2008 Pontiac Grand Prix

Typical pattern

2.5% of complaints about the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (44 complaints), typically at 7.1 yr or about 92,159 miles.

Complaints: 199
Median age at failure: 6.7 yr
Median mileage: 88,000 n=159
Crash / fire / tow: 10.1% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14V400000 2014-07-03

Electrical system:ignition

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In the

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 8,597 mi 9 mo in service

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF BRAKE AND I HIT A CURB. THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF WHICH ALSO SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. MY INSURANCE AND BODY SHOP SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DAMAGE TO THE CAR TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. *TR

Air bags 8,597 mi 9 mo in service

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF BRAKE AND I HIT A CURB. THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF WHICH ALSO SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. MY INSURANCE AND BODY SHOP SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DAMAGE TO THE CAR TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. *TR

Air bags 18,256 mi 1.3 yr in service

ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR TURNS THE AIRBAG "OFF" EVEN THOUGH AN ADULT OF SUITABLE WEIGHT WHO IS PROPERLY SEATED IN THE SEAT IS PRESENT. THE PROBLEM IS USUALLY (BUT NOW ALWAYS) CORRECTED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. TWO DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE, DETECT AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT. THIS PROBLEM EXPOSES THE FRONT ADULT PASSENGER TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND THE AIR BAG IS NOT ACTIVATED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY SENSOR. *TR

Electrical system 39,000 mi 3.2 yr in service

2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, TOTAL IGNITION FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 39000 MILES, AND WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. REPAIR WAS TO CHANGE IGNITION MODULE AND THREE COIL PACKS. THE FUSE WAS ALSO BLOWN. *TR

Other Grand Prix model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other Grand Prix model years

How to read this