24 of the 199 complaints about the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the engine — 12% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 81,000 miles.
24
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
I WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A CAR INFRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES AVOIDING A DEER CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON BRAKES EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD A OIL LEAK RUNNING DOWN THE MANIFOLD. I NEVER WRECKED INTO THE VECHILE IN FRONT OF ME I SEEN ON DIFFRENT YEAR PONIAC WERE SIMULAR RECALLS WERE MADE.
NHTSA complaint #11364028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY FOR TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB KING BUICK GMC (5115 NEW CENTRE DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403) AND KEPT FOR TWO WEEKS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5020128648. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,837.
NHTSA complaint #11176152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STARTS OK AT TIMES,BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU DRIVE IT AND STOP SOME PLACE YOU HAVE A HARD TIME RESTARTING IT. YOU HAVE TO LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MIN THEN IT WILL START ,THERE IS A LOT OG PLAY IN THE IGNITION,WHAT CAN THE CAUSE BE
NHTSA complaint #10928039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEW KEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO HER, DID NOT WORK. HOWEVER, THE OLD KEY STILL WORKED. A DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER GAVE HER AN ESTIMATE OF $604 TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND IGNITION MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #10677135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ ISSUE ON GOING UPDATED 4/19/18*JB
NHTSA complaint #10782460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
REDUCED ENGINE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE LOSE POWER WHEN TRY TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW ON AND OFF. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO GET REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN CHANGED AND ALSO SENSORS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.
NHTSA complaint #10766222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MY GRAND PRIX RECENTLY STARTED TO DISPLAY A MESSAGE STATING REDUCED ENGINE POWER. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING RANDOMLY FOR THE PAST WEEK. IT ONLY HAPPENS AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR. THE CAR SLOWS DRAMATICALLY, AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. AS I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 45 MPH, I HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRAFFIC QUICKLY CAUGHT UP TO ME AND I WAS ALMOST HIT DUE TO THE CAR NOT ACCELERATING. I AM CURIOUS AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER AND FINDING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE FILED, OR HOW MANY DEATHS NEED TO OCCUR BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10759941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALER INTHE TRI-CITIES AREA OF EASTERN WASHINGTON IN 2010. THE CAR MAY HAVE BEEN A LEASE RETURN. HOWEVER ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS WITH THE CAR WAS THE REMOTE STARTER OPTION. THE WEATHER IN EASTERN OREGON WHERE WE LIVED AT THE TIME WAS A LIFE SAVER. HOWEVER WHEN THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND REPLACED AT THE DEALER THE REMOTE START QUIT WORKING. NOT ONLY QUIT WORKING BUT IT EVEN DISAPPEARED FROM THE VEHICLE DIC. THE REMOTE START IS EVEN LISTED IN THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL. BUT THE DEALER IN MEDFORD, OREGON, AIR PORT CHEVY/CADDI CANT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERS IN MEDFORD 6 TIMES. EVEN DURING THE RECALL FOR THE KEY FOB ISSUES AND IGNITION SWITCH FIRES, THE DEALERS ALSO LOOKED INTO THE DARN FAILURE OF THE REMOTE START BUT THEY NEVER DID FIX ANYTHING NOR DO THEY HAVE ANY IDEAS AS TO GET THE THING FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10672515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HOOD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GAUGES FLUCTUATED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN WIRES WERE MELTED. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE BLOCK AND THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO THE FAILURE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO PERFORMING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,104.
NHTSA complaint #10669172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ENGINE LOW POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
NHTSA complaint #10643645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER, THE CONTACT TRIED TO REGAINED CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES DURING THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #10639042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
DRIVING TO WORK 25-30MPH CAR TURNED OF AND COAST DOWN STREET. TRIED TO START AND WOULD NOT START. GOT TOWED HOME. TWO HOURS LATER STARTS SHACKED SPUTTERS. TOOK TO MECHANIC SAYS POSSIBLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DEADLY IF ON HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10620978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT. *SMD GM WOULD NOT COVER THE COST, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA.
NHTSA complaint #10618556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 10/7/14
NHTSA complaint #10619206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ACCELERATED TO ON RAMP OF EXPRESSWAY, REACHED APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. ATTEMPTED TO TURN CAR BACK ON. IT DID NOT TURN OVER. BATTERY WAS OK, ENGINE WAS NOT. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER. IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, IGNITION COILS, SPARK PLUG WIRES REPLACED. HEFTY REPAIR BILL. ONE WEEK LATER, ACCELERATED TO ON RAMP, REACHED 70 MPH, CAR JERKED AS I ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED RAPIDLY TWICE. GOT OFF EXPRESSWAY, REACHED SPEEDS UP TO 40 MPH. POSSIBLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED. BOTH SITUATIONS COULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10610152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EVAL HOSE CAUSED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. GOT IT FIXED AND TESTED AND SAME DIAGNOSE WAS POPPING UP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON.
NHTSA complaint #10593387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHEN I FILL MY CAR UP TO FULL TANK MY CAR DOESN'T START. THE IGNITION SWITCH TAKES TWO TRIES.
NHTSA complaint #10593391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ENGINE WILL AUTOMATICALLY STOP RUNNING WHEN DRIVING. THIS SHUTS DOWN THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. ALL BUT TWO TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR. TWO OF THE TIMES, THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO START - CAR WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. EVENTUALLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR STATED. OVER THE PAST YEAR THIS HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IN A CITY AT APPROXIMATE 30 MPH, COASTING DOWN A HILL, OR STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. HOWEVER, WE DID NOT TAKE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY VERY OFTEN SO WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS ISSUE HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. SO FAR, WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND HAD NO ACCIDENTS WITH THE CAR. SYMPTOM'S ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO TWO REPAIR PLACES AND THE DIAGNOSTICS WOULD NOT SHOW ANYTHING. WE RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY DETERMINED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODE P0335. THEY REPLACED 10456161 SENSOR AND EMISSIONS SYSTEM REPAIR. THEY ARE NOT 100% SURE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WE DO NOT ALLOW OUR KIDS TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF THEM BEING KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10577890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM CLOGGED UP MY THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT TURNED TO A BROWN CONSISTENCY AND THICKENED LIKE MUD. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COOLANT, DREX, CAN HAVE NO FLUIDS ADDED, AND NO WATER UNLESS IT IS DISTILLED. I DID NOT ADD ANY COOLANT OR WATER AND RECEIVED NO COOLANT LOW WARNING. I PREVIOUSLY HAD CAR WORKED ON ONE YEAR AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I WANT ALL VEHICLES EVERYWHERE WITH DREX FOR COOLANT RECALLED AND REPAIRED. DREX IN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS A DESIGN FLAW. I THINK EVENTUALLY IN A COOLANT SYSTEM SOME MOISTURE FORMS FROM THE HEATING UP AND COOLING DOWN PROCESS OF A RADIATOR AND CONDENSATION FORMS. THIS WOULD THEN GUM UP AND RUIN A CARS COOLING SYSTEM AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLE THE ENGINE TO BE RUINED. THIS IS THE SECOND CAR WHERE I HAD TO DO REPAIRS BECAUSE THE DREX CLOGGED UP THE RADIATOR AND MADE MY ENGINE OVERHEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10573673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
BACK IN DECEMBER 2012 MY CAR HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING CORRECTLY. I TOOK IT TO THE BEHLMANN GMC DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN JAN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND INFORMED THEM THAT MY CAR HAD STILL NOT BEEN DRIVING CORRECTLY ON THAT SAME VISIT I HAD THEM DO A DIAGNOSTIC AND BEHLMANN STATED THAT THE MACHINE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TRANSMISSION WISE THAT WAS WRONG. NOW THAT IT IS APRIL MY CAR IS FEELING LIKE ITS GETTING WORSIER AND WORSIER AND I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE AND ALSO ANOTHER CAR SHOP AND HAD THEM PUT THE CAR ON THE MACHINE. BOTH PLACES ARE SAYING THE ERROR IS SAYING MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND MY TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BURNING. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WHILE MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED NOT TO LONG AGO I WAS GETTING THE RUN AROUND SAYING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE WHEN ALL ALONG IT WAS INDEED DAMAGING.
NHTSA complaint #10505658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
EXCESSIVE LOSS OF OIL (NONE LEAKING), BLUE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST.
NHTSA complaint #10483321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE AIR INJECTION PUMP. THE AIR VALVE FAILED DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. THE AIR INJECTION PUMP AND AIR VALVE WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT GOING TO PERMANENTLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,550 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,650.
NHTSA complaint #10465199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AT A DIFFERENT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE WEEK AFTER THE REPAIR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS PERFORMED WHICH FAILED TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 1/3/11
NHTSA complaint #10379644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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 PUMP; PONTIAC GRAND PRIX CARS - YOU GET MULTIPLE HITS.
NHTSA complaint #10290711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.