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2001 Pontiac Grand prix

The Verdict

42 Proceed with Caution

The 2001 Pontiac Grand prix has 318 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (184 complaints) and electrical (59 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 42/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Pontiac Grand prix, consider the 2003 model year which has 62% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2003 has 62% fewer complaints

View the 2003 Pontiac Grand prix dashboard →

42

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200094237024234
20014985918418
200254258216314
2003241022594
20041284312414315
20053612432235
20063319884257
20072861253526
20082012672716

By Category

Engine
184
Electrical
59
Body
49
Transmission
18
Brakes
8

By Severity

1
106
2
92
4
114
5
6

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 2

Not sure if the problem is in the engine or engine or the fuel but I but I smell Exhaust or gas when the engine is running. With the headlights I can barely see at night. Having my brights on Is like having your regular lights on.

46mo ago
Body 4

The contact owns a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idle, a burning odor was detected. The contact turned off the vehicle and noticed that there was smoke and then flames coming from underneath the hood. The contact did not sustain any injuries, and no medical attention was received. No police report was filed. The contact waited until the fire went out on its own and placed a cloth on top of the hood. The contact inspected underneath the hood and noticed that antifreeze was spraying outward. The fire had melted the fuses and valve cover; a brown substance was in the coolant; a red substance was spilling out of the manifold, and the timing belt had detached. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact was made aware that there was one unrepaired recall associated with the VIN under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V701000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

50mo ago
Engine 1

ENGINE STARTED SMELLING OF SMOKE AND UPON DRIVING TO WORK AND OR HOME THE CARS OIL LIGHT CAME ON TO FILL THIS CAR IT TAKES 4.2 QUARTS OF OIL, AFTER PUTTING 4 QUARTS OF OIL WITHIN THE MOTOR I NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE OIL PAN AREA TO FIND OUT THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR WAS DAMAGED AND WAS LEAKING 12 QUARTS OF OIL IN 25 MILES POTENTIAL OIL SPILL TO HIT HOT EXHAUST CAUSING COMBUSTION.

69mo ago
Engine 1

I AM DRIVING DOWN HWY 311 IN HOUMA, LA. I WENT AROUND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AS MY CAR WENT INTO PASSING GEAR I HEAR A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STOPPED AND PUT GAS IN MY CAR. AS I'M DRIVING DOWN SAVANNE ROAD I HEAR THE NOISE AGAIN. AS I'M DRIVING THE NOISE GETS LOUDER AND WORSE. ON JUNE 10, 2020 THE CAR STARTS GETTING HOT SO I PULL OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. SMOKE STARTS COMING OUT THE HOOD AND WATER IS ALL OVER THE GROUND. CAN'T FIND WHERE THE WATER SPEWED OUT AT OR A CRACK OR ANYTHING. FANS ARE CONSTANTLY NOT WORKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENS. CAR WOULDN'T START. GET IT STARTED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT STRAIGHT HOME. THE BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT IN THE ENGINE. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2013 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE MARCH 2013. AC GOES OUT. I FIX IT. IT WORKS A WEEK OR 2 AND STOPS AGAIN. ABS LIGHT IS ON BUT A MECHANIC CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON NO MATTER WHAT. THE PIECES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOORS HAVE FALLEN OFF, ONCE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I ALWAYS HAVE TROUBLE STARTING IT. CHANGED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT AND THE HOUSINGS FOR THEM ARE HORRIBLE. THE SUNROOF LEAKS INTO THE DOME LIGHT. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT GETS STUCK DOWN AND I HAVE TO FIGHT WITH IT TO GET IT UP TO BUCKLE IT. THE WHOLE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND ON THE LIST OF WORST CARS NUMBERS 1 THRU 20 WITH OTHERS AFTER. I'M GETTING RID OF THIS CAR AND NEVER BUYING ANOTHER PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT. *TR

74mo ago
Electrical 1

THE MAP LIGHTS WONT TURN OFF. ITS NOT REGISTERING MY DOOR BEING SHUT I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING ON THE DOOR BUT IT STILL GIVES ME THIS PROBLEM. ITS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING.

