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 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
Tl* 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.
Tl* 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.
Tl* 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.
Tl* 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
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.
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.
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. …
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.
Engine complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix, 17% of the model year's 143 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix, though it has 1 recall 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 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury 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.