Most common 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix problems
Share of the 106 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Grand Prix complaints by model year
Best Grand Prix years: 2003, 1996, 2005. Years to avoid: 1997, 1998, 2000, 1999, 2004. Compare all years →
2003 Pontiac Grand Prix recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge.
Engine and engine cooling
GM is recalling 207,542 my 1997-2003 Buick regal and Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l supercharged v-6 engine. These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket and eventual oil seepage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, along with the 1-3-5 spark…
What 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix owners say
Engine & cooling all 47 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that the service engine indicator remained illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling) months later. The contact exited the vehicle, upon receiving notification of the recall, and smoke appeared in the engine compartment. A firefighter extinguished the flames and provided an inspection report of the failure. A fire report was not filed. The manufacturer stated that they would open a claim in three business days to further investigate how the failure occurred. The vehicle was parked at the contact's residence because it was damagad excessively due to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 179,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Grand Prix. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that oil was dripping onto the exhaust manifold. As a result, the wiring harness, brake lines, and brake pads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Electrical system all 20 →
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.
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. …
Body & structure
The car is a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. The problem is that at a speed of 35 MPH I get a wind noise that comes from the upper part of the window. I can feed a sheet of paper through the door and the window. I have taken the car to the dealer 3 times for the same problem. They tell me its a built in defect in the design of the car. I did not pay $24,000 or more for a built in defect in a car. I bought the car at the end of August of 2003.
I purchased a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix se with a v-6 and I get water coming in the passenger side every time it rains. Also the transmission shifts hard occasionally when going from first to second gear. I was told to fix the leak would be around $300 and the transmission problem.... I May as well buy another car for that price....
2003 Pontiac Grand Prix engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix a good car?
Based on 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Grand Prix rates better than average: 70% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Grand Prix at the same age. It is one of the best Grand Prix years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix?
The engine & cooling — 47 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (20) and body & structure (9).
How many recalls does the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix, the most recent from October 26, 2015 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Grand Prix?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 1996 and 2005. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1998, 2000, 1999 and 2004. See the full Pontiac Grand Prix years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.