Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine86
- Engine and engine cooling62
- Electrical system56
- Exterior lighting24
- Service brakes, hydraulic20
- Visibility19
- Power train18
- Fuel/propulsion system12
- Suspension12
- Steering12
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 19 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 25 2002 Grand Prix vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 22 people died inside them, and 6 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix failed the safety check 1.94% of the time — 3% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 113,458 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 11.3–12.3 L/100 km (about 19–21 mpg US), CO₂ 260–283 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 9.0 | 11.3 |
| Grand Prix · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 9.4 | 12.0 |
| Grand Prix # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 9.5 | 12.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix.
| 2015501 23 Oct 2015 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.8L engine, degradation of the front rocker cover gasket may result in eventual oil seepage. Under hard braking, drops of … |
| 2009105 8 Apr 2009 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.8L naturally aspirated engine, degradation of the front rocker cover gasket may result in eventual oil seepage. Under har… |
| 2008081 5 Mar 2008 | Engine On certain Grand Prix GTP and Regal GS vehicles equipped with a 3.8L supercharged engine, degradation of the front rocker cover gasket may result in eventual oi… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.
GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Pontiac told its dealers about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637353 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A STRONG SULFUR ODOR OR A VERY OFFENSIVE TYPE ODOR COMING FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 637327 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THE HEADLAMPS MAY SEEM TO FLICKER AT NIGHT WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 636690 | CONERNS WITH A NOISY FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *TT |
| 635008 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND THAT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE EXTREMELY HARSH. *TT |
| 635006 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65-E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS FOR VARIOUS MODELS FROM 1997 THROUGH 2002. *TT |
| 634997 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS. *TT |
| 634985 | CONCERNS WITH SLIPS, HARSH UPSHIFT OR GARAGE SHIFTS, LAUNCH SHUDDERS, FLARES, ERRATIC SHIFTS AND INTERMITTENT CONCERNS, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1811 OR P0748 SET. *TT |
| 634954 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0713. *TT |
| 634931 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0716 AND / OR P0717, P0730, P0753, P0758, P1860, P1887 OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE CODES SET. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634563 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PARK IN THE OUTWIPE (VERTICAL) POSITION. *TT |
| 631267 | INCORRECT TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, POOR PERFORMANCE OF ENGINE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, SES LAMP ILLUMINATED, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0756 AND P0757. *SLC UPDATE. *TT |
| 631210 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0341 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR PERFORMANCE. *SLC |
| 629617 | SUBJECT REGARDING WHINE NOISE HEARD IN THE RADIO SPEAKERS. *TT |
| 629447 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON AN EXHAUST SYSTEM PING/CRACKLE/SNAP TYPE NOISE THAT IS AUDIBLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. *TT |
| 628862 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED WITH HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. *TT |
| 628072 | SOME VEHICLES WITH THE SUPERCHARGED 3800 ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE A HARD START OR EXTENDED CRANK. *TT |
| 626532 | SUBJECT REGARDING COMPLAINTS ON DOOR HINGE CREAK DURING OPENING AND CLOSING OF FRONT DOORS. *JG |
| 625447 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN BULLETIN #01060 - VALVE SPRINGS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 625101 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT. *JG |
| 625083 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT. *JG |
| 625021 | SUBJECT REGARDING REPLACEMENT VALVE SPRINGS. *JG |
| 624830 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A DOOR HINGE CREAK DURING OPENING/CLOSING. *SLC |
| 624068 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK OR OPERATES SLOWLY. *TT |
| 623963 | INFORMATION STATING THAT THE HEADLAMP CAPSULE CAN NOW BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY FROM THE PARKING LAMP AND FRAME ASSEMBLY. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP ILLUMINATION
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation