YearToAvoid

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#3 most-complained of 4 Grand Prix years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix has 142 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 33 out of 100 — #3 highest of 4 Grand Prix model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (62 complaints, 44% of the total). Complaints report 9 crashes, 3 fires, 11 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
142
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
9 / 3
Injuries / deaths
11 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 26.5 hwy

Top 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System62 (44%)
  2. Engine30 (21%)
  3. Airbags22 (15%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain18 (13%)
  5. Brakes14 (10%)
  6. Steering9 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body7 (5%)
  8. Fuel System5 (4%)
  9. Other5 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)
2008 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints: complaints filed per quarter322008 Q32010 Q42012 Q22013 Q42015 Q22017 Q12019 Q22024 Q4
181 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q3 to 2026 Q1; peak 2014 Q3 (32).

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,650
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.

2008 compared with other Grand Prix years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002005200620072008
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Caution67239120
2007Avoid100220320
2008Good33142120

All Pontiac Grand Prix years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix ranks #3 of 4 among Grand Prix model years (Complaint Index 33/100, verdict: Good). It has 142 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (62 complaints), engine (30 complaints), and airbags (22 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 81,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix, most recently reported 2014, covering electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix?
EPA rates the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix at 20 MPG combined (17 city / 26.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,650. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.