77mo ago
Engine 4

IT WAS DRIVING FINE AND I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING BECAME REALLY HARD THEN SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING SO I PARKED THEN STARTED SEEING SMOKE COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD SO I OPENED IT AND SAW A SMALL FLAME TOWARD THE BACK OF THE ENGINE LUCKILY I HAD A JUG OF WATER IN THE TRUNK AND PUT IT OUT AND THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID SPARYED ALL OVER I'M ASSUMING THE FIRE MELTED A HOSE. THE CAR STILL START BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD PROBABLY MELTED THE SPARK PLUGS WIRES I'M SURE . * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

80mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHANGE OIL WARNING INDICATOR PERIODICALLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE INTAKE GASKET WAS DRIPPING OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,697. *DT*JB

81mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL CAP O RING FOR THE VALVE COVER LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPES. THE FAILURE CREATED A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD WHEN NEAR A HOT AREA. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE O RING LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR BEFORE THE ORIGINAL LEAK AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND VALVE COVER. THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT DID NOT AGREE ON EVERYTHING THAT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT MADE FURTHER REPAIRS ON HIS OWN BEFORE THE O RING LEAK OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

82mo ago
Engine 1

I ENDED UP GETTING A RECALL CARD IN MY MAILBOX I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER FOR MY 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP YOUR TRIED TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT WITH THEM THEY TOLD ME TO BE WOULD ORDER THE PARTS CALL ME BACK WHEN THEY ARRIVED AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT DATE WELL MAYBE ABOUT A WEEK OR LESS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING HEARD A LOUD BANG LOST MOST OF MY COMPRESSION MORE THAN HALF MY HORSEPOWER STARTED TO SPIT AND SPUTTER AND DIE WHEN I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT PULLED OVER STOPPED EXPECTED WHAT WAS GOING ON HAD THE INCLINATION DUE TO THE RECALL NOTICE THAT THE VALVE COVER AND VALVE LEAK CAUSING OIL TO DRIP ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CATCH ON FIRE OTHER MINE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE IT DID BLOW MY PISTON UP I INSTANTLY CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET A TOW TRUCK TO BRING MY VEHICLE WHEN I GET BACK HOME HAD MY INSURANCE COMPANY NOTE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL I DID CALL THE COMPANY AND HAVE BEEN WAITING A WEEK OR SO FOR A RETURN PHONE CALL THIS WAS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT I THEN DECIDED TO HAVE TO WAIT TILL MONDAY FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO BE OPEN AGAIN AS I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT I BELIEVED IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL NOTICE I GOT THEY INFORMED ME THAT I COULD GO AHEAD AND PAY THEIR OUTRAGEOUS INSPECTION CHARGE AND THEN IF IT DEEMED NOT TO BE PART OF THAT PROBLEM I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ALL PARTS AND REPAIRS INCLUDING THE RECALL ISSUE OR I CAN WAIT ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO WITH MY BLOWN UP MOTOR IN MY VEHICLE PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY I TOLD THEM IT WAS KIND OF RIDICULOUS THAT THEY WOULD LITERALLY TAKE A MONTH OR TWO TO GET ME MY PARTS WHEN I COULD GO ACROSS THE STREET TO AN AUTOZONE OR O'REILLY'S AUTO AND PICK THE PARTS UP FOR THEM THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF I WANTED TO BRING IT IN FOR THE INSPECTION RIGHT AND PAY THE FEES FINE IF NOT I WOULD HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT OR I CAN BRING IT IN AND IF IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL FAULT UNFORTUNATELY I COULD NOT...

89mo ago
Electrical 2

THE COOLANT AND ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. IT USED TO BE THE ENGINE LIGHT BUT SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN THAT FIXED THIS IS THE ON-GOING PROBLEM. AT LEAST IT DOESN'T AFFECT ME PASSING A SMOG TEST NOW. MY BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE FUEL GAUGE. IT WILL READ FULL OR EMPTY AND NOTHING IN BETWEEN. I USED TO BE ABLE TO ESTIMATE, BY CHECKING MY MILEAGE WHEN I WAS NEAR FULL BUT IT IS HARD TO TELL NOW, BECAUSE IT BOUNCES BATH AND FORTH AT TIMES. MY LAST ISSUE IS HEAT. IT USED TO WORK WELL BUT NOW IT WON'T GIVE ME HEAT. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STILL WORKS GREAT.

96mo ago
Brakes 1

CAME UP ON A CAR STOPPED AT STOP SIGN. I APPLIED MY BRAKE AND FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL GIVE. I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES. NO WARNING LIGHT APPEARED. I HAD TO VEER TO LEFT OF STOPPED CAR, GO AROUND STOP SIGN ONTO A HIGHWAY. VERY FEW CARS ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO LET CAR SLOW ON IT'S OWN AND WAS ABLE TO GO TWO MILES TO STOP. BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH CAR. POSSIBLY A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO WARNING. NARROWLY ESCAPED BAD WRECK AND POSSIBLE DEADLY CRASH. WILL HAVE IT TOWED TO MECHANIC TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF NO BRAKES OR WARNING.

