2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Electrical System Problems

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

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.

Mileage: 100,000

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

Mileage: 2,347,820

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, HEARD A VERY LOUD POP AS IF SOMETHING BURST, NO LONGER DOES THE REAR DEFROSTER, AIR CONDITIONER, HEATED SEATS, OR INFORMATION PANEL WORK. RUNNING DAYLIGHTS NO LONGER WORK AS WELL.

Mileage: 110

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE KEY WOULD INADVERTENTLY RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHOUT IT. IN ANOTHER OCCASION, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE WIRE FROM SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

IGNITION SWITCH CIRCUIT FAULTY CHECKED ON LINE SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX THAT HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I WENT TO START MY CAR AND RIGHT BEFORE I PULLED OFF IT SHUT DOWN. THANK GOODNESS IT HAPPEN BEFORE I DROVE OFF BECAUSE MY MECHANIC FOUND A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE WIRES HAD MELTED WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. MORE OVER THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOW. *TR

Mileage: 164,000

THERE WERE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR BEGINNING WITH REAR DEFROST NOT WORKING. THE AIR WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH. THEN AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT I TURNED THE FAN TO THE AIR/HEAT OFF AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT NEARLY CAUSING ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THEN AT SOME POINT MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP TRYING. THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STARTER SO I HAD THAT REPLACED, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS NOT THE STARTER. FINALLY THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AMAZINGLY ENOUGH IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS ON ALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PRODUCT. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

Mileage: 5,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES MORE THAN ONCE. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

WHILE I'M PERSONALLY UNAWARE OF ANY CRASHES OR PEOPLE DYING DUE TO THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, GM HAS A WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF BAD IGNITION SWITCHES ON OTHER MODELS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS. THE EFFECTS OF THE BAD IGNITION SWITCH WITH THIS MODEL ARE: 1. THE A/C - HEATER FAN BLOWER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, AND THEN ONLY ON HIGH SPEED IF IT DOES. NONE OF THE OTHER SPEEDS WORK AT ALL. 2. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THE FAN MOTOR ON TO RUN THE HEATER OR A/C, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. WHILE THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THE CAUSE, AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, ONE COMPONENT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM EVERY TIME. YOU MUST REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE RESISTOR AS SOME SEEM TO THINK, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOSE WHO REPLACED THE RESISTOR ALWAYS HAD TO COME BACK AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOSE WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD FEWER, IF ANY, PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. I WRITE THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE SOMEONE "UP THERE" NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION. I SIMPLY HOPE IT DOESN'T FALL ON DEAF EARS LIKE MOST THINGS. I WITHHOLD FURTHER COMMENT. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

WHILE I'M PERSONALLY UNAWARE OF ANY CRASHES OR PEOPLE DYING DUE TO THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, GM HAS A WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF BAD IGNITION SWITCHES ON OTHER MODELS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS. THE EFFECTS OF THE BAD IGNITION SWITCH WITH THIS MODEL ARE: 1. THE A/C - HEATER FAN BLOWER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, AND THEN ONLY ON HIGH SPEED IF IT DOES. NONE OF THE OTHER SPEEDS WORK AT ALL. 2. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THE FAN MOTOR ON TO RUN THE HEATER OR A/C, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. WHILE THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THE CAUSE, AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, ONE COMPONENT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM EVERY TIME. YOU MUST REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE RESISTOR AS SOME SEEM TO THINK, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOSE WHO REPLACED THE RESISTOR ALWAYS HAD TO COME BACK AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOSE WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD FEWER, IF ANY, PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. I WRITE THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE SOMEONE "UP THERE" NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION. I SIMPLY HOPE IT DOESN'T FALL ON DEAF EARS LIKE MOST THINGS. I WITHHOLD FURTHER COMMENT. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. ALSO, THE HEATED SEAT FAILED MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

WHEN I TURN ON THE BLOWER SWITCH, THE BLOWER DOESN'T WORK AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. IT MAINLY HAPPENS ON THE LOWER SPEEDS BUT OCCASIONALLY HAPPENS ON HIGH SPEED ALSO. IT IS INTERMITTENT BUT HAPPENS AROUND 75% OF THE TIME. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I HAVE CHECKED ALL FUSES AND RELAYS THAT SEEM TO BE RELATED AND FIND NO PROBLEMS THERE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

