RoadVitals

2003 Pontiac Grand Prix Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
21
Latest Mar 22, 2021
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.
20%
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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 21 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 electrical

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

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 22, 2021

HI IT HAPPEND ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I STOP TO GET GAS IN THE CAR AN WHEN I LEFT I STARTED NOTICEING THE CAR WAS RUNNING KINDA OF WEIRD I GET TO WERE I WAS GOING AN TURN THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 10MINS AN THEN TRIED TO START IT BCK UP AN IT ACTED LIKE IT WLDNT I HAD TO GET A JUMP TO GET IT BARELY STARTED AN WHEN STARTED DRIVING IT WLD MISFIRE AN ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AN I CLD HARDLY GET THE CAR UP TO SPEED AN WHEN I FINALLY MADE IT HOME AN THE CAR OFF MY FUEL GAUGE WENT FROM HALF A TANK TO FULL AN THE CAR WLDNT START BCK UP

NHTSA ID
11404164
Incident
Mar 1, 2021
Electrical
Filed Jul 16, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. UPON ENTERING THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEE THE FIRE BECAUSE IT EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11111683
Incident
Jul 9, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 5, 2018
Fire reported

RECALL ON ENGINE PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY OPEN HOOD CAR WITH SMOKING THEN IT UNITED FIRE THERE IS OIL ON THE DRIP PAN BUT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTE IN THE MAIL

NHTSA ID
11109676
Incident
Jun 13, 2018
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2016

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, HEARD A VERY LOUD POP AS IF SOMETHING BURST, NO LONGER DOES THE REAR DEFROSTER, AIR CONDITIONER, HEATED SEATS, OR INFORMATION PANEL WORK. RUNNING DAYLIGHTS NO LONGER WORK AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
10852974
Incident
Mar 7, 2016
Mileage
110 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 3, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE KEY WOULD INADVERTENTLY RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHOUT IT. IN ANOTHER OCCASION, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE WIRE FROM SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID
10680818
Incident
Dec 2, 2013
Mileage
180,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 12, 2014

IGNITION SWITCH CIRCUIT FAULTY CHECKED ON LINE SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663999
Incident
Nov 3, 2014
Mileage
126,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 7, 2014

I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX THAT HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I WENT TO START MY CAR AND RIGHT BEFORE I PULLED OFF IT SHUT DOWN. THANK GOODNESS IT HAPPEN BEFORE I DROVE OFF BECAUSE MY MECHANIC FOUND A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE WIRES HAD MELTED WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. MORE OVER THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10631333
Incident
Aug 3, 2014
Mileage
164,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 9, 2014

THERE WERE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR BEGINNING WITH REAR DEFROST NOT WORKING. THE AIR WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH. THEN AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT I TURNED THE FAN TO THE AIR/HEAT OFF AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT NEARLY CAUSING ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THEN AT SOME POINT MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP TRYING. THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STARTER SO I HAD THAT REPLACED, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS NOT THE STARTER. FINALLY THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AMAZINGLY ENOUGH IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS ON ALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10621071
Incident
Mar 10, 2014
Mileage
78,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 23, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ID
10615605
Incident
Jul 6, 2004
Mileage
5,000 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
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 19, 2014

WHILE I'M PERSONALLY UNAWARE OF ANY CRASHES OR PEOPLE DYING DUE TO THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, GM HAS A WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF BAD IGNITION SWITCHES ON OTHER MODELS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS. THE EFFECTS OF THE BAD IGNITION SWITCH WITH THIS MODEL ARE: 1. THE A/C - HEATER FAN BLOWER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, AND THEN ONLY ON HIGH SPEED IF IT DOES. NONE OF THE OTHER SPEEDS WORK AT ALL. 2. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THE FAN MOTOR ON TO RUN THE HEATER OR A/C, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. WHILE THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THE CAUSE, AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, ONE COMPONENT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM EVERY TIME. YOU MUST REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE RESISTOR AS SOME SEEM TO THINK, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOSE WHO REPLACED THE RESISTOR ALWAYS HAD TO COME BACK AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOSE WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD FEWER, IF ANY, PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. I WRITE THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE SOMEONE "UP THERE" NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION. I SIMPLY HOPE IT DOESN'T FALL ON DEAF EARS LIKE MOST THINGS. I WITHHOLD FURTHER COMMENT. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ID
10592331
Incident
May 1, 2008
Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. ALSO, THE HEATED SEAT FAILED MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10470555
Incident
Feb 15, 2012
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 13, 2010

