2001 Pontiac GRAND PRIX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
308 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
98,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 207 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 308 complaints (21.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 8.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 65 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 56 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 14 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 9 |
Engine: 65; Engine And Engine Cooling: 56; Electrical System: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 10; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 47 |
| 150,000 and above | 52 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 52
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 101 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 26 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 33 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2001: 8; 2002: 18; 2003: 20; 2004: 24; 2005: 16; 2006: 16; 2007: 26; 2008: 30; 2009: 21; 2010: 11; 2011: 10; 2012: 12; 2013: 3; 2014: 19; 2015: 21; 2016: 33; 2017: 5; 2018: 6; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10053145 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)
THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD IS ROUTED NEXT TO THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSES THE WIRES TO MELT AND THEN THE CAR CUTS OUT/STALLS. THESE STALLS HAPPEN BOTH AT STOPS AND WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IF NOT CORRECTED THE CAR MAY STALL CAUSING LOSE OF POWER TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES AND THEN A CRASH. THIS FIRST HAPPENED AT ABOUT 36000 AND THEN AGAIN AT ABOUT 70000 MILES. I BELIEVE THAT IT TAKES ABOUT 30000+ MILE BEFORE THE HARNESS IS MELTED ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE ISSUE. IT HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE OF THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. I CALLED GM TWICE AND A…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154349 · 2006-04-01 (April 1, 2006)
I PURCHASED MY CERTIFIED GM USED VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2004- 2 MONTHS LATER I HAD TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION 'SOLENOID' REPLACED, FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS .SOME 100+ POINT INSPECTION . IN NOV OF 2005 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN DUE TO IMPROPER SHIFTING, THERE I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO DO A LOT OF TRANSMISSON WORK. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 2 DAYS. NOW IN APRIL OF 2006 MY CAR BARELY MAKES IT TO 40 MPH, CHUGGING ALL THE WAY. THE MECHANIC REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE IS NO FUEL PROBLEM AND THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE CH…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010697 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE STEERING ON THIS CAR EXHIBITS "PLAY" AT THE CENTER POINT OF THE STEERING (CAR GOING STRAIGHT, NOT TURNING) AND HAS FROM THE FIRST DAY I OWNED IT. IT FEELS AS IF IT HAS A WORN OUT STEERING BOX SIMILAR TO A HIGH-MILEAGE, OLD CAR WITH RECIRCULATION BALL TYPE STEERING BOX INSTEAD OF A RACK AND PINION. THIS PLAY CAUSES THE CAR TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THIS CONDITION IS EXAGGERATED IN RAIN OR SNOW/ICE CONDITIONS WHEN THE LACK OF STEERING INPUT AND "FEEL" CAUSES ONE TO OVER-COMPENSATE THINKING THE CAR I…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028888 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
WHILE MAKING EITHER A LEFT OR RIGHT HARD TURN THE STEERING FAILS. AFTER WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH IT BECOMES FREE AGAIN. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS SO FAR. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND CUSTOMERS PAY TO HAVE THE KNUCKLE AT THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME ITEM FOR 1996 THROUGH 1998 CARS EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEMS. WOULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE FURTHER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 43,054 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025192 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
WHEN ACCELERATING QUICKLY, THE FIRST SHIFT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GRINDS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030225 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE: IN OVERDRIVE AT ABOUT 55MPH, SUDDEN BANG. CAR STARTED BUCKING WITH MORE NOISES. PULLED OVER. OVERDRIVE NO LONGER WORKING, AS WELL AS FAILURE WITH 1ST, 2ND, AND REVERSE. NURSED IT HOME IN 3RD. CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH EVEN IN NEUTRAL. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. PROBABLE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT UPCOMING. ONLY 31,000 MILES ON CAR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100197 · 2004-11-19 (November 19, 2004)
1 POSITIVE TERMINAL COMES OFF DELCO BATTERY KNOWN BY DELCO AND GM 2 TRANSMISSION -BANG WHILE REVERSING OUT OF GARAGE CAR STOPPED WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION $2,700.00 , 47,000 ALL INTERSTATE DRIVING 3 ROAD NOISE CAR WAS TAKEN IN SAID IT WAS JUST FROM THE TIRES BUT NO PROBLEM FOUND .TAKE CAR IN AFTER WARRANTE RUNS OUT THIS TIME FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE TIRE ROTATION GUESS WHAT BAD TIRE PUT ON REAR WHAT BAD TIRE. NO WONDER USA IS DOING ITS SELF OUT OF TRADE AT LEAST WITH A FORIEGN VECHELE I WOULD OF GOT 60,000/ 6YEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071101 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MILEAGE/DATE COMPLAINT RESOLUTION 24736-10/29/01 RT FT POWER WINDOW REPLACED MOTOR REGULATOR 59454-12/5/02 ERROR CODE 20 ON CD REPLACED CD PLAYER ($537.59) 62469-1/30/03 RT RR POWER WINDOW REGULATOR CABLES WORN GEARS STRIPPED 62469 TACH INTERMITTENT REPLACE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR 62469 TRANS SLIPPING COMPUTER SAID NO PROBLEM ($1,050) 64406-2/25/03 WON'T GO INTO REVERSE REPLACED TRANSMISSION 70758-5/23/03 KEY WON'T COME OUT REPLACE SHIFTER ASSY ($510) 70758 RT RR POWER WIND…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,406 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016979 · 2003-05-04 (May 4, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 10/8/2001, ACCORDING TO RECORDS- BRAND NEW VEHICLE HAD UNDER 40 MILES. ON JAN 15TH 2002 I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY GOING 60 MPH AND THE VEHICLE (DIED) STOPPED WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OF ITS FAILURE. POLICE OFFICER ASSISTED ME TO THE SHOULDER I THEN WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK. CAR WAS TOWED TO HULING BROS THEIR TECH'S FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL PRESSURE AND PUMP WAS NOT WORKING THEY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK MODULE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED ACCORDING TO THE TECH PRIOR TO ME PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THE TECH'S TEST DROVE THE VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059014 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)
COOLING SYSTEM * TOOK CAR IN BECAUSE OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGH. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. FURTHER DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE LEAKING / LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAKING. THE SERVICE WRITER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET SECOND OPINION OR DO MORE RESEARCH. JUST DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS IN A BULLETIN IN JULY, 2003. I AM JUST OUT OF WARRANTY WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON VEHICLE (2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2001) . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 29,979 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059014 at NHTSA ↗