2008 Pontiac Grand Prix Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ignition switch unintendedly turned off the vehicle, and the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to immediately restart the vehicle. Occasionally, the contact had to wait for several minutes before the vehicle restarted and was able to be driven. The failure had become more persistent over time and the contact became aware that the failure mostly occurred in warmer weather. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 194,000.

NHTSA ID

11690909

Incident

Sep 18, 2025

Mileage

194,000 mi

Purchased the car in march and filed with local dealership to get the recall repaired for the ignition. 6 months later and the dealership says that GM hasn’t sent the part. It’s needs repaired now. I’m tired of waiting, it shouldn’t take this long to get a recall repaired.

NHTSA ID

11622229

Incident

Oct 21, 2024

I FILED A COMPLAINT IN AUG OF 2017. NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. MY CAR IS WORSE. IN THE SHOP AGAIN. THE CAR WILL DIE OUT IN PARK OR WHILE DRIVING IT. DIES OUT WAITING AT A RED LIGHT OR AT A STOP SIGN. IT ALSO STARTS WHEN IT WANTS TO START. THE ENGINE CRANKS OVER NORMALLY WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR, BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT START AT FIRST ATTEMPT. CAN TAKE UP TO 4 ATTEMPTS AND 15 MINUTES (GIVE OR TAKE MINUTES) BETWEEN EACH ATTEMPT TO FINALLY START. 3 AUTO PLACES AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHAT IT WRONG. THIS CAR CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT DIES OUT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11092569

Incident

May 4, 2018

Mileage

65,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT DARK HOURS WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AND LIGHTS JUST WENT OUT. TURNED ON BRIGHT LIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS WORKED. TURNED BACK TO DIM AND LIGHTS WORKED FOR ABOUT HALF A MILE.LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN TURNED ON BRIGHTS AND SAME THING AS BEFORE THE LIGHTS WORKED. I THOUGHT I SEEN SOMEWHERE A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I GUESS I DIDNT.

NHTSA ID

11044743

Incident

Nov 8, 2017

Mileage

122,000 mi

CAR IS TURNED OFF BUT HEADLIGHTS JUST RANDOMLY COME ON AND A LOUD FAN BLOWING TYPE NOISE UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ID

11033218

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

RECALL FOR MY CAR 14V400. I WAS GIVEN 2 LITTLE KEY RINGS FOR MY KEYS, AND A LITTLE BLACK RUBBER INSERT WAS PLACED IN THE KEY SLOT. THE RUBBER INSERT, BY THE WAY, ALWAYS COMES OUT (3 DAYS AFTER IT WAS PUT IN) IT WILL NOT STAY IN AT ALL. I AM VERY WORRIED DRIVING MY CAR. MY CAR HAS DIED OUT 3 TIMES AT A RED LIGHT AFTER I HAD THE LITTLE KEY RINGS AND RUBBER INSERT. ( I HAVE NOTHING ON MY CAR KEY HANGING WHEN IT GOES INTO MY IGNITION ) . I DO HAVE PROOF OF ONE TIME IT DIED OUT, ITS ON PAPER FROM SPITZER'S AUTO. THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY MY CAR WON'T START AT FIRST ATTEMPT, AND WHY IT TOTALLY DIES OUT. THIS ISSUE IS STILL GOING ON. IT IS REALLY GETTING WORSE. IT WILL NOT START ON 2ND OR 3RD TRY ANY MORE (WAITING FOR 10 MIN. IN- BETWEEN TRIES. ITS WORSE, IT TAKES 20 MIN TO 40 MIN IN-BETWEEN TRIES FOR IT TO START. MY CAR DIES OUT ON ME AT RED LIGHTS, ITS A SHORTER TIME PERIOD IN-BETWEEN TRIES. WHEN IT DIES OUT, TAKES 10 TO 15 MINUTE WAIT, TRY TO START IT AGAIN, IT WILL START. I DONT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR. I REALLY NEED THIS LOOKED INTO. FROM READING THE PAPER I WAS SENT EXPLAINING ABOUT THE RECALL .. I FEEL THAT IF MY CAR IGNITION IS GOING TO THE "RUN" POSITION, BY ITSELF, THEN THE KEY RINGS AND RUBBER INSERT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFO PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU .IT IS ASKING DOWN BELOW "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" ..I HAVE SEVERAL DATES, IT WILL ONLY LET ME CHOOSE ONE.

NHTSA ID

11014966

Incident

Aug 13, 2017

ANTI-THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM (PASSCODE 3?) FAILS TO RECOGNIZE AND ENABLE VEHICLE KEYS AS REPLACED FROM PREVIOUS (IGNITION) RECALL. CAR WILL NOT START, EVEN AFTER RESET PROCEDURES PER GM. VEHICLE STATIONARY. NEW KEYS CODED CITY MOTOR, GREAT FALLS, MT ELECTRONIC COMPONENT BLOCKS OWNER FROM USING DEALER RECALL KEYS.

