FaultScore

2005 Pontiac Grand Prix brake problems

16 of the 209 complaints about the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the braking system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 87,000 miles.

F

16

Complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes 11 68.8%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 1 6.3%
Rotor 1 6.3%
Caliper 1 6.3%
Pads 1 6.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 6.3%

Brakes across every Pontiac Grand Prix year

1988 64 7.0%
1989 85 9.2%
1990 121 13.2%
1991 94 10.2%
1992 48 5.2%
1993 73 7.9%
1994 53 5.8%
1995 51 5.5%
1996 19 2.1%
1997 61 6.6%
1998 40 4.4%
1999 19 2.1%
2000 33 3.6%
2001 13 1.4%
2002 28 3.0%
2004 55 6.0%
2005 16 1.7%
2006 24 2.6%
2007 10 1.1%
2008 12 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 112,078 miles ST. Louis, MO

SERVICE BRAKES

"TAKATA RECALL" MY VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN DRIVE AS I WAS MOMMY WAY HOME IT WAS STUCK ON A CITY STREET FOR 2 MONTHS DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. ALSO MY MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GIVING OUT MY CAR WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED FULLY IT JERKS AND SHAKES AS WELL IF I LAY MY FOOT ON THE GAS. MY BRAKES TOUCHES THE FLOOR BECAUSE MY BRAKE FLUIDS ARE LEAKING OUT.

NHTSA complaint #11075698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Spring Valley, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE IS UNSAFE. WHEN IT COMES ON IT CAUSES THE WHEELS TO LOCK, PREVENTS BRAKING, AND PROPER STEERING. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS IN THE RAIN. IT HAS IN THE SNOW AND EVEN WHEN IT IS DRY. ONCE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE WHEELS LOCKED CAUSING ME TO SLIDE INTO THE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN IT HAPPENED IN THE SNOW IT CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND SLIDE ACROSS THE ENTIRE INTERSECTION LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE PRESENT. AND YES, I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND LIGHTLY TAPPED THE BREAKS AT THE STOP SIGN. WHEN I REMEMBER TO TURN THE BUTTON OFF AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN BUT SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO REMEMBER SINCE IT IS AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. THE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED I WAS EITHER TURNING ON COMING TO A STOP AND SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT HAS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREETS, FREEWAYS, PARKING LOTS, NEIGHBORHOOD STOP SIGNS, AND DRIVEWAYS. THIS HAS BEEN RANDOMLY HAPPENING THE ENTIRE 5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10860616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,000 miles Browerville, MN

SERVICE BRAKES

MY CAR HAS BEEN ACTING UP FOR A WHILE. IT STARTED WITH GAUGES AND INFO CENTER FLICKERING WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THAN STARTED DOING THIS THING WHEN YOU START IT AND LET OFF ON THE KEY IT CONTINUES TO TURN ENGINE OVER. I RECEIVED THE LETTER FOR THE RECALL AND TOOK IT IN. I TOLD DEALER WHAT IT WAS DOING AND THEY SNAPPED BACK AND SAID THAT WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. I SAID OH I THOUGHT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM THEY SAID NO. THEY TOOK MY KEYS PUT THEIR STUPID INSERTS IN AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I HAVE BEEN NERVOUS ABOUT IT AND THAN TODAY IT HAPPENED GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65MPH AND EVERYTHING SHUT OFF!!! NO AIR BAGS NO POWER STEERING NO POWER BRAKES LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AND COST TO SHOULDER SHUT KEY OFF RESTARTED CAR EVERYTHING FINE AGAIN. KEY NEVER TURNED TO OFF POSITION. THE SWITCH ITSELF IS THE PROBLEM. WHY DID SOME GET A NEW SWITCH AND ALL I GET IS A KEY UPGRADE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND I FEEL THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE REALLY PROBLEM. I CAN NOT LET ANYONE IN MY FAMILY DRIVE THIS CAR. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR RESPONSE.

