Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Pontiac Grand AM owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Engine has lost power from 150hp @ 3K RPM and 200ft lb @ 4K RPM. It is now 50hp @ K RPM & 75ft lb @ 2K revolutions per minute. Gear Shift Button has seperated from globe. Radio needs to be replaced or reset daily. Rear window defroster has seperated from window, and won't retain position. Tire Pressure Monitoring System hasn't worked to no avail. Turn signals are showing discrepancies when activated from switch.
My ignition cylinder switch is making my car to stall and shut off while I AM driving and I had it replace on 4/8/15 and was driving and it not fix, my car has cut off on me while driver 3 time since I got it from the dealership I AM not driving it and what the dealership to send a tow to pick the car up. I AM not safe in the car and spent $377.00 for labor and the part for it not to function correctly. I had my key replaced on a recall and when I got that service my ignition locked and the key would not turn the car on.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Grand AM. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle shut off and the engine indicator illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The dealer was not called. The vehice was taken to an independent mechani, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000. The consumer stated the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic dealer. The failure would cost between $600 and $700 to repair.
This didn't involve anything tragic. I have a 2003 Pontiac grandam and it was having problems with leaking coolant and I have found out that my intake manifold gasket is needing to be replaced and also learned from the mechanic that I took it to that this model of car is infamous for having that problem and his does several repairs of the same type of car for the same problems every month and I think this should be addressed by the GM manufacturers because they put a faulty part on this type of car and it is going bad and could subsequently cause the head gaskets to blow on the car if it is not repaired and also I AM having problems with the accelerator and when I called about a recall they told me that for my VIN on my car their was currently no recalls which is a bunch of bull because my car is also having that problem my accelerator is sticking and the car keeps going even when I AM …
We purchased a 2003 Grand AM from gunn Pontiac in san antonio in August 2003. Within a month the car would stall out at stops or during turns. We brought the car in twice to the dealership and was told that they couldn't duplicate the problem. The car has done this for the last 11 months on and off. In July 2004 the slave cylinder went out and I was told that it would be 1200.00 to repair it. The service consultant told me the 2 problems could be related because he had never seen this part go out at 40,000 miles and that the cylinder should last much much longer. Once the car was repaired I was then told that the dealership would not help us w the repairs. I talked to the service manager , who basically called me a liar about the problem w the car stalling and that I would have to take this problem up w Pontiac national reps. …
Purchased 2003 Pontiac Grand AM se1 with 3.4 liter 3400 sfi v-6 engine on 7/30/03.n 8/27/03, 2624 miles on vehicle. Experienced major problem of car died out and stalled while driving was able to restart auto which would died out and stalled 6 separate times this occurred while driving and ranged from 15 seconds to 2 mins of driving time and at speeds of 5 to 35 MPH. ( the vehicle just quit running with no warning!) had vehicle towed to dealership. Dealer service advisor (joe) advise me that at the repair bays they experienced/duplicated the problem 9 times, but had no idea what was causing the problem. Stated they had calls into general motors technical support and were waiting for some possile answers/solutions. I AM reporting this of two reasons 1. This is a major safety problem. The vehicle dies/stalls out at the wrong time and place an accident will happen. 2. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Grand AM. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for another service, the mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was leaking fuel. The contact had noticed that the "check engine" warning light was continuously illuminated. The contact was then driving approximately 35 MPH when vehicle began to shudder. The contact then coasted over to an emergency lane and the engine stalled. The engine did not restart and was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle had not been taken back to a mechanic for diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number :07e021000(fuel system, other). The approximate failure mileage was 155,825.
Bought the vehicle used. 2003 Pontiac Grand AM 3.4l v6. Constant ticking from hazard light switch. Grounding problems. Looked for recalls at GM dealership. No recalls on the problem. No choice but to remove hazard light fuse until repair. Should have been covered by GM. Gonna cost us $500! The transmission cooling lines rotted away causing coolant spraying everywhere causing white smoke and overheating of the engine. Spraying the serpentine belt and water pump. With visual inspection and touching confirmed spot. 3/4 of reservoir is leaked out causing rust on sub frame. Also front rocker panel bad. Front passenger panel rotted out. Bad oxidizing on the manifold cover and exhaust manifold cover. Shame on GM for not covering all gas on the hazard light malfunction and multi switch issues.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Grand AM. When the contact took his vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance on July 27, 2007, a technician informed him that the intake manifold gasket failed. The technician stated that the failure was caused by two different types of metal that were used on the head and intake manifolds. When heated, both metals expanded at different rates and caused the gasket to fail. The manufacturer admitted that the failure was directly related to a design defect. There is a remedy for the failure, but the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. An authorized dealer repaired the vehicle on May 5, 2008. The failure mileage was 24,691 and current mileage was 30,826. Updated 06/17/08.
I have a 2003 Pontiac gran AM gt Ram air four door sedan. Several weeks we experienced a problem where the car would suddenly accelerate without the gas pedal being depressed, the car would continue to accelerate until the gas pedal was quickly depressed or I hit the brakes. I took the car to my repair shop and they replaced a cable. The problem ended than a few weeks later reappeared. I took the car to a Pontiac dealer (adams/annapolis) and they cleaned out some connections, but the problem returned shortly after this. I returned the car to adams and they replace the computer. This appeared to end the problem but I experienced the same problem once yesterday but it has not reoccurred since.
Engine complaints in other Grand AM years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2003 Pontiac Grand AM?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2003 Pontiac Grand AM, 13% of the model year's 325 complaints. The component named most often is engine (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Pontiac Grand AM engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2003 Pontiac Grand AM, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Pontiac Grand AM engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 26% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury and 1 death to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.