2003 Pontiac GRAND AM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
325 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
63,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 238 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 98 of 325 complaints (30.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 39 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 37 | 11.4% |
| Steering behavior | 35 | 10.8% |
| Engine operation | 30 | 9.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 98 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 16 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 13 |
Electrical System: 98; Exterior Lighting: 30; Vehicle Speed Control: 24; Air Bags: 17; Engine: 17; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 16; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 13; Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 48 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 52 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 39 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 41 |
| 150,000 and above | 23 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 48; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 41; 150,000 and above: 23
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 87 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 21 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2006 | 27 |
| 2007 | 33 |
| 2008 | 25 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2003: 21; 2004: 14; 2005: 28; 2006: 27; 2007: 33; 2008: 25; 2009: 19; 2010: 15; 2011: 14; 2012: 15; 2013: 13; 2014: 50; 2015: 19; 2016: 6; 2017: 8; 2018: 7; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2023: 6; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 37 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 35 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008091 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
I RENTED A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM ON FEB. 04, 2003. IT WAS VERY COLD, AT NIGHT, AND SNOWING HEAVILY. I TURNED ON THE REAR DEFOGGER. IT FAILED TO CLEAR THE REAR WINDOW, AND I TURNED IT ON AGAIN AFTER NOTICING THAT IT HAD TURNED OFF. ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED; THERE WAS NO PROJECTILE FOUND. MY WIFE, WHO WAS WITH ME WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND I BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE, YET WE ARE BEING CHARGED BY BUDGET, WHO WAS CHARGED BY THE DEALER, FOR THE REPAIR.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017008 · 2003-05-04 (May 4, 2003)
MY CAR DIES OUT WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,060 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020614 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
CUT HAND/FINGER ON DOOR SHEET METAL. THE METAL FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR WRAPS AROUND THE BACK EDGE OF THE DOOR AND HAS A VERY SHARP EDGE. WHEN CLOSING OR OPENING THE DOOR AND GRABBING IN THIS REGION OF THE DOOR, IT IS VERY EASY TO GET CUT BY THE SHEET METAL. ONE INCIDENT OF CUTTING FINGER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020978 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS 2/14/2002 AND 5/22/2003, MY GRAND AM LOCKED ITS DOORS. THE FIRST OCCASION, THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, KEYS LEFT IN THE CAR. WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR CLOSED, THE DOORS LOCKED. HAD TO HAVE AAA OPEN THE DOOR. SECOND OCCASION, MY 4 1/2 MONTH OLD BABY WAS ASLEEP IN THE BACK SEAT, THE CAR WAS RUNNING, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, UNLOCKED THE DOORS AND GOT OUT FOR A MINUTE, WHEN THE DOOR CLOSED, IT AND THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR AND DRIVER'S REAR DOORS LOCKED. THE ONLY ONE THAT REMAINED UNLOCKED WAS THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR. LUCKILY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021685 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH, WIRING. *MR THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, A BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, WIRING WAS TIGHTENED, A KEY IGNITION WAS ADDED, AND THE SWITCH LIGHTS/DASH COMPONENT(PROBLEM NOT SPECIFIED). WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH, THE LIGHTS WOULD ACT ERRATIC ALONG WITH THE RPM GOING DOWN. THE RPM AND LIGHT PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR ALMOST EVERYDAY AND SOMETIME THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OPERATES THE VEHICLE AND REQUESTED EITHER A NEW VEHICLE OR A REFUND. (MODEL GT) SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021705 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
THE SEAT MOVED FORWARD 1/4 OF AN INCH WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. TRACKS WERE REPLACED PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 6,462 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021803 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025719 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
THE INSIDE DOOR EDGE OF MY 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM IS RAZOR SHARP METAL. MY WIFE CUT HER FINGER DEEPLY ON DOOR EDGE WHILE HOLDING DOOR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025719 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V528000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Reported: 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM AND REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V400000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
NHTSA campaign record ↗