RoadVitals

2003 Pontiac Grand Prix Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Dec 23, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 106 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Dec 23, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10811909
Incident
Nov 15, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES MORE THAN ONCE. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10610343
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Sep 9, 2013

TAIL LIGHTS ARE FILLED WITH CONDENSATION AND DO NOT ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. NO REPLACEMENT PARTS TO PURCHASE THAT ARE NOT DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10542739
Incident
Sep 9, 2013
Brakes
Filed May 24, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND TRAC WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10402607
Incident
Apr 1, 2011
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 9, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ROTOR CONTAINED A RUST LINE. PRIOR TO THIS DISCOVERY, THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE ROTOR WAS THINNER AS IF IT WAS SHAVED DOWN. THERE WERE NO PRIOR FAILURES WITH THE ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ROTORS HAVE FOUR BLACK CIRCULAR LINES PROTRUDING FROM THE MACHINE SURFACE. ALL OF THE ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE ARE FAILING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXCEEDED; THEREFORE, THE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ID
10273228
Incident
Aug 21, 2008
Mileage
17,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed May 5, 2009

ABS & TCS LIGHTS ON & OFF, STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME. SERIOUS SHAKING OF FRONT END. WHEN BRAKING FEELS LIKE PEDAL KICKS BACK. REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS 1 YR AGO WAS BETTER FOR A LITTLE WHILE, NOW IS WORSE. CHANGE FRONT AXLE TO A GM AXLE. I HAVE ALL REPAIR PAPERS, CAR WAS IN SHOP APPROXIMATELY 7 TIMES. SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10267816
Incident
Aug 1, 2007
Mileage
125,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jun 11, 2007

I HAVE A 2003 GRANDPRIX AND THE FIRST TIME I USED THE HAZARDS ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. IF I TURN THEM ON NOW IT WILL START INSTANTLY. THE OUTSIDE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE ALSO QUIT WORKING AS A RESULT. I'M TOLD THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE WIRING IN THE COLUMN AND THAT EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH A CENTRAL LOCATION WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY BY STEERING THE CAR OVER TIME IT EVENTUALLY REMOVES THE OUTER COATING OF THE WIRING. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT NO COST. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND IF THEY TURN THE HAZARDS ON AND WALK AWAY, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192876
Incident
May 5, 2007
Mileage
68,231 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 28, 2006

ABS BRAKE AND TRAC LIGHT IN A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX STAYED ON. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PONTIAC DEALER AND HE STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $925.00 TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. IT ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD CALL GM HEADQUARTERS AND SEE IF WE COULD GET SOME HELP FROM THEM. APPARENTLY HE RECEIVED WORD FROM HEADQUARTERS THAT IF WE HAD A 50,000 MILE CHECK-UP AT HIS DEALERSHIP AND PAY $425.00 THEN HE GM WOULDN'T CHARGE US TO CORRECT THE ABS AND TRAC LIGHT PROBLEM. OF COURSE WE OPTED FOR THIS BECAUSE IT SAVED US MONEY. BUT I WONDER IF THIS WAS A SCAM AND GM WOULDN'T HAVE CHARGED US ANYTHING TO FIX THE ABS AND TRAC LIGHT SYSTEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10158464
Incident
May 15, 2006
Brakes
Filed Oct 2, 2003

WARPED BRAKE ROTORS ON A NEW 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH ONLY 500 MILES ON IT. DEALER RESURFACED ALL 4 ROTORS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THEM WITH NEW ONES AUTO HAS LOST 35% OF ITS BRAKING POWER DUE TO ROTORS BEING CUT DOWN, CAR IS HARD TO STOP AND GM WILL NOT REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10041080
Incident
Aug 25, 2003
Mileage
500 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 25, 2003
Crash reported

DURING WET WEATHER THE BRAKES ON A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX REFUSED TO ENGAGE. THEY MADE HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING NOISES AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NONEXISTENT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023754
Incident
May 30, 2003
Mileage
8,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .