2005 Pontiac Grand AM Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe no-start and stalling episodes tied to the ignition switch and the anti-theft (Passlock) system, frequently requiring a wait-and-retry routine before the car will start. Second to that are gasoline odors inside the cabin traced by dealers to the fuel pressure regulator, and a turn-signal/hazard fault that stays on or clicks continuously. Reports span a wide mileage range, from roughly 30,000 to over 150,000 miles, and many complaints were filed years after the car was new.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   No-start or stalling from ignition switch and Passlock

   • 39 complaints (38%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 9.3 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2020

   Complaints describe the engine refusing to crank, sometimes accompanied by a security light on the dash, and starting only after the key is left in the on position for several minutes. Others report the engine shutting off while driving, the key slipping out of the ignition or moving from on to off, and loss of power steering and power brakes when power drops. Several owners say the ignition switch was serviced under a recall and that the stalling returned afterward; some dealers told owners the security system was blocking ignition and performed a relearn procedure. Reported from about 30,000 up to 150,000 miles, in both cold and warm weather and often with no warning.

   Recall 14V4000002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall work was completed and keep the key ring light, ideally with a single key. During a test drive, confirm the engine starts without a long wait and that the security light does not come on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my 2005 Pontiac Grand Am se used in may of 2008 with only 23,000 miles on it. The first issue began only about 2-3 months after the purchase. First the key would get stuck...a few weeks later, that was no longer a problem. Then the car had trouble starting. Very random, sometimes it would start after a few tries, sometimes it would start after 30 minutes. Then it got worse. The car would shut off as I was driving...no warning at all...just turned off as if I turned the key off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10435398, filed 2011-11, 28,000 miles

   “Security warning light suddenly appeared while I was driving. This appears to be a passlock issue. I've also been told this is a common problem that has not been dealt with a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10330258, filed 2010-05, 54,075 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Gasoline smell inside the cabin

   • 10 complaints (10%)
   • median 119,764 mi at 6.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2014

   Owners describe a strong fuel odor inside the car, most noticeable shortly after starting, and sometimes also when braking or turning. Several complaints say a mechanic traced the smell to a leak at the fuel pressure regulator, and one says the fuel pump was replaced after the car stalled right after refueling. Some owners were told their vehicle was not covered by a fuel-system recall that applied to other cars of the same model. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 130,000 miles, often appearing in the first minutes after a cold start.

   What to check: Smell the cabin right after a cold start and look for dampness or staining around the fuel lines and regulator; ask whether the regulator or fuel pump has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is my second complaint about the smell of fuel fumes a lady that I spoke to stated there should be an investigation about this issue. For my make and model but not my VIN number there has been numerous recalls for a situation due to the fuel system. Given my job responsibilities I have to charter adults with disabilities and I've been place under non vehicle compliance due to the strong odor of gas entering my vehicle. I also have my 2 children in my vehicle at all times which for me this is my only transportation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10664210, filed 2014-12, 126,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that fuel fumes were emitted into the vehicle. The contact merged to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 07e021000 (fuel system). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10626742, filed 2014-08, 125,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Turn signals and hazards click or stay on

   • 12 complaints (12%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2016

   Complaints describe a rapid clicking sound like a signal stuck on, hazards that will not shut off, or signal and hazard lamps that quit entirely. In some cases both sides flash at once, and a few owners report smoke from the steering column area. Owners say the multifunction switch and hazard switch were replaced in some cars, with the clicking returning afterward; others were told the fault was in the switch assembly. Reported from about 14,000 to 200,000 miles, often starting intermittently and becoming constant over time.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car running, watch and listen for continuous clicking with the stalk centered, and test each turn signal and the hazard switch. Ask whether the multifunction switch has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The turn signal makes a constant flickering sound, when we bout the car in 2009 from the dealership we took it back to be fixed, they said it was fixed and as soon as we left it starting to it again. Before it didn't do it non stop just every once in a while & it has gotten to the point it does it non stop every time you turn the car on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10324490, filed 2010-04, 68,960 miles

   “My turn signals wouldn't turn off and they just click click click click. It cost me over $300.00 to have this fixed. I was never aware of any recall on this type of vehicle. I have read the different complaints about this vehicle that had the same problem I had. These cars should have been recalled. If the were, I was never notified and should be compensated for what I paid to have this problem solved.”

   NHTSA complaint #10405803, filed 2011-06, 56,492 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulators failing

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report windows that stop moving, drop off track, or need repeated repairs to the regulator arm and motor, often on the driver door first and then the others. Some describe the window panel or switch trim coming loose, and a few say a plastic bracket inside the door broke. Complaints mention that the repair was not covered and that several windows failed within a short period. Reported from about 28,000 to 148,000 miles, with some cars needing more than one window repaired.

   What to check: Cycle every window up and down several times, listen for grinding or a slow, laboured motion, and ask which regulators or motors have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The smell of gas out of the blue. At first we thought it was topping off the gas, so we stopped, then just some times it will just smell when you start the vehicle. Also, we have had the car barely oer a year and both the window regulators in the front doors are inoperative and the one part we need is not covered by the warranty and will cost us a little over 500.00 a per window.”

   NHTSA complaint #10324492, filed 2010-04, 75,000 miles

   “Pontiac Grand Am 2005, I bought this car in june 2006. Since june I have had nothing but problems. I had to have the window lock panel on the drivers side reattached, because it fell out. The engine stalls and won't start half the time. Driver side window will not roll down. Rear passenger side window leaks air constantly, and water when it rains. Brakes don't always stop and make a grinding noise. Also sometime accelerates when hitting brake. Engine makes a squeaking noise when driving it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10172087, filed 2006-10, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a crash

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 100,500 mi at 8.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2015

   Several complaints describe front impacts in which the airbags did not deploy, sometimes in vehicles that had received an ignition switch recall notice. Some owners link the non-deployment to the ignition recall, while others report it without further diagnosis. These accounts are few and vary in circumstances, and no single cause is identified in the complaints. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low mileage cars to about 145,000 miles.

   Recall 14V400000

   What to check: Confirm the ignition switch recall was performed, check that the airbag warning lamp comes on briefly at start-up and then goes out, and ask whether the car has been in a reported collision.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In many occasions I had a couple of incidents, one because of a yellow pole and another because of an object in the freeway. And the air bag wouldn't deployed. I paid for the repairs and I am still driving this car. After reading the letter I received I have come to one understanding that is that the car isn't safe. What is you recommendation on my concerns.”

   NHTSA complaint #10640195, filed 2014-09, 36,000 miles

   “My daughter just left house drove down street hit a tree air bags did not deploy car was wrecked do we get compensated for this since the car has been recalled for ignition recall#14350 she said it locked up luckily she was not on the highway thank you for your time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10639670, filed 2014-09, 120 miles

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition and repair history matter more than mileage, so ask for records on the ignition switch recall, the fuel pressure regulator, and window regulators. A cold-start test drive and a check of all lighting and windows will surface most of what owners describe here.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.