NHTSA complaint #10712325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Niles, OH

SERVICE BRAKES

IA ]XXX]AND I AM ON SSI AND NEED HELP TO GET MY CAR FIXED, IT IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10651943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Lincoln, MI

SERVICE BRAKES

COMING TO A STOP AROUND 5-10 MPH AND BRAKE PEDDLE WILL DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR LIKE IT'S LOSING PRESSURE AND MAKE A SOUND LIKE THE ABS KICKING IN AND IT'S RANDOM WHEN IT DOES IT.

NHTSA complaint #10651717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE SEIZED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THREE VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING TO THE CHEST AREA WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO CRASHES WITH THE SAME FAILURE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO RETRY STARTING THE VEHICLE FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10643718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 179,000 miles Sanford, FL Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE MERGING ONTO AN EXIT RAMP, THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HYDROPLANE, SPIN AROUND, AND CRASH INTO A POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

NHTSA complaint #10637253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moss Point, MS

SERVICE BRAKES

ABS TRACTION CONTROL,ANTI -SKID LIGHTS COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME .THAN I REPLACED PADS (FRONT AND BACK) REPLACED CALIPER, LIGHTS COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND FRONT MAKES NOISE ,FELLS LIKE BRAKES ARE GRABBING AS IF THEY WANT TO LOCK UP.

NHTSA complaint #10619245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Livonia, MI Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES

ACCELERATING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN TRAFFIC UP 40 MPH, DRY CONDITIONS. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE HARD, I HAD NO ABS ASSIST. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HIGH ENERGY IMPACT. THE VEHICLE DAMAGE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE SCRAPPED AND NOT FIXED. BASED ON THE VEHICLE SPEED AND RATE OF DECELERATION, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGAGED AND THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IF THE ABS WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGAGED, I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE DISABLING OF THE ABS AND AIRBAGS. DRIVER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED ANKLE.

NHTSA complaint #10615923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Farmington, MI

SERVICE BRAKES

THE ISSUE THAT MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX IS HAVING IS THAT ITS THE ABS/ TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM STAYS ON AND IS HAZARD WHEN IT IS WORKING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED TO CHECK THE HUB BEARING AND SYSTEM THE BEARINGS WERE CHANGED AND THE SERVICE LIGHT TURNED OFF. WHEN THE SERVICE LIGHT IS OFF THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNING EVEN AT SPEEDS 3MPH! WHEN THE TRACTION LIGHT FLASH I DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF MY BRAKING SYSTEM BC THE PEDAL PUSHES BACK AGAINST ME, AND IN SOME CASES THERE IS A RUBBING FEELING WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE. I NOTICED THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONLY FOR THE PONTIACS, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MAYBE ALL W-BODY FRAMES. I DROVE A 2011 CHEVY IMPALA AS A RENTAL AND IT DID THE SAME THING WHERE THE TRACTION LIGHT WOULD FLASH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A FULL TURN THEN THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF WITH A LIGHT BRAKE DELAY. THE SAME ISSUE WAS RECENT (JUNE 2013) ON A 2013 CHEVY. IMPALA WHERE IF I MAKE FULL TURN THE TRACTION LIGHT FLASH. LET ME ALSO SAY THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NOTICED ON "DRY PAVEMENT" NOT WET SURFACES OR SNOW, AND ICE. IM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IM NOT SURE HOW MANY OTHERS MAY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM BUT I FEEL IT MAY BE SERIOUS ESPECIALLY WITH THE BRAKES NOT WORKING WHEN THE CAR IS TURNING.

NHTSA complaint #10520612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles Weatherford, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED SUCH AS INTO A PARKING SPACE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE THEN THE SERVICE BRAKES INDICATOR GOES ON. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE HAD IT CHECK TWICE OUT OF THE NUMEROUS 50+ TIMES IT HAS OCCURRED AND THE SERVICE TECH'S HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN THIS ERROR OCCURS IT ALSO CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO DEACTIVATE.

NHTSA complaint #10461413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elora, 00

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT. BRAKING ISSUE; WHILE APPLING BRAKE AND GOING OVER BUMPY GROUND THE PADS LOOSE CONTACT WITH DISK, PEDDLE SOFTENS MORE PRESSURE HAS TOBE APPLIED. HAS THIS SYMTOM BEEN REPORTED BEFORE?