I HAVE A 2003 GRAND PRIX SE AND EVERYTIME I TURN MY AC/HEATER ON MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, ITS 80+ DEGREES IN THE SUMMER TIME. I CAN'T KEEP DRIVING WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN ITS TOO HOT, NOT TO MENTION I CARRY MY FRIEND AND HER KID AROUND. I WORRY EVERY NIGHT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WON'T WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND OTHER TRAFFIC. I'VE READ MANY FORUMS AND WEBSITES CONTAINING PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE A RECALL. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND BLOWER. *TR

Mileage: 116,562

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE FOR 2 MINUTES HE NOTICED SMOKE EMANATING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED. HE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE IN REFERENCE TO RECALL #09V116000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING .THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,985. UPDATED 05/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB

Mileage: 116,985

I HAVE A 2003 GRANDPRIX AND THE FIRST TIME I USED THE HAZARDS ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. IF I TURN THEM ON NOW IT WILL START INSTANTLY. THE OUTSIDE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE ALSO QUIT WORKING AS A RESULT. I'M TOLD THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE WIRING IN THE COLUMN AND THAT EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH A CENTRAL LOCATION WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY BY STEERING THE CAR OVER TIME IT EVENTUALLY REMOVES THE OUTER COATING OF THE WIRING. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT NO COST. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND IF THEY TURN THE HAZARDS ON AND WALK AWAY, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A CAR. *TR

Mileage: 68,231

IN FEB OF 2003 MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX CAUGHT FIRE AFTER I PARKED FOR THE EVENING. SINCE THEN, INSURANCE REFUSED COVERAGE FOR "SUSPICIOUS IN NATURE. IN 2003 PONTIAC CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY, GM'S 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WAS A REFUSED. AFTER COMPLAINING AGAIN IN 2006 PONTIAC CALLED AGAIN TO SAY THEY WERE NOT AT FAULT AND HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY. I ASKED THEM FOR CORRESPONDING VIN NUMBERS AND WAS REFUSED. I HAVE LOCATED OVER 15 ADDITIONAL GRAND PRIX ENGINE FIRES WHERE GM / PONTIAC IS CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITIES. ONCE ? TWICE ? 10 + ? I READ THAT NHTSA HAD BEGUN ANOTHER INVESTIGATION IN FEB 07 AND WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO FORWARD COPIES OF ANY OF MY MATERIALS INCLUDING 2 SEPARATE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS THAT CLAIM MY FIRE STARTED BY THE DRIVERS HEAD LAMP UNDER THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING RECEIPTS THAT SHOW WHERE GM SERVICED MY FUEL ASSEMBLY 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRE... *JB

Mileage: 60,000

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ON A SUNNY DAY AT 35 MPH A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HE SWERVED IN ORDER NOT TO HIT THE DEER AND RAN INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. HE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, IT WOULD NOT OPEN. HE HAD TO CRAWL OUT THROUGH THE BACK WINDOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87000 MILES.*AK

Mileage: 87,000

ABS BRAKE AND TRAC LIGHT IN A 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX STAYED ON. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PONTIAC DEALER AND HE STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $925.00 TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. IT ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD CALL GM HEADQUARTERS AND SEE IF WE COULD GET SOME HELP FROM THEM. APPARENTLY HE RECEIVED WORD FROM HEADQUARTERS THAT IF WE HAD A 50,000 MILE CHECK-UP AT HIS DEALERSHIP AND PAY $425.00 THEN HE GM WOULDN'T CHARGE US TO CORRECT THE ABS AND TRAC LIGHT PROBLEM. OF COURSE WE OPTED FOR THIS BECAUSE IT SAVED US MONEY. BUT I WONDER IF THIS WAS A SCAM AND GM WOULDN'T HAVE CHARGED US ANYTHING TO FIX THE ABS AND TRAC LIGHT SYSTEM. *NM

WHILE PARKING /DRIVING HORN MALFUNCTIONED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE HORN BUTTON REQUIRES EXCESSIVE EFFORT FROM THE DRIVE TO ACTIVE. THE DRIVER ALSO HAS TO PUSH IN A SPECIFIC PLACE FOR THE HORN TO WORK. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. *NM

Mileage: 12,000