED AND THERE WAS FLAMES SHOOTING UP FROM UNDER MY HOOD

Engine
Filed Feb 4, 201970,500 milesVA

CAR SHUT OFF AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 1, 2018112,078 milesMO

"TAKATA RECALL" MY VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN DRIVE AS I WAS MOMMY WAY HOME IT WAS STUCK ON A CITY STREET FOR 2 MONTHS DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. ALSO MY MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GIVING OUT MY CAR WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED FULLY IT JERKS AND SHAKES AS WELL IF I LAY MY FOOT ON THE GAS. MY BRAKES TOUCHES THE FLOOR BECAUSE MY BRAKE FLUIDS ARE LEAKING OUT.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 16, 2017MD

I'VE READ ONLINE THAT THE VEHICLE YEAR MODEL AND MAKE IS SET FOR RECALL BECAUSE OF FAULTY AIRBAGS. AIRBAGS THAT CAN DEPLOY SHARP OBJECTS CAUSING SERVER DAMAGE OR POSSIBLY DEATH. I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS INFORMATION.

EngineFire
Filed Feb 13, 2017150,000 milesWI

PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT FROM JEFFREY WINGFIELD, P.E. DESCRIBING A VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK THAT CAUSED A FIRE.

Engine
Filed Nov 14, 2016171,850 milesMI

DURING HARD BRAKING, ENGINE OIL DRIPS ONTO THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNING OIL WHEN PARKING THE CAR AFTER DRIVING. THE VIN WAS ORIGINALLY LISTED AS BEING ELIGIBLE FOR NHTSA RECALL # 15V201, BUT A RECENT SEARCH DOES NOT LIST IT ANY LONGER EVEN THOUGH IT EXHIBITS THE CONDITION. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IF THIS IS NOT REPAIRED SOON.

Engine
Filed Sep 3, 2016134,300 milesMO

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND SAID "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" I WAS PRESSING THE GAS GOING 55 MPH AND IT SUDDENLY LOST ALL RPMS AND SPEED DROPPED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND ME. I WAS VERY UPSET ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY SON. I WAS TOLD ABOUT MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH PONTIACS. WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? AND IF NOTHING WHY? MY SON AND I WERE VERY LUCKY WE WEREN'T I'M AN ACCIDENT. WANT ANSWERS AND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL GETTING THESE CARS FIXED. IT IS VERY UNSAFE.

Suspension
Filed Aug 27, 201626,363 milesPA

LEFT FRONT LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM STARTED TO COLLAPSE DUE TO SEVERE RUST THROUGH. THERE WAS NO WARNING, ONLY A SUDDEN CREAKING AND GROANING NOISE AND SONE DIFFICULTY TURNING THE WHEELS WHILE DRIVING HOME ON COUNTRY ROADS. EARLIER IN THE DAY, WE HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. IF THIS CONTROL ARM FULLY FRACTURED AT THAT SPEED WE WOULD HAVE LOST ALL STEERING ABILITY, THIS CAR HAS ONLY 26363 MILES ON IT.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 20, 2016130,000 milesCA

THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE IS UNSAFE. WHEN IT COMES ON IT CAUSES THE WHEELS TO LOCK, PREVENTS BRAKING, AND PROPER STEERING. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS IN THE RAIN. IT HAS IN THE SNOW AND EVEN WHEN IT IS DRY. ONCE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE WHEELS LOCKED CAUSING ME TO SLIDE INTO THE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN IT HAPPENED IN THE SNOW IT CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND SLIDE ACROSS THE ENTIRE INTERSECTION LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE PRESENT. AND YES, I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND LIGHTLY TAPPED THE BREAKS AT THE STOP SIGN. WHEN I REMEMBER TO TURN THE BUTTON OFF AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN BUT SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO REMEMBER SINCE IT IS AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. THE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED I WAS EITHER TURNING ON COMING TO A STOP AND SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT HAS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREETS, FREEWAYS, PARKING LOTS, NEIGHBORHOOD STOP SIGNS, AND DRIVEWAYS. THIS HAS BEEN RANDOMLY HAPPENING THE ENTIRE 5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR.

Electrical SystemCrash
Filed Apr 4, 2016150,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED AND NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Engine
Filed Feb 4, 2016150,000 milesPA

I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE I AM GETTING A MESSAGE THAT SAYS REDUCE ENGINE POWER. TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND NO RECALL? CAR COMPLETELY DIES NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. I HAPPEN TO BE DOING 50 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WITH THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT. THNAK GOD WE WERE OK! FROM WHAT I READ ABOUT THIS ISSUES THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. BUT I ASSUME SINCE NO ONE DIED YET ITS JUST A COMPLAINT

Electrical System
Filed Feb 3, 2016PA

TAKATA RECALL.... KEEP GETTING A MESSAGE SAYING REDUCE ENGINE POWER. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND DEALER AND CLAIM THEY DON'T KNOW. CAR LOSES POWER AFTER REDUCE ENGINE POWER DISPLAYS ON VECHILE. WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH WITH MY THREE CHILDREN WHEN MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND CAR SHUT OFF. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN SEVERAL TIMES IN AND OFF THE HIGHWAY... IT DID IT AGAIN TODAY 2/3/2016 WHILE JUST SITTING AT A GAS STATION. I HAVE KEPT UP ON ALL MAINTENANCE IN THE CAR. CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHILE IT'S DOING IT. READING ONLINE MANY MANY OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE SAME ISSUE.

Suspension
Filed Jan 27, 201625,597 milesPA

PASSENGER SIDE REAR SUSPENSION STRUT (SPRING/SHOCK ASSEMBLY) SUDDENLY COLLAPSED DOWNWARD BECAUSE LOWER SPRING RETAINER RING RUSTED AWAY, ALLOWING SUSPENSION SPRING TO PUSH DOWNWARD AND UP AGAINST REAR TIRE. HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, FIRST HEARD A THUMP, FOLLOWED BY A DRAGGING SOUND AND THEN SAW BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. AT FIRST WE THOUGH A TREE BRANCH HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT UNDER THE VEHICLE (WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA). VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FROM DRIVEWAY FOR REPAIR. HAD THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY ON A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH OR MORE WE MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. EXAMINATION OF THE STRUT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHOWED IT ALSO WAS SIGNIFICANTLY RUSTED AND NO DOUBT IT TOO WOULD HAVE COLLAPSED AT SOME FUTURE POINT. BOTH REAR STRUTS AND DAMAGED TIRE REPLACED BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Dec 30, 201535 milesCA

I WAS BROADSIDED BY DRIVER WHO RAN A RED LIGHT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T I WAS TRAVELING W/B LANCASTER BLVD AND WAS COMING SOUTH BOUND ON A RED LIGHT THERE IS A TRAFFIC COLLISION REPORT IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO. *JS

20 of 148 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2008142131Fatalities reported
20072204182Fatalities reported
20062392210High concern
2005 — this page148250Routine
20044549582Fatalities reported
20031067370High concern
20023307961Fatalities reported
2001308101068Fatalities reported
200046191620High concern
199941281252Fatalities reported
19984998601Fatalities reported
199781091082Fatalities reported
199679230Routine
1995169441Fatalities reported
1994213220Above average
1993131281Fatalities reported
1992114260Routine
1991172640Routine
1990176910Routine

Compare every Grand Prix year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 3, 2014. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.