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2005 Pontiac Gto

The Verdict

63 Solid Pick

The 2005 Pontiac Gto has 154 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (121 complaints) and electrical (19 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 63/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating.

This is the cleanest year on record. Nice pick.

63

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

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
20041984151414
200512111976
20062011734

By Category

Body
121
Electrical
19
Engine
7
Transmission
6
Brakes
1

By Severity

1
76
2
72
4
6

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 1

Wheel feel off car driving. Gm refuses to investigate. Says call dealer. Have pics of wheel and screenshots of help conversation

20mo ago
Transmission 2

Vehicle loss of power 3rd & 4th clutch fail during driving Unsafe on the highway Automatic transmission 4L65E Know issue with most rear wheel drive cars

42mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE REDUCED PERFORMANCE MODE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LANDERS CHEVROLET CADILLAC OF JOPLIN (417-768-7900, LOCATED AT 4630 E 32ND ST, JOPLIN, MO 64804) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE MANUFACTURER'S CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS A SALVAGED TITLE; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

88mo ago
Electrical 1

MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS FLUNG OPEN SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE WINDOW TRACK COMING UNGLUED FROM THE GLASS. IT HAS HAPPENED AT DRIVE UP WINDOWS, DRIVING DOWN THE STREET/HIGHWAY AND EVEN HAS FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR IN A TURN BEFORE. IN THE 2004-2006 PONTIAC GTOS BOTH FRONT SIDE WINDOWS COME DETACHED FROM THEIR FORWARD MOST BRACKET THAT KEEPS THE WINDOWS IN THEIR TRACKS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO MOVE AND APPLY PRESSURE ONTO THE DOOR RELEASE MECHANISM OR LINKAGE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW IT HITS THE LINKAGE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE DOOR OPENS. IF GOING THROUGH A TURN AND ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW THE DOOR CAN FLY OPEN AND YOU CAN POSSIBLY FALL OUT. ALSO IF THE DOOR OPENS INTO TRAFFIC OF SOME SORT LIKE IN CLOSE QUARTERS ON A 2 LANE ROAD THE VEHICLES DOOR COULD BE STRUCK AND INJURE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER DEPENDING ON WHICH DOOR IS CURRENTLY AFFECTED.

96mo ago
Body 1

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP IN MY YARD, HAVING TO GET IT TOWED TO THE PONTIAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT PAYING OVER $2,000 TO GET IT FIX. THEN AFTER A YEAR IT LOCKED UP AGAIN. BEEN SITTING IN MY GARAGE EVERY SINCE. I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY TO CONTINUE TO GET THE PROBLEM FIX IF IT'S GONNA KEEP OCCURRING.

97mo ago
Brakes 1

PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY AT 30MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE, WITH NO WARNING, ONE OR BOTH OF THE PARKING (EMERGENCY) BRAKES MAY ENGAGE, LOCKING THE REAR WHEEL(S), AND CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW ABRUPTLY OR SKID. THE CAR HAS TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ENGAGED TO A SAFE PLACE OUT OF TRAFFIC. ONCE STOPPED, THE CONDITION CAN BE CLEARED BY DEPRESSING AND HOLDING THE PARKING BRAKE LATCH BUTTON AND VIGOROUSLY PUMPING THE HANDLE UP AND DOWN. ONCE THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE PARKING BRAKE (A FUNCTION PERFORMED BY THE EMERGENCY BRAKES) NO LONGER ENGAGES CONSISTENTLY. SEVERAL MECHANICAL DISASSEMBLIES AND INSPECTIONS HAVE NOT UNCOVERED THE CAUSE, NOR FULLY FIXED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. A SINGLE, C-SHAPED, ONE-PIECE BRAKE SHOE THAT CONTACTS A DRUM BUILT WITHIN THE REAR BRAKE ROTOR PERFORMS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FUNCTION ON EACH REAR WHEEL. AN EXPANDER SITS BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE C AND PRESSES THE ENDS OF THE BRAKE SHOE OUTWARD WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER IS PULLED . THE DESIGN OF THIS EXPANDER LOOKS POSSIBLY FAULTY; LITTLE MORE THAN FRICTION APPARENTLY HOLDS IT IN POSITION WITH THE ENDS OF THE BRAKE SHOE. IF IT WERE TO LOSE CONTACT, OR FALL OUT OF POSITION, IT MIGHT CAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO ENGAGE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE PHOTOS ARE ONES OF THE BRAKE SHOES AND ROTORS DISCUSSED, RECENTLY REPLACED (AGAIN) IN HOPES OF SOLVING THIS PROBLEM.

101mo ago
Body 1

INNER TIRE WEAR

111mo ago
Body 2

DRIVER SEAT BELT IS FULLY EXTENDED AND WILL NOT RETRACT. WHEN GETTING INTO CAR AND PLACING SEAT BELT ON, IT FULLY EXTENDED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT.

119mo ago
Body 1

IRREGULAR FRONT TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS CAUSING BLOW OUT AND FLATS. NUMEROUS WHEEL ALIGNMENTS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHY HAS GM NOT PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE? LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHEN THIS OCCURS. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR LOSE THEIR LIFE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED BUT MANAGED TO STAY ON THE ROAD.

128mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK OIL AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER FLUID LINE FRACTURED AND THE ROCKING PINION NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

133mo ago
Electrical 1

AIRBAG LIGHT ON AFTER MINOR IMPACT WHILE PARKING

135mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAG FAULT MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WERE PERMANENTLY NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

141mo ago
Electrical 2

IGNITION LOCKED UP HAD HAVE CAR TOWED NEW IGNITION SWITCH INSTALLED $400.00. *TR

143mo ago
Electrical 4

DROVE OFF A MOUNTAIN IN WESTERN N.C. DUE TO LOOSE GRAVEL. WENT DOWN OVER 300 YARDS PLUS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED TWO SKULL FRACTURES AND TWO BROKEN NECK BONES. ALSO, THE SKIN ON MY LEFT ARM, WAS SCRAPED TO THE BONE. NUMEROUS CUTS AND MY ENTIRE BODY WAS SORE. ...UPDATED 10/22/14 *BF

145mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THAT THE NO AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND THAT MODEL WAS NO LONGER BEING MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 106,000.

147mo ago
Electrical 1

HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. PARKED IT AND WENT TO REMOVE MY KEY AND THE KEY FROZE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. WAS TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. SIX WEEKS LATER I FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK. SINCE THEN, REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH REQUIRES THE STEERING WHEEL BE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AND JIGGLING THE KEY AS YOU ARE REMOVING IT. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF PLAY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH ARE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. I'M CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT SOON THE SWITCH WILL LOCK UP AGAIN WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

148mo ago
Electrical 1

WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION, IT FROZE. I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY. I COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED UP. I TRIED JUST REPLACING THE IGNITION CYLINDER, BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. IT COST $1371.67 TO GET THIS CAR FIXED DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS THAT ON THE WEEK MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP, 3 OTHER PONTIACS WERE IN THE SAME SHOP, FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. UPON DOING MORE RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT ISSUE. DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN AND DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FAULTY PARTS IN THE IGNITION, I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT MOVE THIS CAR OR PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE OTHERWISE. FUNNY HOW IT FAILED 2 MONTHS AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED! HOW IS THIS FAIR THAT THEIR PART FAILED AND YET THEY ARE TAKING TO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS? THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX! PLEASE RECALL THE PONTIAC IGNITIONS! SO I AM OUT ALMOST $1500. BAD CALL GM! *TR

157mo ago
Electrical 2

WHILE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS BEING LOWERED, WINDOW CONTACTS DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CAUSING DOOR TO BECOME AJAR AND WINDOW GETS STUCK IN PLACE OFF CENTER. AFTER RETURNING WINDOW TO UP POSITION AND ATTEMPTING TO LOWER WINDOW AGAIN, DOOR NOW BECOMES COMPLETELY UNLATCHED AND SWINGS FREELY AFTER WINDOW HITS MECHANISM. ISSUE WAS NOTICED PRIOR TO DOOR BECOMING COMPLETELY UNLATCHED. MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF WINDOW IS LOWERED AND DOOR BECOMES UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING (TO OTHER OWNERS). *TR

159mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY, CAUSING THE DOOR TO BE OPENED INADVERTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TR

160mo ago
Electrical 1

FEB 16TH 2013 CASE # [XXX] MY CAR WAS IN FOR THIS SERVICE FOR A AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT I WAS TOLD THAT "FOUND LOW VOLTAGE TO VARIOUS SRS COMPONENTS" AND THAT ACCORDING TO A GM SERVICES BULLETIN INSPECTION OF THE SRS WIRING SYSTEM BEHIND THE DASH IS NEEDED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THERE IS A GM SERVICE BULLETIN ON FAULTY WIRING HARNESS BEING THE CAUSE. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM COULD BE NOT WORKING. MY CONCERN IS WITH SAID SERVICES BULLETIN I COULD NOT FIND ANYONE IN THE NETWORK OF GTO OWNERS CLUBS THAT WERE GIVIN ANY NOTICE OF THIS. BUT I DID FIND ON THESE FORUMS THAT ONE PARTICULAR WIRING HARNESS COMES IN CONTACT WITH A METAL BRACE WHEN THE CARS WAS CONVERTED TO LEFT HAND DRIVE FOR SALE HERE THAT HAS CAUSED FIRES. WOULD NOT THIS BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR WHICH EITHER GM OR NHTSA WOULD BE INVOLVED IN? GM ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM TO ME IN MY MANY EMAILS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS ON THE PHONE BUT HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS NOR WANTS TO FIX THE ISSUES. THE ISSUE OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE IS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THESE FAILURES WHY WOULD NOT THIS BE HANDLED AS PART OF A SAFETY RECALL? HERE IS JUST ONE LINK TO THE BOARD WHERE THIS IS SHOWN HTTP://WWW.LS1GTO.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=377773&HIGHLIGHT=WIRE+HARNESS+GLOVE+BOX&PAGE=9 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

162mo ago

154 total

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