Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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
CAR SHUT OFF AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING
"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.
PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT FROM JEFFREY WINGFIELD, P.E. DESCRIBING A VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK THAT CAUSED A FIRE.
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.
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.
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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
IA ]XXX]AND I AM ON SSI AND NEED HELP TO GET MY CAR FIXED, IT IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ON 9/26/14 I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL FOR UNINTENTIONAL IGNITION KEY ROTATION. THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED. BUT WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT BILL RAPP PONTIAC SERVICE THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AGAIN. IT SAID IN THE INFORMATION DATA THAT "START UP FAILURE DUE TO ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MALFUNCTION. REDUCED ENGINE POWER." I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH DID START UP. ON APPROXIMATELY 9/29/14 WHILE ENTERING INTERSTATE 81N IN SYRACUSE, NY, THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED BILL RAPP PONTIAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE AGAIN BUT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY FURTHER SERVICES SINCE THERE IS CURRENTLY NO OTHER RECALL FOR THE 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX EXCEPT FOR THE ONE WITH THE KEY ROTATION ISSUE. WHAT CAN I DO? MY CAR IS STILL SHUTTING DOWN IN STREET AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *TR
SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2013 THERE HAS BEEN FOUR INCIDENTS WHERE THE ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN WHILE IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TWO INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHILE AWAY AT COLLEGE WITH THIS VEHICLE. ON APPROXIMATELY 5/17/14, WHILE ON INTERSTATE 287 (60MPH) THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ON APPROXIMATELY 6/20/14 IN S. ORANGE, NJ THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING IN STREET TRAFFIC (28MPH). THE THIRD AND FOURTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON APPROXIMATELY 8/7/14 AT A STOP LIGHT (0MPH) WHILE WAITING FOR THE SIGNAL TO CHANGE THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN TOTALLY. ON 9/1/14 WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 81N THE VEHICLE TOTALLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, A MESSAGE READ "LOSS OF ENGINE POWER' CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72MPH AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THREE OTHER CARS AND A TRACTOR-TRAILER. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE ATTEMPTING TO PASS THE TRUCK WITH THREE OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND ME. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WENT BLACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CAR BEHIND ME WENT INTO A DITCH ON THE LEFT, WHILE THE SECOND CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ME. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE (3) HOURS FROM S. ORANGE, NJ TO SYRACUSE, NY. I WAS USING ONLY THE IGNITION KEY AND THE CAR REMOTE ON THE KEYRING. NO OTHER ITEMS WERE ON THE KEY RING. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE INJURED AND NO CRASH OCCURRED. I AM NOT USING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DISTURBING SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS AWAY AT COLLEGE. THIS IS MORE THAN AN UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION AS GM IS CLAIMING. PLEASE, I NEED YOUR HELP. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS. PURCHASE MILEAGE = 56,372, CURRENT MILEAGE = 58,824. *TR
ACCELERATING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN TRAFFIC UP 40 MPH, DRY CONDITIONS. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE HARD, I HAD NO ABS ASSIST. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HIGH ENERGY IMPACT. THE VEHICLE DAMAGE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE SCRAPPED AND NOT FIXED. BASED ON THE VEHICLE SPEED AND RATE OF DECELERATION, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGAGED AND THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IF THE ABS WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGAGED, I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE DISABLING OF THE ABS AND AIRBAGS. DRIVER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED ANKLE. *TR
VEHICLE STARTED DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL , VEHICLE THEN STARTED JERKING/SHIFTING HARD AND OVERHEATING, FOLLOWED BY VEHICLE SHIFTING FROM ONE SET POSITION OF DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, TOOK INTO SHOP TO LOOK AT TRANSMISSION WAS TOLD JUST A DIRTY SENSOR , HAD SENSOR CLEANED , ABOUT A MONTH LATER SAME THING, HAD IT CLEANED AGAIN AND THEN DEC 2013 THE TRACTION CONTROL AUTO DISENGAGED AGAIN AND THEN ONE DAY IT TURNED ITSELF ON AGAIN, NO THERE'S A COOLANT LEAK ISSUE AND OIL LEAK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER...[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP WOULD OFTEN LOSE SPEED IN CURVES, CLIMBING HILLS, OR AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED. I TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS QUOTED ONE PRICE FOR TRANSMISSION, LABOR, AND RADIATOR REPLACEMENTS, BUT ENDED UP PAYING OVER $4000. GWATNEY IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR HAS A HORRIBLE SERVICE STAFF. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO WORK OUT A DEAL EVEN AFTER INFORMING THEM I WAS QUOTED A DIFFERENT PRICE. THEY THREATENED TO CHARGE ME ADDITIONAL STORAGE FEES IF I DIDN'T PICK UP MY CAR. I EVENTUALLY PAID, BUT I WROTE IN DISPUTE OF PRICE ON THE RECEIPT. HERE I AM 9 MONTHS LATER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! GO FIGURE. *TR
