2003 Pontiac Grand Prix: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 106 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (29% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2015
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Hi it happend about 2 weeks ago I stop to get gas in the car an when I left I started noticeing the car was running kinda of weird I get to were I was going an turn the car off for about 10mins an then tried to start it bck up an it acted like it wldnt I had to get a jump to get it barely started an when started driving it wld misfire an all the gauges on the dashboard came on an I cld hardly get the car up to speed an when I finally made it home an the car off my fuel gauge went from half a tank to full an the car wldnt start bck up”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2021
“Car was parked. I heard a loud "whoosh" noise and then flames came from under my hood. I quickly cut my battery cables to hopefully save my car. I received a recall notice but when I call the dealership for repair they tell me to contact gm motors since the damage (recall) already happened. Gm sent me back to dealer. Please help!”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 pontiac grand prix. Upon entering the parked vehicle, the contact noticed that the instrument panel was on fire. The contact did not see the fire because it extinguished itself. The fire and police departments were not notified. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Recall on engine pulled into driveway open hood car with smoking then it united fire there is oil on the drip pan but that's been going on for years never got a recall note in the mail”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2018
“Tl* the contact owned a 2003 pontiac grand prix. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked. The fire was extinguished by the contact. A police report was not filed. The failure was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The contact researched the VIN online and found NHTSA campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.”Owner report · Engine · May 2018
“Car was idling in a drive through and smoke began pouring out of engine compartment. Shut off car and popped hood and the engine was on fire (visible flames) underneath where oil would be added to car. Fire department was called to extinguish fire. Previous owner repaired 2009 recalled part but I was unaware of 2015 recall.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2018
“The car had a recall. The engine oil dripped into the manifold and caught fire. The car is totaled now. I was inside of a walmart and the car was parked outside.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 pontiac grand prix. While driving over 55 mph, the accelerator pedal would erroneously depress, causing the speed to increase. The contact stated that the vehicle did not have a cruse control option. The contact also indicated that the engine hesitated when idling. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact notified carmart in radcliffe, ky of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 pontiac grand prix. While driving various speeds, oil leaked onto the engine. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the valve gasket cover needed to be repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 192,599. *bf consumer stated recall was repaired but happened again, mechanic stated it wasn't done properly because silicone in place of gasket. Had another recall issued in 2016 an had it repaired. Within a month later, car started recall was not done correctly because it was silicone. *jb”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2017
“Tl* the contact owned a 2003 pontiac grand prix. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire while parked. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling) after the failure occurred. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 5 of these complaints and injuries in 9 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE'S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE'S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, ALONG WITH THE 1-3-5 SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. , FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. UNTIL THE REMEDY IS COMPLETED, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS (1) THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CAR PORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE'S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE'S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
How other years compare
Check your exact Grand Prix by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
NHTSA has 106 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. The most complained-about area is engine (29% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 100,100 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.