2002 Pontiac Grand Prix problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (74) · Engine And Engine Cooling (36) · Electrical System (22)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Pontiac Grand Prix model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
242 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2015-10-26 · campaign 15V701000 · 1,003,556 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick c
Service bulletins (368)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Electrical System 2024-10-25 · PIP4723J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the tire pressure monitor, active fuel injector tester, multi media tester, pico scope, gr8 starting/charging tester and vehicle data recorder tools, giving website address and ste
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Electrical System 2024-08-26 · General Communication · Service Campaign
vehicle wide programming (vwp) is a new process to update software on gm vehicles. it provides the ability via a single selection within techline connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). the updating of modules is com
Showing the 6 most recent of 368 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-10-09 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 38,500 mi“the contact owns a 2002 pontiac grand prix. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling). the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be serviced because it was an older vehicle, and the dealer informed the contact that the recall part had been d…”
2023-05-29 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“on may 27th 2023 just three days ago i went to start my car but it would not start, i tried two times then i smelled gas so i let it sit over night then the next day my friend went out to start it for me and it made a loud bang and the intake manifold exploded causing a fire and debris went everywhere, my is lucky he got away from the when he did o…”
2022-10-02 · Engine · 🔥 fire“i had just drove about 30 miles home and when i arrived my engine was was smoking a little more than was usual because of oil burn off. so i popped the hood and a fire started in the back of the engine where i was having problems previously with the power steering pump. obviously when i opened the hood it helped the fire and it grew. took 30 minute…”
2022-01-10 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“i was driving a red 2002 pontiac. while sitting at a stop sign and the driver of a 2012 ford fiesta was going 55-60 mph and ran in the back of my vehicle.…”
2021-11-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“the night of the incident i was driving to my brother's house when i pulled over lifted the hood it burst into flames …”
2020-02-26 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 150,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac grad prix. the contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced by an independent mechanic for a tune-up, oil change and no failure codes found. the contact stated after retrieving the vehicle from the mechanic, she was driving approximately 45 mph when smoke was seen coming through the gear shift assembly and …”
2020-01-18 · Engine · 97,000 mi“large amounts of oil is accumulating on top of the engine. during hard braking/turning, this oil can spill off the engine onto the hot exhaust. …”
2019-12-08 · Steering · 200,000 mi“bought the car in april of 2017. had to replace rack and pinion. a few months down the road was driving car and steering wheel became loose and it turned halfway to the left to keep car straight. rack and pinion busted. replaced rack and pinion again plus struts and the car will make popping sounds when turning steeering wheel. the front end of my …”
2019-10-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 40,000 mi“ii had a no engine crank-no dashboard lights, intermintent start. cwas parked nad not moving. the problem i caused by the the ignition switch and pass key system. gm had this problem in 2004 on the colbolt. 6deaths due to loss of enginepower, steering and power brakes. i will not drive this car,till iget it repaired. i am the origional owner wit…”
2019-10-04 · Unknown Or Other · 132,000 mi“lower intake manifold leaking coolant into engine, safety hazard, inevitable emissions failure. many recalls regarding pontiac grand prix with the issue…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.