ON 1/23/12, WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE ON A LEVEL LOT, MY 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX LUNGED FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE NOT DRIVE! I ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED! THE SECOND TIME IT LUNGED FORWARD SO QUICKLY I WAS AFRAID THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE FULLY APPLIED. THIS SECOND LUNGING INCIDENT DAMAGED/CRACKED THE AIR DAM, AS IT WAS NOW WEDGED AGAINST THE CONCRETE PARKING SPACE DIVIDER. AT THE SAME MOMENT, THE DASHBOARD FLASHED/LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE....AND THE ENGINE STALLED. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF..THEN GOT OUT TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE. UPON RE-ENTERING THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START! IT FINALLY RESTARTED ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. *TR
2005 GRAND PRIX 11,000 MILES CAR STARTED TO HAVE SEVERE HESITATIONS AND STUMBLING PROBLEMS, TOOK CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES BETWEEN TWO DEALERS AND STILL THE CAR IS NOT RIGHT, I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO 3,000 DOLLARS AND MY SECONDARY WARRANTY HAS PUT ABOUT 4500.00 DOLLARS ALL IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR NOW ONLY HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT, IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH BECAUSE OF LOOSING POWER AND NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, GM IS NOT HELPING RESOLVE THIS AT ALL THEY KEEP SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW, I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE FUEL PUMP OR FUEL PRESSURE BUT THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROVE THIS TO WARRANTY COMPANY SO THAT THEY WILL REPLACE IT, SO FAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM MY CAR HAS HAD THE " CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED, MASS-MAP-PCV REPLACED ALL PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED, COMPLETE ENGINE COMBUSTION CLEANING AND MOST RECENT THE TRANSMISSION, THIS CAR HAS BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE NOT KNOWING WHEN THIS WILL ACT UP AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT, IT HAS ALSO HAD THE STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED UNDER A DEFECT, I HAVE ALSO PAID INCLUDED IN THE AMOUNT I HAVE SPENT OVER 600.00 IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP COULD COST AROUND 700.00-800.00 DOLLARS BECAUSE MINE HAS THE PUMP, FILTER AND REGULATOR ALL IN ONE UNIT, PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS THIS HAS BECOME SUCH A STRAIN ON ME AND I AM NOT SURE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. THANK YOU *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHEN THE WINDOW DEFOGGER IS ACTIVATED AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND LOSES POWER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE O-RING WAS MISSING, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER DUE TO LACK OF HEAT. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE PICKED UP HER VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, SHE NOTICED THAT 100 MILES HAD BEEN ADDED, WHICH PUT THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT SEDAN VIN #[XXX] PURCHASED 12/16/2004. INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS/ LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL SUDDENLY JUST LOSES POWER. YOU CONTINUE TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY TAKE BACK OFF AT A GREAT SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY WITHOUT TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND ALSO WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR HAS LOST POWER WHILE TRYING TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR HAS LOST POWER WHILE TRYING TO CROSS HIGHWAYS. THE CAR HAS LOST POWER WHILE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. GMC HAS PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. 12/30/2004 [XXX]-MODULE, POWERTRAIN CONTROL-ENGINE REPROGRAMMING. 01/24/2005 [XXX]-SOLENOID,PRESSURE CONTROL-REPLACED. 02/04/2005 [XXX]-MODULE, PCM/VCM-REPLACED. 02/14/2005 [XXX]-PEDAL,ACCELERATOR-REPLACED. DEALERSHIP PURCHASED FROM CAPITAL BUICK-PONTIAC-GMC 225-293-3500. DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO GO DIRECT TO PONTIAC WITH THE PROBLEM. HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH PONTIAC SINCE 02/15/05. PONTIAC ADVISED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND SEE IF ANY OTHER GRAND PRI WAS REPORTING LIKE PROBLEMS. SO FAR THE ONLY ADVICE FROM PONTIAC IS THEY WANT US TO COME IN AND TAKE ANOTHER GRAND PRIX OFF THE LOT AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS CAR TO DUPLICATE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS DID NOT IMPRESS ME AT ALL. SO AFTER WAITING FOR 2-1/2 MONTHS FOR PONTIAC TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I HAVE DECIDED TO REPORT THIS TO NHTSA. *AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
"CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE" HAS APPEARED AT LEAST 12 TIMES ON THE DRIVER'S MESSAGE CONSOLE THAT I HAVE DOCUMENTED. IT IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY THE FAN BLOWER REPEATEDLY CUTTING IN AND OUT WHEN TURNED ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME THE FAN IS TURNED ON. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED AT LAMBERT PONTIAC-BUICK IN CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, AND THEY STATED THEY RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. ALSO, ONE TIME WHILE ACCELERATING IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENGINE WERE ABOUT TO CUT OFF, BUT IT DID NOT. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 3200 MILES ON IT.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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