NHTSA ID

10984590

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

194,400 mi

THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE 2008 MODEL DO NOT LOCK WITH REMOTE AND THE DRIVERS DOOR KEY ENTRY LOCK DOESN'T WORK.WON'T TURN LEFT OR RIGHT.ONLY ONE KEY ENTRY ON THE ENTIRE CAR SO YOU MUST USE THE DRIVERS SIDE KEY ENTRY.HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING CAR REMOTES AT $125.00 A PIECE ALMOST YEARLY. HAVE HAD CAR SINCE 2009.KEEP HAVING TO GET STRUTS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND REPLACE BRAKES ON THE FRONT WHEELS.THE LIGHTS ON THE GEAR PANEL KEEP GOING OUT AND ALSO THE LIGHTS WHERE THE RADIO STATION SHOWS IS DIMMED OR BURNING OUT.MY LEFT HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT.ELECTRIC IN THE CAR BASICALLY AN OVERALL ONGOING ISSUE.WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE IT DOESN'T REVERSE SOMETIMES.I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR THEN PLACE IT IN REVERSE BEFORE IT WILL REVERSE.THE CAR SHAKES AFTER GOING OVER 65MPH.SUSPENSION IS OFF.HAVE TO REPAIR TIRES CONSTANTLY BECAUSE INNER TIRES WEAR OUT QUICKLY.

NHTSA ID

10958652

Incident

Mar 4, 2017

Mileage

135,000 mi

UPON STARTING OF THE CAR UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, NOTICED A SLIGHT BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL, AFTER INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I DID NOT NOTICE ANY SMOKE OR OBVIOUS SIGNS, AND THE SMELL WENT AWAY, THIS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE OUT SHOPPING AT VARIOUS PLACES. ON THE FINAL LEG OF THE TRIP ON THE WAY HOME, I NOTICED THE SMELL BECOMING MORE APPARENT, AND THE SMELL WAS NOTICEABLE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT STOPS. ONCE HOME, I ONCE AGAIN INSPECTED THE COMPARTMENT, AND NOTICED A MELTED SPOT ON THE TOP OF THE FUSE BOX, AFTER OPENING, THE LOW BEAM RELAY WAS BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION AND FUSED TO THE WIPER RELAY. IN ORDER TO USE HEADLIGHTS, I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FUSE BOX DUE TO THE BURNT SPOT IN THE COVER AND THE FUSE BOX. SEE ATTACHED PICTURES. I COULD NOT ATTACH THE PICTURE OF PLASTIC DUST WHICH IS WHAT IS LEFT OF THE RELAY, DUE TO SIZE LIMITATIONS.

NHTSA ID

10930231

Incident

Dec 4, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

WENT TO CAR TO GO TO WORK AND FOUND DURING THE NIGHT THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD HAD BURNT UP WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OVER NIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10905475

Incident

Aug 29, 2016

Mileage

155,000 mi

WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND SMELT A BURNT ODOR, FOUND OUT MY LOW BEAMS WHERE NOT WORKING. ONCE HOME, I POPPED THE HOOD, OPENED THE FUSE BOX AND FOUND IT SMOKING. QUICKLY DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE. FURTHER OBSERVATION, FOUND LOW BEAM RELAY STARTED MELTING AND MUST HAVE CAUSED SMALL FIRE. BURNT PART OF THE FUSE BOX.

NHTSA ID

10896036

Incident

Aug 13, 2016

Mileage

161,000 mi

THE CAR HAS JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING, HAD TOWED TO 1 GARAGE (JULY 2014) AND THE COILS AND IGNITION MODULE WERE FRIED AND NEEDING REPLACED. HAD THAT DONE THEN 6 MONTHS LATER (DEC 2014) SAME ISSUE. NOW 1 YEAR LATER AGAIN COILS MISFIRING AND IGNITON MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AND NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10849986

Incident

Mar 13, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE KEEPS BLOWING THE FUSE FOR FRONT PARK LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. WITHOUT LIGHTS, CANT DRIVE VEHICLE AT NIGHT OR LOW LIGHT, INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. INITIAL INVESTIGATION/TROUBLESHOOTING LEADS TO FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PROVIDES GROUND CIRCUIT FOR MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS OVERLOADING AND CATCHING FIRE. PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH MANUFACTURER. THIS FAULT CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. FAULT OCCURS SIMPLY BY TURNING IGNITION SWITCH TO ON POSITION AND/OR ACTIVATING THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO ACTIVATE HEADLIGHTS AND THE FUSE BLOWS IMMEDIATELY. SIMPLY REPLACING THE FUSE DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DIAGNOSED BY GM DEALER TO VALIDATE PROPER FUNCTION OF LIGHTS/LIGHTING SYSTEM TO PINPOINT PROBLEM. LEFT ALONE, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CAN FAIL AND RESULT IN VEHICLE ELECTRICAL FIRE. SEE ATTACHED PHOTO OF FUSE BLOCK SHOWING DAMAGE TO AREA FOR PARKING LIGHT FUSE.

