Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Pontiac Grand Am
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Pontiac Grand Am has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 326 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V400000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E064000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V528000 GM/FMVSS 124/ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 135 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 65 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 35 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 24 complaints
- Air Bags 20 complaints
- Engine 17 complaints
Of the 326 complaints on file, 27 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 326 complaints, owners report 28 injuries and 8 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Pontiac Grand Am has notable issues with its electrical system and exterior lighting, as evidenced by high complaint counts. Recalls focus on ignition defects and non-compliant lighting. Although less severe than other models, the vehicle's reliability suffers due to recurring electrical and speed control problems.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| ignition system | 50,000–100,000 miles | $200–$400 | very common |
| exterior lighting | 30,000–70,000 miles | $100–$200 | common |
| accelerator pedal | 60,000–90,000 miles | $150–$300 | occasional |
| fuel pressure regulator | 70,000–110,000 miles | $120–$250 | occasional |
| airbag system | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake pad replacement
- Transmission fluid service
- Coolant system flush
- Timing belt inspection
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Battery health check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Dashboard warning lights
- Sticking accelerator pedal
- Dimming or non-functional exterior lights
- Ignition key issues
- Engine misfires
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Pontiac Grand Am at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.