NHTSA — Engine Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
87,905 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.

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner Comments

problem #19

Oct 012020

Grand Prix

  • 150,000 miles

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

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.

- Augusta, GA, USA

problem #18

Jan 152019

Grand Prix

  • 130,837 miles
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.

- Southport, NC, USA

problem #17

Nov 252016

Grand Prix

  • miles
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

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #16

Sep 022015

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • 94,000 miles

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

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 issue on going updated 4/19/18

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #15

Jun 012012

Grand Prix

  • 120,000 miles
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.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

problem #14

Aug 212015

Grand Prix

  • 133,700 miles
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.

- Madison Heights, MI, USA

problem #13

Apr 202011

Grand Prix

  • 58,000 miles

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

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.

- Medford, OR, USA

problem #12

Dec 042014

Grand Prix

  • 181,104 miles
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.

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #11

Aug 082014

Grand Prix

  • 81,000 miles
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.

- Cecilia, KY, USA

problem #10

Sep 032014

Grand Prix

  • 105,000 miles
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.

- Clinton, IA, USA

problem #9

Aug 062014

Grand Prix

  • 63,000 miles

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

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.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #8

Dec 032012

Grand Prix 8-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
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

- Hilliard , OH, USA

problem #7

Jul 032014

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
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.

- Oregon, OH, USA

problem #6

May 222014

Grand Prix

  • miles
When I fill my car up to full tank my car doesn't start. The ignition switch takes two tries.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #5

Jan 102013

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
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.

- St. Cloud, MN, USA

problem #4

Mar 142014

Grand Prix

  • 80,000 miles
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.

- East Alton, IL, USA

problem #3

Jan 212013

Grand Prix

  • 113,000 miles
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.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #2

Nov 032012

Grand Prix 8-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
Excessive loss of oil (none leaking), blue smoke from exhaust.

- Republic, MO, USA

problem #1

Jun 262012

Grand Prix

  • 68,550 miles
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.

- Jesup , IA, USA

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