ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 148 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix, most frequently naming the electrical, steering and powertrain (other) categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 578 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2009 | 2 | 37 |
| May 2009 | 2 | 39 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 40 |
| Oct 2009 | 4 | 44 |
| Nov 2009 | 2 | 46 |
| Nov 2010 | 1 | 47 |
| Dec 2010 | 3 | 50 |
| Jan 2011 | 2 | 52 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 53 |
| Mar 2011 | 4 | 57 |
| May 2011 | 2 | 59 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 60 |
| Jul 2011 | 1 | 61 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 62 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 63 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 64 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 65 |
| Feb 2012 | 1 | 66 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 67 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 68 |
| Jun 2012 | 3 | 71 |
| Oct 2012 | 1 | 72 |
| Feb 2013 | 3 | 75 |
| Jun 2013 | 2 | 77 |
| Aug 2013 | 2 | 79 |
| Oct 2013 | 1 | 80 |
| Nov 2013 | 1 | 81 |
| Mar 2014 | 2 | 83 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 84 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 85 |
| Jul 2014 | 8 | 93 |
| Aug 2014 | 4 | 97 |
| Sep 2014 | 10 | 107 |
| Oct 2014 | 7 | 114 |
| Nov 2014 | 2 | 116 |
| Jan 2015 | 1 | 117 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 118 |
| Apr 2015 | 3 | 121 |
| May 2015 | 1 | 122 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 123 |
| Sep 2015 | 2 | 125 |
| Oct 2015 | 2 | 127 |
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 128 |
| Dec 2015 | 1 | 129 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 130 |
| Feb 2016 | 2 | 132 |
| Apr 2016 | 2 | 134 |
| Aug 2016 | 1 | 135 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 136 |
| Nov 2016 | 1 | 137 |
| Feb 2017 | 1 | 138 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 139 |
| Mar 2018 | 1 | 140 |
| Feb 2019 | 1 | 141 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 142 |
| Jan 2021 | 1 | 143 |
| Apr 2021 | 1 | 144 |
| May 2022 | 2 | 146 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 147 |
| Feb 2025 | 1 | 148 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical4522.4%
- Steering2411.9%
- Powertrain (other)2311.4%
- Engine2010.0%
- Transmission189.0%
- Brakes168.0%
- Driver assistance105.0%
- Airbags105.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSTEERING
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS - FIRES
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) INITIATED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN IN OCTOBER OF 2006 TO ADDRESS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND/OR CLAMPS THAT COULD OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED IN VEHICLES PRIMARILY OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES THAT EXPERIENCE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES:ALASKA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN AND WYOMING.AT THE TIME THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) WAS OPENED, ONLY 1 OF THE 33 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) WAS FROM A STATE COVERED BY THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN.IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST SENT BY THE ODI, GM PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT INCLUDED 6 ALLEGED FIRES AND 1 ALLEGED MINOR CRASH POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT. ONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRES IS A DUPLICATE OF A REPORT RECEIVED BY ODI.OF THE FIRE INCIDENTS, 2 OF THE 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER THE REMEDY DETAILED IN THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WAS PERFORMED.ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.IT IS UNDETERMINED WHETHER THE INCIDENTS WERE RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT OR WERE A BY PRODUCT OF THE REPAIR.OF THE OTHER FOUR ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS, 1 INCIDENT INVOLVED SMOKE ONLY AND NO VISIBLE FLAMES.BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, THE REMAINING 3 FIRE INCIDENTS WERE LOCALIZED EVENTS THAT PRIMARILY INVOLVED DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS AND SURROUNDING WIRING.ALL 3 OF THESE VEHICLES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED.NONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED.ODI IS AWARE OF 1 ADDITIONAL ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENT THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GM'S INFORMATION REQUEST RESPONSE.BASED ON THE CONSUMER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT, THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED BY A FRIEND AND THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP.IN TOTAL ODI IS AWARE OF 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS WHERE THE CONSUMER ALLEGED FLAMES WERE VISIBLE.ALL OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTENDED. ODI IS AWARE 1 MINOR CRASH ALLEGED TO BE RELATED TO A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.THE CONSUMER ALLEGED A MINOR CRASH OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY AND HAD DIFFICULTY NEGOTIATING THE TURN DUE TO EXPERIENCING HIGH POWER STEERING EFFORTS AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, GM INFORMED ODI THAT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL COMMENCE IN DECEMBER OF 2009 FOR THE ENTIRE US. AS A REMEDY THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES WITH V8 ENGINES AND THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE AND CLAMPS FOR VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WILL BE REPLACED WITH UPGRADED COMPONENTS.BASED ON THE LOW FREQUENCIES AND MINOR SEVERITIES OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS AND CRASH,NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.GM'S EXPANDED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE FREE REPAIRS TO VEHICLES EXCLUDED FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11642626
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2019
- Mileage
- 130,000 mi
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11477092
- Incident
- May 4, 2022
- Mileage
- 100,000 mi
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11464705
- Incident
- May 10, 2022
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11464113
- Incident
- May 10, 2022
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11412777
- Incident
- Apr 15, 2021
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11390706
- Incident
- May 22, 2019
- Mileage
- 200,000 mi
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
- NHTSA ID
- 11222502
- Incident
- Jun 24, 2019
- Mileage
- 168,000 mi
CAR SHUT OFF AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING
- NHTSA ID
- 11174345
- Incident
- Feb 4, 2019
- Mileage
- 70,500 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads. The J-35616-64B is the latest test probe released for checking tension or probing the .64 series terminals. The test probe terminal has been released in the terminal repair kit (J-38125-620H) located in Lear Tray 7 part number 963716-2. There are 5 terminated leads in a package part number is 13505346, which can be ordered through your normal General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales parts channel.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 142 | 1 | 1 | 47.2 |
| 2007 | 220 | 4 | 0 | 54.2 |
| 2006 | 239 | 2 | 2 | 57.8 |
| 2005Viewing | 148 | 2 | 1 | 53.5 |
| 2004 | 454 | 9 | 1 | 63.9 |
| 2003 | 106 | 7 | 0 | 65.6 |
| 2002 | 330 | 7 | 4 | 72.6 |
| 2001 | 308 | 10 | 4 | 74.1 |
| 2000 | 461 | 9 | 7 | 75.0 |
| 1999 | 412 | 8 | 6 | 73.2 |
| 1998 | 499 | 8 | 5 | 65.9 |
| 1997 | 810 | 9 | 7 | 67.8 |
| 1996 | 79 | 2 | 3 | 59.2 |
| 1995 | 169 | 4 | 1 | 59.5 |
| 1994 | 213 | 2 | 2 | 59.4 |
| 1993 | 131 | 2 | 1 | 58.7 |
| 1992 | 114 | 2 | 1 | 57.0 |
| 1991 | 172 | 6 | 7 | 62.8 |
| 1990 | 176 | 9 | 10 | 63.5 |
| 1989 | 139 | 10 | 9 | 60.4 |
| 1988 | 88 | 12 | 11 | 63.7 |
| 1987 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — |
| 1986 | 2 | 6 | 3 | — |
| 1985 | 3 | 2 | 4 | — |
| 1984 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.