YearToAvoid

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix has a complaint index of 33, ranking 3rd best out of 4 model years, with a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 142 complaints, one recall, and a top problem area of Electrical System (44% of complaints).

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
33/100
#3 of 4 Grand Prix years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
142
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
9
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
11
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2005
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 26.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
11 / 1

Top 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Frontal airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple crashes, including collisions around 35 to 60 mph, leading to face, knee, and neck injuries.
  • Owners describe fuse boxes catching fire or igniting, sometimes accompanied by smoke from under the hood and melted wiring.
  • Some drivers reported sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, including one case where power steering and brakes malfunctioned after the engine stalled.
  • Interior and dashboard gauges reportedly flickered or fluctuated erratically alongside electrical smoke events.
  • One owner reported a hard vibration through the brake pedal when braking and accelerating between 55 and 65 mph.
2008 Pontiac Grand Prix complaints: complaints filed per quarter242008 Q32010 Q42012 Q22013 Q42015 Q22017 Q12019 Q22024 Q4
142 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q3 to 2026 Q1; peak 2014 Q3 (24).

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 reliable?
Compared to other Grand Prix model years, the 2008 ranks well, with a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict, placing it 3rd out of 4 years in the dataset.
What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Electrical System issues make up 44% of complaints, including fuse box fires and wiring harness failures reported by owners.
Does the 2008 Grand Prix have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (14V400000) for the electrical system related to airbag key ring interference, with no do-not-drive advisory.
How does the 2008 Grand Prix compare to the 2007 model?
The 2007 Grand Prix has a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, while the 2008 has a much lower complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict.
Did airbags fail to deploy in the 2008 Grand Prix?
NHTSA complaints include several reports of frontal airbags failing to deploy during crashes at various speeds, resulting in injuries.

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.