NHTSA — Engine Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
104,473 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner Comments

problem #14

Jun 242019

Grand Prix

  • 168,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving down the road when my engine started smoking I pulled over add a friend who was is mayor of the next town over to let it cool down so that I could look to see what it was when I walk to the garage I turned around and looked and there was flames shooting up from under my hood

- Marion, OH, USA

problem #13

Feb 042019

Grand Prix

  • 70,500 miles
Car shut off and locked steering wheel while driving

- Gloucester, VA, USA

problem #12

Nov 042017

Grand Prix

  • 112,078 miles
"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.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #11

May 122016

Grand Prix

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Please see the attached report from jeffrey wingfield, P.E. describing a valve cover gasket leak that caused a fire.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #10

Dec 142015

Grand Prix

  • 171,850 miles
During hard braking, engine oil drips onto the engine exhaust manifolds. There is a strong smell of burning oil when parking the car after driving. The VIN was originally listed as being eligible for NHTSA recall # 15V201, but a recent search does not list it any longer even though it exhibits the condition. I am concerned with the risk of an engine compartment fire if this is not repaired soon.

- Leonard, MI, USA

problem #9

Sep 022016

Grand Prix

  • 134,300 miles
I was driving down the road and all of a sudden my car lost power and said "reduced engine power" I was pressing the gas going 55 mph and it suddenly lost all rpms and speed dropped. I was almost rear ended by another vehicle traveling behind me. I was very upset on the side of the road with my son. I was told about many others who have had this problem with Pontiac. What is being done about this" and if nothing why" my son and I were very lucky we weren't I'm an accident. Want answers and why there isn't a recall getting these cars fixed. It is very unsafe.

- Mansfield, MO, USA

problem #8

Jan 012016

Grand Prix

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am having an issue where I am getting a message that says reduce engine power. Took it to dealer they do not know what is wrong. Many other people are having the same issue and no recall? car completely dies no matter where you are. I happen to be doing 50 mph on the freeway with three children in the backseat. Thnak god we were ok! from what I read about this issues this should have been a recall. But I assume since no one died yet its just a complaint

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #7

Jan 082016

Grand Prix

  • miles
Takata recall.... keep getting a message saying reduce engine power. Took it to a mechanic and dealer and claim they don't know. Car loses power after reduce engine power displays on vechile. Was driving on highway at 50 mph with my three children when message displayed and car shut off. Very dangerous. This has happened more than several times in and off the highway... it did it again today 2/3/2016 while just sitting at a gas station. I have kept up on all maintenance in the car. Can't seem to figure out while it's doing it. Reading online many many other GM owners have same issue.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #6

Jan 132015

Grand Prix

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and the emergency brake was applied. The vehicle was able to restart. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the throttle body failed and the entire electronic system fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #5

Feb 132008

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • 15,000 miles
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).

- Niles, OH, USA

problem #4

Sep 262014

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • 58,885 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 9/26/14 I took the vehicle in for a recall for unintentional ignition key rotation. The vehicle was supposedly repaired. But when I attempted to pull out of the driveway at bill rapp Pontiac service the vehicle shut down again. It said in the information data that "start up failure due to electrical throttle malfunction. Reduced engine power." I waited approximately 30 seconds and attempted to restart the vehicle which did start up. On approximately 9/29/14 while entering interstate 81N in syracuse, NY, the vehicle once again shut down on the highway. I contacted bill rapp Pontiac service department and was told that I needed to bring in the vehicle again but that I would have to pay for any further services since there is currently no other recall for the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix except for the one with the key rotation issue. What can I do? my car is still shutting down in street and highway traffic.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #3

May 172014

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • 57,005 miles
Since we purchased this vehicle in December 2013 there has been four incidents where the engine totally shut down while in traffic without warning. The first two incident occurred while my daughter was driving while away at college with this vehicle. On approximately 5/17/14, while on interstate 287 (60mph) the vehicle shut off without warning. On approximately 6/20/14 in S. orange, NJ the vehicle shut off without warning in street traffic (28mph). The third and fourth incidents happened when I was driving the vehicle on approximately 8/7/14 at a stop light (0mph) while waiting for the signal to change the vehicle shut down totally. On 9/1/14 while driving on interstate 81N the vehicle totally shut off without warning. Once the engine shut down, the check engine light came on, a message read "loss of engine power' came on. I was driving approximately 72mph and came very close to causing a major accident with three other cars and a tractor-trailer. I was in the passing lane attempting to pass the truck with three other vehicles behind me. When I attempted to accelerate the vehicle shut down. The lights on the dash board went black and the steering wheel locked. The car behind me went into a ditch on the left, while the second car swerved to the right to avoid a collision with me. I had been driving for approximately three (3) hours from S. orange, NJ to syracuse, NY. I was using only the ignition key and the car remote on the keyring. No other items were on the key ring. Fortunately there was no one injured and no crash occurred. I am not using this vehicle because I am terrified to drive it. This is especially disturbing since this vehicle was purchased for my daughter who is away at college. This is more than an unintended key rotation as GM is claiming. Please, I need your help. This vehicle is very dangerous. Purchase mileage = 56,372, current mileage = 58,824.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #2

Feb 102014

Grand Prix

  • 115,000 miles
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.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #1

Sep 062012

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
Vehicle started disengaging cruise control and traction control, vehicle then started jerking/shifting hard and overheating, followed by vehicle shifting from one set position of drive to neutral, took into shop to look at transmission was told just a dirty sensor, had sensor cleaned, about a month later same thing, had it cleaned again and then Dec 2013 the traction control auto disengaged again and then one day it turned itself on again, no there's a coolant leak issue and oil leak and check engine light on for the catalytic converter...[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Maplewood, MN, USA

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