2002 Pontiac Grand Prix: common problems

Owners of the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix filed 330 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 330
involving a crash: 19

What fails most often

1 Engine 26% of all complaints
2 Engine and cooling 19% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
5 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
6 Visibility 6% of all complaints
7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
8 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine: 86 complaints (26% of all).
Engine and cooling: 62 complaints (19% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 56 complaints (17% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 26 complaints (8% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Exterior lighting: 24 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

3.1 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
3.8 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 4 complaints
3.8 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 4 complaints
automatic, 4-speed

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 330 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire112 · 34%
windows, sunroof19 · 6%
warning lights, check engine17 · 5%
oil leak or consumption16 · 5%
headlights and tail lights15 · 5%
A/C or heater13 · 4%
rust, corrosion12 · 4%
stalls while driving8 · 2%
steering or power steering problems8 · 2%
fuel system, fuel smell7 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine	86	0
Engine and cooling	62	1
Electrical system	56	2
Service brakes	26	3
Exterior lighting	24	1
Visibility	20	1
Powertrain	18	1
Fuel/propulsion system	12	0
Fuel system	12	1
Steering	12	0
Suspension	12	0
Air bags	11	9
Structure	10	0
Vehicle speed control	7	3

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

The air bags failed to deploy. Prior to the crash, the ignition switch failed. The contact sustained shoulder and head injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.
Electrical system · crash · 2015-07-14 · NHTSA complaint #10733845
Both air bags failed to deploy. My daughter (driver) and a passenger both had minor head injuries due to hitting the windshield. The car is considered a total loss. I was never notified of any recall on the air bags.
Air bags · crash · 2014-09-08 · NHTSA complaint #10631709
The air bags did not deploy and the seat belts did not lock up right away they extended to far out before they locked. My face hit the steering wheel and bent up my glasses and my stomach and from my middle back to the middle of my hip where the buckle is.
Air bags · crash · 2014-07-06 · NHTSA complaint #10608436
The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to provide restraint. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 168,000. Updated 11/12/14 the consumer stated the crash was a head on collision.
Air bags · crash · 2014-07-02 · NHTSA complaint #10607871
While parking the vehicle it accelerated on its own. The contact applied extreme force to the brakes when they did not stop the vehicle from accelerating. The vehicle crashed into a post and damaged the front end on the passenger side. The vehicle was towed to an auto repair shop. A police report was filed.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2010-08-12 · NHTSA complaint #10348999
The front bumper and passenger side headlight were damaged. The approximate speed at the time of the crash was 10 mph. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a mechanic or dealer. A police report was filed. The failure and current mileages were 101,000.
Powertrain · crash · 2008-05-19 · NHTSA complaint #10228176
The brakes failed and a result the vehicle dipped down in the from and crash under a trucks rear crash bar. On impact the driver hit his chest on the steering wheel. The seat belt did not restrain him properly nor did either of the frontal air bags deploy.
Service brakes · crash · 2004-08-11 · NHTSA complaint #10087725
While parking in a parking space vehicle suddenly accelerated when shifting from park into drive, collided and submerged completely into a pond. Driver was rescued by the fire department.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2003-10-28 · NHTSA complaint #10044883

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20011
20028
200312
200418
200519
200625
200719
200831
200918
201020
201116
201210
20138
201429
201525
201642
20175
20189
20198
20202
20211
20222
20231
20251

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 1,215 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand Prix has 187 complaints (29 years in the data). This year has 330, above average.

What to check before buying

Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, engine and cooling, electrical system. Total complaints: 330. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (34%), windows, sunroof (6%), warning lights, check engine (5%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2002 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.