2005 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Grand Prix most often describe stalling or loss of power while driving, often linked to the ignition key, and transmission problems such as slipping, hard shifts and sudden loss of acceleration. Steering complaints — fluid leaks, loss of power assist and a hard-to-turn wheel — are also common, and many reports come in above 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hard shifts and loss of drive

   • 30 complaints (20%)
   • median 72,290 mi at 6.8 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2022

   Complaints describe the transmission slipping for a moment and then slamming into gear, hard shifts from first to second, and hesitation or a long lag when accelerating from a stop. Some owners report the car losing drive entirely and needing a rebuild or replacement, and a few mention repeat failures after repair. Dealers are described variously as unable to duplicate the fault or as confirming a transmission replacement. Mostly reported between about 36,000 and 130,000 miles, sometimes within the first few years of ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive from a stop and at light throttle, feeling for slipping, a thunk into gear or delayed engagement. Ask for transmission service records, including which fluid was used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had my transmission rebuilt on 8/17/12 after it blow on me with 128,900 miles. I had it rebuilt by aamco. I took it back to aamco after it seen like I was having problems on 12/28/12. Got it back on 1/5/13 after they said there was no problems it was the oil in my car. So I said ok but still didn't believe them. So a month went by and my transmission just blow again 2/23/13.”

   NHTSA complaint #10499943, filed 2013-02, 140,000 miles

   “My car at only 54k miles, transmission failed, causing to loose power in traffic. I had the transmission rebuilt ($2400), 8 months later it failed again ($1200), 2 months later, failed again ($0-warranty). Mechanic finally figured out it was some pressure relieve valve on the transmission, causing pressure to build up, causing the torque converter to explode, sending debris throughout the transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10390470, filed 2011-03, 54,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stall or loss of power while driving (ignition key)

   • 32 complaints (22%)
   • median 82,500 mi at 9.1 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2025

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning at speed, with the dash lights flashing and steering becoming heavy as assist drops away. Several say the key was difficult to turn, stuck in start, or slipped out of the run position, and some mention the car restarted after being pulled over. Complaints describe dealer visits where the fault could not be duplicated, and some owners mention the ignition recall but report the stalling continued afterward. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 150,000 miles, with several at lower mileage shortly after the ignition recall work.

   Recall 14V400000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition recall (14V400000) was performed and keep the key ring bare, as the recall notice advises. Note any history of stalling or a key that is hard to turn or remove.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 9/26/14 I took the vehicle in for a recall for unintentional ignition key rotation. The vehicle was supposedly repaired. But when I attempted to pull out of the driveway at bill rapp Pontiac service the vehicle shut down again. It said in the information data that start up failure due to electrical throttle malfunction. Reduced engine power. I waited approximately 30 seconds and attempted to restart the vehicle which did start up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10641992, filed 2014-10, 58,885 miles

   “Gm recent admission and the NHTSA confirmation of accidents and deaths cause by ignition switch turning off in general motor vehicles is also applicable to pontiacs too which was not mentioned. I have a 2005 Pontiac gran prix in which I had this happened twice to me. The second time almost causing me to almost get side swipe by a large truck while going around a bend on a bright sunny day in florida. As describe by the incident of these events. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10574815, filed 2014-03, 93,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering leak and loss of assist

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2021

   Owners report whining or groaning noises when turning, low or empty power steering fluid, and moments where the wheel became very hard to turn, especially at low speed or in a turn. Some complaints describe replacing the steering gear, rack and pinion or return line, with leaks returning afterward. Dealer responses range from diagnosis and repair to no fault found. Reported from about 25,000 to 115,000 miles, often noticed at low speeds or while turning.

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and look for weeping at the rack, lines and boots. Turn the wheel lock to lock while listening for whine or clicking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2005 Pontiac Grand Prix gt 3.8 l v6 engine: the rack and pinion steering system failed to work properly. When attempting to make a left turn, the power steering function unexpectedly failed, causing loss of control. I was able to stop the vehicle in time to avoid running off of the road. Also, I was almost rear-ended by the vehicle turning behind me. I was not able to continue with the turn at the location of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10254024, filed 2009-01, 72,775 miles

   “My 2005 Grand Prix has an issue with power steering fluid leaking which LED to a loss of power steering assistance. I've had the steering gear replaced about 3 months ago, and now the return line was replaced. After all of this it is leaking again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10286076, filed 2009-10, 111,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake noise, ABS activation and warning light

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • median 87,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2018

   Complaints describe grinding from the front brakes during harder stops, and ABS or traction control engaging unexpectedly at low speed when turning into a parking space, with the service brakes light coming on. Some owners report the ABS not assisting during a hard stop. Dealers are described as replacing rotors and calipers in some cases and finding nothing wrong in others. Reported from very low mileage on nearly new cars up to about 180,000 miles.

   What to check: Listen for grinding on a firm stop and watch whether the ABS or service brakes light comes on during low-speed turns. Ask about rotor, caliper and ABS sensor service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When turning at low speed such as into a parking space the anti lock brakes activate then the service brakes indicator goes on. This has been occurring since I purchased the vehicle and I have had it check twice out of the numerous 50+ times it has occurred and the service tech's have found nothing wrong with the braking system. When this error occurs it also caused the traction control system to deactivate.”

   NHTSA complaint #10461413, filed 2012-06, 87,000 miles

   “Accelerating on the expressway in traffic up 40 MPH, dry conditions. Vehicle in front of me stopped quickly. When I depressed the brake hard, I had no ABS assist. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy even though it was a high energy impact. The vehicle damage caused the vehicle to be scrapped and not fixed. Based on the vehicle speed and rate of deceleration, I would expect that the ABS system would have been engaged and the airbags should have deployed. If the ABS would have been engaged, I believe the vehicle would have stopped in time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10615923, filed 2014-07, 115,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Reduced engine power message and stalling

   • 13 complaints (9%)
   • median 70,537 mi at 8.4 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2005–2021

   Owners describe a reduced engine power message appearing while driving, followed by a sudden drop in speed and rpm, sometimes with the engine cutting out completely. Several report the dealer could not identify a cause, and others mention the throttle body or gas pedal being suggested as the source. Complaints describe the loss of power happening at highway speed as well as in traffic. Reported from roughly 65,000 to 200,000 miles, at both city and highway speeds.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the reduced engine power message has appeared and whether the throttle body or pedal assembly was replaced. A scan for stored codes before purchase is worth the cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am having an issue where I am getting a message that says reduce engine power. Took it to dealer they do not know what is wrong. Many other people are having the same issue and no recall? Car completely dies no matter where you are. I happen to be doing 50 MPH on the freeway with three children in the backseat. Thnak god we were ok! From what I read about this issues this should have been a recall. But I assume since no one died yet its just a complaint”

   NHTSA complaint #10824230, filed 2016-02, 150,000 miles

   “When driving 30 MPH up to 70 MPH all of a sudden the reduced rngine light vomes on and the car starts decelerating to 5 MPH and sometimes cuts off causing power steering to not work. This started after the worked on yhe ignition recall. I asked about it and was charged $75 fir them to put it on the computer. Then was told it would be over $700 for them to find out what's wrong. I don't have that type of money so l let it sit up for awhile only to be yold it could possibly be the gas pedal and wouldn't cost that much to replace... …”

   NHTSA complaint #11390706, filed 2021-01, 200,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection look closely at the ignition recall status, transmission behavior and power steering leaks, since these are the areas owners write about most. Service records showing transmission and steering work are more useful than mileage alone on this model year.

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.