WHEN I TURN ON THE BLOWER SWITCH, THE BLOWER DOESN'T WORK AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. IT MAINLY HAPPENS ON THE LOWER SPEEDS BUT OCCASIONALLY HAPPENS ON HIGH SPEED ALSO. IT IS INTERMITTENT BUT HAPPENS AROUND 75% OF THE TIME. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I HAVE CHECKED ALL FUSES AND RELAYS THAT SEEM TO BE RELATED AND FIND NO PROBLEMS THERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10343005
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 29, 2010

I HAVE A 2003 GRAND PRIX SE AND EVERYTIME I TURN MY AC/HEATER ON MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, ITS 80+ DEGREES IN THE SUMMER TIME. I CAN'T KEEP DRIVING WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN ITS TOO HOT, NOT TO MENTION I CARRY MY FRIEND AND HER KID AROUND. I WORRY EVERY NIGHT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WON'T WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND OTHER TRAFFIC. I'VE READ MANY FORUMS AND WEBSITES CONTAINING PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE A RECALL. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND BLOWER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10340636
Incident
Apr 20, 2010
Mileage
116,562 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 23, 2009
Fire reported

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE FOR 2 MINUTES HE NOTICED SMOKE EMANATING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED. HE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE IN REFERENCE TO RECALL #09V116000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING .THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,985. UPDATED 05/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10266500
Incident
Feb 6, 2009
Mileage
116,985 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
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 5, 2007
Fire reported

IN FEB OF 2003 MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX CAUGHT FIRE AFTER I PARKED FOR THE EVENING. SINCE THEN, INSURANCE REFUSED COVERAGE FOR "SUSPICIOUS IN NATURE. IN 2003 PONTIAC CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY, GM'S 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WAS A REFUSED. AFTER COMPLAINING AGAIN IN 2006 PONTIAC CALLED AGAIN TO SAY THEY WERE NOT AT FAULT AND HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY. I ASKED THEM FOR CORRESPONDING VIN NUMBERS AND WAS REFUSED. I HAVE LOCATED OVER 15 ADDITIONAL GRAND PRIX ENGINE FIRES WHERE GM / PONTIAC IS CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITIES. ONCE ? TWICE ? 10 + ? I READ THAT NHTSA HAD BEGUN ANOTHER INVESTIGATION IN FEB 07 AND WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO FORWARD COPIES OF ANY OF MY MATERIALS INCLUDING 2 SEPARATE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS THAT CLAIM MY FIRE STARTED BY THE DRIVERS HEAD LAMP UNDER THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING RECEIPTS THAT SHOW WHERE GM SERVICED MY FUEL ASSEMBLY 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRE... *JB

NHTSA ID
10184196
Incident
Feb 8, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsSteering
Filed Feb 8, 2007
Crash reportedFire reported2 injuries reported

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ON A SUNNY DAY AT 35 MPH A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HE SWERVED IN ORDER NOT TO HIT THE DEER AND RAN INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. HE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, IT WOULD NOT OPEN. HE HAD TO CRAWL OUT THROUGH THE BACK WINDOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10182028
Incident
Jan 12, 2007
Mileage
87,000 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
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Aug 5, 2004

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS OCCURRED DURING A RAIN STORM . THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED TEMPORARILY. *JB THE WIPER WOULD NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TOWARDS THE A-PILLAR. THE DEALER READJUSTED THE LEFT WIPER ARM. THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ABOVE THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS OUT OF ROUND. . THE CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING WHILE IT WAS PLAYING. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH BROKE OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. *NM

NHTSA ID
10083330
Incident
Jul 15, 2004
Mileage
700 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 4, 2004

WHILE PARKING /DRIVING HORN MALFUNCTIONED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE HORN BUTTON REQUIRES EXCESSIVE EFFORT FROM THE DRIVE TO ACTIVE. THE DRIVER ALSO HAS TO PUSH IN A SPECIFIC PLACE FOR THE HORN TO WORK. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. *NM

NHTSA ID
10071819
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Mileage
12,000 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .