RoadVitals

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
29
Latest Feb 17, 2026
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 142 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.
0
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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 exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 17, 2026

Low beam lights quit randomly, running lights did once too. This has happened multiple times so I switch to hi beams before I crash. This is a documented safety issue and recall should include my car.

NHTSA ID
11718556
Incident
Feb 13, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 7, 2020

WHEN I TURN OFF MY CAR MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT WILL NOT STAY OFF AND IT KILLS MY BATTERY. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR HELP WITH THIS AND IT SEEMS MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH THIS PROBLEM YET I SEE NO RECALLS FOR THIS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?

NHTSA ID
11363299
Incident
Oct 7, 2020
Mileage
143,360 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 5, 2018

2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHUT OF WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER WITH NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, OR GAS. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED 5 MINUTES LATER.*JS

NHTSA ID
11030969
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Nov 8, 2017

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 16, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED MY LOW BEAM LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON ALSO NO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I PULLED OVER SHUT CAR OFF CHECKED CONNECTIONS AND FUSES TURNED CAT BACK ON STILL NO LOW BEAMS. HIGH BEAMS AND FOG LIGHTS WORK JUST NO LOW BEAMS

NHTSA ID
11033500
Incident
Oct 15, 2017
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Oct 13, 2017

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 17, 2017

THE HEADLIGHT MODULE (LOW BEAMS) AND/OR FUSE BOX, KEEPS FAULTING OUT. DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS THE 3RD MODULE IVE REPLACED, AN NOW IM ON MY 2ND FUSE BOX.THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES, WHETHER MOVING, STATIONARY, OR ETC.

NHTSA ID
11015941
Incident
Jun 24, 2016
Mileage
125,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 21, 2017

LOWBEAM LIGHTS TURN OFF AT SAME TIME RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS AND YOUR "SAFETY COVERAGE" ONLY COVERS HDM MODULES TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS A TEMPORARY FIX (LASTS USUALLY 2 MONTHS) THIS IS WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES DATING BACK TO 2005 AND IF I GET IN A SERIOUS WRECK DUE TO YOUR NEGLIGENCE I WILL BE TAKING ACTION. I'M SICKENED YOU WOULD COVER THE COSTS OF A PERMANENT FIX WHEN YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE SUCH AT A HIGH RISK OF FATALITIES WHILE DRIVING. (THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REOCCURRING FOR THE LAST YEAR AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO MANY ACCIDENTS)

NHTSA ID
11000454
Incident
May 2, 2016
Mileage
115,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 6, 2016

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
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 10, 2016

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 22, 2016

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, AND SOMETIMES ON AGAIN BY THEMSELVES. THIS HAPPENS AFTER DARK, WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO HAPPENS IN EARLY EVENING WHEN HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE ON . THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW WEEKS . LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I SEE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS IN 2007 MODELS.

NHTSA ID
10897810
Incident
Aug 22, 2016
Mileage
159,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 15, 2016

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED TO FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ UPDATED 02/29/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10818139
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Mileage
77,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 21, 2015

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10790055
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 7, 2015

2008 GRAND PRIX LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. LIGHTS WILL WORK WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND WILL GO OUT AS I AM DRIVING OR WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. VIN SEARCH SAYS NO RECALL ON MY YEAR, BUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE IS IN RECALL FOR 2007 AND 2006 GRAND PRIXS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE NOW BEEN PULLED OVER AND TICKETED BY THE POLICE FOR HAVING HEADLIGHT ISSUES. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE HDM/HEADLIGHT RELAY FUSE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE TO BE THE FUSE SOCKET OR FUSEBOX ITSELF THAT IS OVERHEATING THE HDM

NHTSA ID
10788997
Incident
Nov 1, 2015
Mileage
129,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 30, 2015

LOW BEAM AND DRIVING LAMPS KEEP CUTTING OUT, STOP WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY WORK CORRECTLY THEN GO THROUGH A SERIES OF SHUT DOWNS. ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT I HAVE TO USE HI BEAMS TO GET OFF THE ROAD OR GET HOME.

NHTSA ID
10787167
Incident
Sep 15, 2014
Mileage
70,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 2015

THE HEADLAMP MODULE STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE LOW BEAMS TO GO OUT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING. I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECALL FOR CARS THROUGH 2007 BUT GM REFUSED TO HANDLE THIS ON MY 2008.

NHTSA ID
10786340
Incident
Sep 20, 2015
Mileage
105,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 27, 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
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 5, 2014

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS 1-3 TIMES PER MONTH & NOT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. GM DEALER TESTED EXTENSIVELY AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE IN SHOP. SUGGESTED I DRIVE TO THEIR SHOP WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT AGAIN, BUT NOT OPEN AT NIGHT! GM RECALL ON OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM 12-2014. WHEN I CALLED GM THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE LIGHTING ISSUE I AM SUDDENLY HAVING. THEY AGREED TO HAVE THE SHOP LOOK AT IT AGAIN BUT PER [XXX] AT 866-790-5700 X [XXX], IF THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT IN THE SHOP "HOW CAN WE PROVE THERE IS A PROBLEM". I EXPLAINED I HAD HEARD ON THE NEWS THAT OTHER GM CAR'S HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND WOULD I NEED TO VIDEO WHEN IT HAPPENS? HE SAID WE WOULD START WITH THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT. I AM WILLING TO TRY AGAIN WITH THE EXCELLENT SHOP BUT I DON'T EXPECT RESOLUTION. THANK YOU AS I SUSPECT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10662397
Incident
Aug 2, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 2, 2014

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. I COULD NOT TURN THEM BACK ON MANUALLY OR BY RESTARTING THE CAR ETC. THE HIGH BEAMS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC. WERE NOT AFFECTED. THE FOLLOWING DAY AND FOR 2 WEEKS THE PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR THAT I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT. AFTER 2 WEEKS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT RELAY MODULE REPLACED. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON OTHER GM MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ID
10661585
Incident
Oct 22, 2014
Mileage
77,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 1, 2014

WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING A PRE-OWNED 2008 PONTIAC, GRAND PRIX FROM MIKE SMITH BUICK GMC, LOCATED IN LOCKPORT, NY, I REALIZED THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD TURN OFF AND ON WHILE I HAVE A PASSENGER WEIGHING OVER 200LBS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPT. ON SEPT 22, 2014. MY CAR WENT IN FOR SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2014. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME HE RESET THE MODULE BUT NO CODES WERE COMING UP FOR THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND THIS WAS TOO EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING TO FIX AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE LEMON LAW WARRANTY. THIS CONCERNS ME AS A SAFETY DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS COVERED UNDER GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640645
Incident
Sep 15, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 17, 2014

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF DURING DRIVING. HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW AND HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES RANDOMLY (3 ON THE INTERSTATE). THE HIGH BEAMS WILL STILL WORK. JUST HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT UNTIL THEY COME BACK ON. VERY FRUSTRATING & WORRISOME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10625816
Incident
Jan 31, 2014
Mileage
108,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jul 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID
10610377
Incident
Jul 9, 2014
Mileage
99,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2013

BACK IN THE SUMMER THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK ON DIM AND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HDM MODULE UNDER THE HOOD. ON DECEMBER 23, 2013 THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK ON DIM AGAIN. HAD TO REPLACE THE HDM MODULE AGAIN. IT APPEARS LOOKING ON LINE THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY MY PROBLEM BUT OTHERS AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557444
Incident
Dec 23, 2013
Mileage
150,000 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 .