NHTSA complaint #10286914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,381 miles Oakland, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO AN CERTIFIED AUTOMOTIVE CENTER TO RECEIVE A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BECAUSE THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED ON THE BAY BRIDGE AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. THANK GOD I WAS COMPLETELY OVER INTO THE LEFT HAND LANE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL HAD COMPLETELY LOCKED. THE AUTOMOTIVE CENTER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT DETECTED THAT THE MODEL AND YEAR HAD A RECALL ON INTERGRATED CIRCUIT CHIP DAMAGE THAT CONTROLLED THE CAR. SO THEY TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THAT RECALL SO WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I HAD TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL FEE TO GET MY CAR CHECKED BY THE DEALER. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JULY 2005 I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, SENSORS, FUEL FILTER AND HAD TO PUT ON ROTORS TWICE SINCE I PURCHASE MY MILEAGE IS 69,000. I AM ASKING FOR INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS CAR TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT I WAS SOLD A LEMON.

NHTSA complaint #10177583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,851 miles Brandon, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP REAL FAST THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE BRAKES WORK FINE WHEN COMING TO A SLOWER STOP. I TOOK VEHICLE TO JAMES RIVARD PONTIAC IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. THIS WAS LOOKED AT BY DEALER BUT DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL AT ALL CONCERNING ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED AND NOT FROM THEM. THIS IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY 2005 WITH 34000 MILES, I ALSO PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE OF THE ISSUE AND POSSIBLY COULD BE A BRAKE CALIPER ISSUE. THIS IS VERY UNFAIR TO CONSUMER AND A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. THIS SHOULD BE ON HIGH PRIORITY TO BE LOOKED AT.

NHTSA complaint #10157488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,011 miles Atlanta, GA Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I HAD ORIGINALLY ENTERED THIS COMPLAINT UNDER 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM BUT THE CAR IS ACTUALLY A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. SEE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND PLEASE RELIST IT CORRECTLY UNDER STEERING COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10051575 DETAILS: DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT, SHE CRASHED INTO HER APARTMENT. THE GAS METERS WERE DESTROYED AND ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE CUT. THE SPEED WAS NO MORE THAN 5-10 MPH. WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKE THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL CAR. *JB SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE CAR WAS CHECKED OUT BY THE RENTAL CAR COMPANY'S REPAIR SHOP AND NO DEFECT WAS FOUND. I CONTACTED PONTIAC AND GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION AND THEY CLAIMED IGNORANCE OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. I HAVE BEEN CHARGED $5,000 IN DAMAGES BY THE RENTAL CAR COMPANY FOR A CAR VALUED AT $9,000 AND $3,500 BY THE APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR REPAIR OF THE APARTMENT. BUT I COULD HAVE DIED FROM THE IMPACT WHEN THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. CAUSE: RESULT: OCCURRENCES: 1 INJURIES: 0 FAIL DATE: 07/12/2005 DEATHS: 0 DATE ADDED TO DATABASE: 7/13/2005

NHTSA complaint #10152537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Elsmere, DE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A BRAKE GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER NOTED THERE WAS HEAT STRESS FRACTURES ON THE BRAKE ROTOR. THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS. THE NEXT DAY, THE BRAKE NOISE RETURNED, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THERE WAS A REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE CALIPER WHICH MADE THE NOISE GO AWAY FOR ABOUT 7 DAYS BUT LATER RETURNED. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING 7-25, DEALER STATED THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS HAPPENING TO OTHER GM MODELS. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A SECRET TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BUT GM HAS NOT MADE A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM AS OF YET-GM IS TRYING TO DESIGN A NEW TYPE OF BRAKE CALIPER FOR THIS PROBLEM. CAR IS STILL AT DEALER BECAUSE CAN NOT OFFER A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM UNTIL GM COMPLIES WITH A REMEDY. CONSUMER FEELS THEY CAN NOT FIX VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10129905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

← Full 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix report