2005 Pontiac Grand AM Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2005 Pontiac Grand AM has 102 NHTSA complaints, led by Electrical System issues (52 complaints, 51% share) with a median failure mileage of 68,480 miles. It has 2 recalls, including one tied to airbag non-deployment risk, and this is the only model year with data, so no ranking comparison is available.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- —/100
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 102
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 15
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 7
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 7 / 1
Top 2005 Pontiac Grand AM problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System52 (51%)
- Engine16 (16%)
- Fuel System15 (15%)
- Airbags10 (10%)
- Structure & Body9 (9%)
- Steering8 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (7%)
- Brakes6 (6%)
- Other6 (6%)
- Seat Belts3 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy during crashes, including a rollover at 90,000 miles that resulted in a death.
- Airbags deployed without warning at low speeds, causing loss of control and crashes into objects.
- Steering wheel stopped responding while the instrument panel flickered, leading to a crash into a wall.
- Brakes reportedly stopped working suddenly at highway speed with no prior warning signs.
- Sudden acceleration was reported while parking, causing low-speed collisions.
- A battery stored in the trunk came through the rear seat area after a high-speed crash into a pole.
2005 Pontiac Grand AM recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 14V400000Jul 3, 2014Electrical System5,877,718 vehicles
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 these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
- NHTSA 05V054000Feb 14, 2005Suspension, Wheels & Tires9,402 vehicles
Suspension:rear
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with rear suspension knuckle bolts that are not to specification and could fracture under high loads that can occur in some driving conditions.
Risk: If the bolt fracture, the rear suspension linkage could detach from the knuckle and the rear wheel would be able to turn inboard or outboard. Sudden changes in vehicle handling could occur, particularly at higher speeds, and the driver may not be able to control the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both rear suspension knuckle bolts free of charge. The recall began on february 9, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
2005 Pontiac Grand AM fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,850
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Grand AM years
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Recalls | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | No verdict | — | 102 | 2 | 23 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Pontiac Grand AM reliable?
- NHTSA lists 102 complaints for the 2005 Grand AM, over half tied to the Electrical System. This is the only model year with data available, so there is no other year to compare it against.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2005 Pontiac Grand AM?
- Electrical System complaints make up 51% of all reports (52 of 102), with a median failure mileage of 68,480 miles.
- Does the 2005 Pontiac Grand AM have a recall?
- Yes, it has 2 recalls: one for a rear suspension knuckle bolt defect and one for an electrical system issue affecting airbag deployment tied to the ignition key.
- Were there any deaths reported for the 2005 Pontiac Grand AM?
- NHTSA complaint data lists 1 death and 7 injuries among the 102 complaints, along with 15 crashes and 1 fire.
- How many crashes were linked to airbag complaints in the 2005 Grand AM?
- Of the 10 Airbag complaints, 9 involved crashes, the highest crash share of any problem area reported.