NHTSA ID

10811441

Incident

Dec 11, 2015

Mileage

98,500 mi

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, I NOTICED ON MOTION THE FORCE ON THE PEDAL STARTED REDUCING. WHEN IT HAPPENS I REPRESS IT AGAIN WHICH WILL BECOME STABLE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. WILL GOT STUCK WHILE IN MOTION( 55MPR). I TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, AND THEN I WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS MORNING I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC, THEY TOLD ME IT'S ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THROTTLE PEDAL AND SEAT.

NHTSA ID

10806510

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEW KEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO HER, DID NOT WORK. HOWEVER, THE OLD KEY STILL WORKED. A DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER GAVE HER AN ESTIMATE OF $604 TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND IGNITION MODULE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10677135

Incident

Oct 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,500. UPDATED 01/12/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10778706

Incident

Sep 5, 2015

Mileage

63,500 mi

2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY DO NOT REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALL THEY DO, IS INSERT A SMALL PLASTIC RING IN THE KEY, SO THE CONSUMER CANNOT ATTACH A LARGER KEY RING TO THE KEY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS VERY DECEPTIVE AND IT WENT AGAINST THE INTENT OF FIXING THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10732115

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

LOWBEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY QUIT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST RUN OFF ROAD. THIS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE GM RECALL #14291 CONCERNING THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE HDM WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE RECALL NOT COVER MY 2008 PONTIAC AT THIS TIME. WAS TOLD "UNDER INVESTIGATION". THIS NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED BY GM OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SINCE IT IS A DEADLY MATTER. SUDDEN LOSS OF LIGHTS AT HIGHER SPEEDS WILL CAUSE DEATHS.

NHTSA ID

10721703

Incident

May 26, 2015

Mileage

123,000 mi

WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND MY CAR JUST DIED. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THEY RESPONDED THAT THE IGNITION COIL WAS FRIED WHICH FRIED 2 OTHER IGNITION COILS AND THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. COST OF REPAIRS $700. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 65 MPH WOULD MY CAR JUST HAVE SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR DIED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CROSSING. NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR FOR 2 MORE DAYS BECAUSE PARTS NEED TO BE ORDERED, THEN FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714891

Incident

May 5, 2015

Mileage

106,000 mi

2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT AND VEHICLE ON STAR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS TURNING LEFT, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND A TRUCK HIT HER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE FRONT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10701574

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE APPEARING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO AN EMERGENCY LANE, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE FUSE BOX IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT PLACED A TOWEL ON THE FUSE BOX, WHICH EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ID

10683200

Incident

Feb 12, 2015

Mileage

41,000 mi

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALER INTHE TRI-CITIES AREA OF EASTERN WASHINGTON IN 2010. THE CAR MAY HAVE BEEN A LEASE RETURN. HOWEVER ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS WITH THE CAR WAS THE REMOTE STARTER OPTION. THE WEATHER IN EASTERN OREGON WHERE WE LIVED AT THE TIME WAS A LIFE SAVER. HOWEVER WHEN THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND REPLACED AT THE DEALER THE REMOTE START QUIT WORKING. NOT ONLY QUIT WORKING BUT IT EVEN DISAPPEARED FROM THE VEHICLE DIC. THE REMOTE START IS EVEN LISTED IN THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL. BUT THE DEALER IN MEDFORD, OREGON, AIR PORT CHEVY/CADDI CANT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERS IN MEDFORD 6 TIMES. EVEN DURING THE RECALL FOR THE KEY FOB ISSUES AND IGNITION SWITCH FIRES, THE DEALERS ALSO LOOKED INTO THE DARN FAILURE OF THE REMOTE START BUT THEY NEVER DID FIX ANYTHING NOR DO THEY HAVE ANY IDEAS AS TO GET THE THING FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672515

Incident

Apr 20, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HOOD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GAUGES FLUCTUATED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN WIRES WERE MELTED. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE BLOCK AND THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO THE FAILURE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO PERFORMING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,104.

NHTSA ID

10669172

Incident

Dec 4, 2014

Mileage

181,104 mi

2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX LOST TOTAL POWER TO THE CAR. DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE HAD GONE BAD. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AND DID A MAINTENANCE CHECK RIDE, THEY DISCOVERED THE SOURCE OF THE IGNITION MODULE FAILING, WAS THE IGNITION COIL, WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10653335

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

I PURCHASED A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX IN MARCH 2014 AND SHORTLY AFTER WHEN I TRIED TO START IT IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. THIS HAS HAPPENED PROBABLY 10-15 TIMES A MONTH GIVE OR TAKE MAYBE MORE SEEING AS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO DRIVES IT SO I DON'T KNOW BUT I KNOW IT'S ABOUT 10-15 TIMES A MONTH FOR ME. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS TO GET GOING SO I'M NOT STRANDED SOMEPLACE AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AN IGNITION PROBLEM OR A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS DUE TO THIS BEING A NEWER CAR THAN WHAT WE HAVE AND THIS BEING AN ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE ME OR SOMEONE ELSE TO END UP BEING STRANDED DUE TO THE CAR NOT WANT TO START PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659613

Incident

Mar 31, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi