2008 Pontiac GRAND PRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF BRAKE AND I HIT A CURB. THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF WHICH ALSO SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. MY INSURANCE AND BODY SHOP SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DAMAGE TO THE CAR TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,597 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234403 at NHTSA ↗

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX FROM ENTERPRISE USED CAR. THEY LET ME DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK, IT WAS COMFORTABLE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HOME ON THE FREEWAY, IT STARTED TO SHAKE REALLY BAD. WHEN I GOT OFF OF THE FREEWAY I COULD HEAR THIS THUNK IN THE BACK TIRE. SO THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT BACK AND TOLD THEM I DON'T WANT THIS CAR SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH IT. SO THEY PUT IT IN THE SHOP, AND I TEST DROVE OTHER VEHICLES. THIS TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS. AT THE END OF THE WEEK, I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING I LIKED. THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS DON…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,503 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238322 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE PAINT BEGAN PEELING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO ACID RAIN AND THEY OFFERED TO RE-PAINT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO FELT A HARD VIBRATION WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATING TO 55-65 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 800.

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247614 at NHTSA ↗

ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR TURNS THE AIRBAG "OFF" EVEN THOUGH AN ADULT OF SUITABLE WEIGHT WHO IS PROPERLY SEATED IN THE SEAT IS PRESENT. THE PROBLEM IS USUALLY (BUT NOW ALWAYS) CORRECTED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. TWO DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE, DETECT AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT. THIS PROBLEM EXPOSES THE FRONT ADULT PASSENGER TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND THE AIR BAG IS NOT ACTIVATED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY SENSOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,256 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253730 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR VIVA TOURING TIRES, SIZE P205/70R15. IN JULY OF 2008, THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO WAL-MART FOR A TIRE ROTATION. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEEL BELT FAILED INSIDE THE RUBBER OF TWO TIRES. THE REPAIR WILL NOT BE MADE FOR FREE AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $40 TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE TIRES. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256630 at NHTSA ↗

P-0411 CODE; AIR CONTROL VALVE SOLENOID. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT GOING ON AND THEN WOULD GO OFF. THIS PROCESS REPEATED A FEW TIMES. BOUGHT NEW GAS CAP A FEW TIMES. FINALLY, LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE AIR CONTROL VALVE SOLENOID AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. HTTP://AUTOFORUM.CLASSIFIEDS1000.COM/PONTIAC-GRAND_PRIX/SECONDARY_AIR_PUMP HAS SOME LISTINGS. IF YOU SEARCH SECONDARY AIR PU…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290711 at NHTSA ↗

2008 GRAND PRIX GXP FRONT WHEEL CRACKED, LOSING AIR WITH 24K MILES. THE WEEK BEFORE IT WAS BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. TOTAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES 1,200.00 IN TWO WEEKS. I FIND THIS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR WITH BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE. JUST EXACTLY WHAT DO THEY COVER? LAST I CHECKED MY WHEELS WERE BETWEEN MY BUMPERS, AND IF GM CAN'T BUILD A CAR ROAD WORTHY OF A MICHIGAN WINTER THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SELL THEM HERE. THIS WOULD BE ALOT EASIER TO SWALLOW IF IT WERE A USED CAR, BUT NEW WITH 24K MILES IS ABSURD! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 24,436 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310079 at NHTSA ↗

RIGHT TIE ROD ENDS THREADS STRIPPED AT 43000 MILE UNDER NORMAL USE. *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322704 at NHTSA ↗

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.