2005 Pontiac Grand Prix Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix has 148 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 0, the lowest among the four model years with data, ranking 4th worst (best) overall. It carries a Good verdict, though capped due to less complete complaint records for 2005-2009 model years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #4 of 4 Grand Prix years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 148
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 11
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 7
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 16.5 city / 25.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 7 / 0
Top 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System47 (32%)
- Transmission & Powertrain40 (27%)
- Engine24 (16%)
- Steering24 (16%)
- Brakes20 (14%)
- Airbags10 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (7%)
- Other8 (5%)
- Structure & Body8 (5%)
- Fuel System3 (2%)
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 in multiple head-on or high-energy collisions, including one crash reported at 117,350 miles.
- Owners describe brake failure events, including one case at 179,000 miles where brakes reportedly failed while merging and caused a crash.
- Electrical fires were reported under the dashboard and hood, with one incident involving smoke and burning odor at 83,300 miles and another at 155,000 miles.
- A tire blowout reportedly caused loss of control and a crash into a ditch, with no airbag deployment.
- Transmission problems were reported including a vehicle that rolled backward unexpectedly and another with repeated transmission replacements.
2005 Pontiac Grand Prix recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign 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.
2005 Pontiac Grand Prix fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- 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 Prix years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2005 Grand Prix has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of the four model years with data, and carries a Good verdict relative to other Grand Prix years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix?
- Electrical System issues lead with 47 complaints (32% share), followed by Transmission & Powertrain with 40 complaints (27%) and Engine and Steering each with 24 complaints (16%).
- Does the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 14V400000) for the airbag system's key ring/ignition switch issue, with no do-not-drive recalls.
- Why is the 2005 Grand Prix's verdict capped at Good instead of Best?
- NHTSA data for 2005-2009 Grand Prix model years is less complete, so the verdict is capped to Good rather than reflecting the complaint index alone.
- How does the 2005 Grand Prix compare to the 2007 model?
- The 2007 Grand Prix has a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict with 220 complaints and 3 recalls, far worse than the 2005 model's index of 0 and Good verdict.