99mo ago
Engine 2

MY CAR IS OVERHEATING EVEN THOUGH IT SHOULDN'T BE OVERHEATING AND I JUST FOUND OUT MY CAR WAS IN A RECALL BUT FOR SOME REASON EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED ONES, IT'S SAYING MY VIN ISN'T IN RECALL WHICH ISN'T FAIR SINCE I AM DEALING WITH LITERALLY THE SAME ISSUE. LAST YEAR IT STARTED OVERHEATING AND MY HUSBAND AND I JUST STARTED CAR-POOLING WITH HIS CAR. A FEW MONTHS AGO EVERYTHING ON THE CAR GOT FIXED AND THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AFTER THEN IT WAS OVERHEATING AND SO NOW I HAVE TO RUN THE HEAT TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GETTING TOO HOT. I HAD A FEW PEOPLE LOOKING AT IT AND THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY IT'S OVERHEATING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE COOLANT FLUIDS ARE MOVING AND EVERYTHING BUT THERE IS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT IS STILL GETTING HOT. SOMEONE SUGGESTED I LOOK INTO A RECALL AND NOW I AM BUT IT'S SAYING THAT MY MODEL WASN'T AFFECTED, WHICH CLEARLY IS AFFECTED.

100mo ago
Engine 4

2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE INCIDENT AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD *CN

100mo ago
Engine 4

PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. *LD *TR

100mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN OIL LEAK WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND RENDER THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN APRIL OF 2016 AT BALLAS BUICK GMC (5715 CENTRAL AVE, TOLEDO, OH 43615, (567) 202-1198). THE CONTACT CALLED BALLAS BUICK GMC REGARDING THE RECENT FAILURE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 249,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

101mo ago
Body 2

DIFFICULTY WITH IGNITION SWITCH, KEY GETS STUCK. VISIBILITY DIFFCULTY WHEN USING. WINDSHIED WIPERS. OIL LEAK/COOLANT LEAK.

107mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING AREA, THE VEHICLE STARTED EMITTING SMOKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY AN INTENSE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH MELTED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS NEAR THE PART. 911 EMERGENCY WAS CONTACTED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LATER CAME TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND DESTROYED FROM THE FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT INSPECT NOR DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH STARTED MID APRIL 08,2009 AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT SENT THE NOTICE BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

107mo ago
Engine 2

CURRENTLY, I'M HAVING SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE WITH THE POWER WINDOWS AND HAZARD LIGHTS. ALSO, I'M HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM THIS STARTED OCCURRING THREE MONTHS AGO AND I FEEL IT'S NOT SAFE, AT TIMES WITH ALL ISSUES THAT MY CAR HAS IT CAN BE TERRIFYING TO DRIVE BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS OR BUY A NEW CAR. THERE ARE A FEW LEAKS COMING FROM MY CAR AS WELL I KNOW ONE LEAK IS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING AND THE OTHER THE FUEL TANK, THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER LEAK. MOST OF THE ISSUES I HAVE FIGURED OUT WHEN MY CAR WAS PARKED BUT SOME LIKE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND FUEL ISSUES, I'VE NOTICED EITHER TURNING OR DRIVING ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY.

109mo ago
Brakes 4

ON MARCH 1, 2017, WHILE DRIVING DOWN LA VITA PASS, ON HWY 160 EAST, IN COLORADO, THE ROADS WERE SOLID ICE. I TRIED TO BREAK LIGHTLY, IN A TOUCH, RELEASE, METHOD, BUT THE SENSOR ON THE DASH STATED (NO TRACTION), AND WOULD LOCK THE BREAKS, DURING THE LIGHT APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE BREAKS, CAUSING ME TO SLIDE A BIT. I HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, (SPEED APROX. 35MPH) CAUSING ME TO SPIN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC, GOING WEST BOUND. MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE FRONT, AND BACK, MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WANTING TO REPORT: BREAK PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE, AND NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. (CAN NOT SEND YOU PICTURES AS YOU ONLY ALLOW 5MB FILES, AND I GUESS, MY PICS ARE LARGER, AND THEY WILL NOT LET ME SEND THEM TO YOU.)

114mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE WINDSHIELD WHICH RESULTED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

114mo ago

318 total

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