The Pontiac Grand Prix is the nameplate used for coupes produced from 1962 until 2002 and sedans that were made from 1989 until 2008 by General Motors. The sedan was later replaced by the Pontiac G8, which only lasted two years before Pontiac went out of business. Fewer than 500,000 models were sold during the 8th generation (2004-2008), proving that the Grand Prix wasn’t winning any races for best model.
Before deciding which Grand Prix model belongs in your driveway, it’s best to do some research. Some models aren’t as reliable as others, and you don’t want to buy a lemon. To make the choice easier for you, we’ve outlined data that gives you a closer look at the inside scoop. Our information should make it clearer which Grand Prix models are worth driving.
This data comes from numerous FIXD car scanners that owners have hooked into their Pontiac Grand Prix cars. We merge this information with all of the survey results from Grand Prix owners. Adding even more value to our research, we give you the NHTSA safety ratings, average repair estimates, fuel economy scores, open recalls, and KBB used car values.
Pontiac Grand Prix Engine Reliability Score, Safety Ratings, MPG, and Value v.s. Maintenance & Repair Costs – Year by Year
Instead of spending all of your time researching the Pontiac Grand Prix models on your own, we’ve put the data in one place. This information makes your decision-making easier, especially if you are hunting for the best Grand Prix model of them all. Our expert review includes fuel economy ratings, safety scores, average annual cost of ownership, customer satisfaction, and reliability rankings.
You should also consider checking into some other midsize cars, such as the Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, or Chevy Malibu.
If you’re in the market for a car, take a look at our article on the USA’s most reliable and cheapest to repair cars in the U.S. Don’t get stuck with a lemon, use our data to help you shop.
Engine Reliability Score – Over The Years
The reliability chart above gives you a general idea of how each model performs. Our graph outlines two main data points:
- The FIXD Reliability score (Green line) – figured by the amount of check engine lights set by Pontiac Grand Prix models, weighted by mileage reported by the owners using the FIXD app.
- The Owner Reliability score (Gray line) – an average of the answers left by Pontiac Grand Prix owners who responded to our survey.
Every Pontiac Grand Prix model earns scores between 1 and 10, so you can choose the best and worst. The best score that is achievable is a 10, with a 1 showing the car lacks reliability. Average scores are close to 5.
None of the Grand Prix models fare well in the FIXD Reliability ranking. However, the best models ranked by owners would be 2005-2007. We can’t just take this at face value because there are other factors involved that can alter the rankings. Additionally, we needed to exclude 2001-2003 Grand Prix models from our rankings due to a lack of data.
Now is a great time to read about the most common reason for the Check Engine Light on Pontiac Grand Prix models. This is valuable information that helps you prepare for the faults occurring most frequently with this Pontiac sedan.
NHTSA Safety Score – Over The Years
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) handles giving America’s vehicles safety scores so we can all remain protected. As a government agency, the NHTSA performs crash tests on modern vehicles. Each score that’s given reveals how safe the vehicle is.
A quick look at the chart above reveals some disturbing information about the Pontiac Grand Prix. Look at the green line (average scores of the Pontiac Grand Prix models) compared to the gray line (average of all vehicles we chart). Sadly, there isn’t a single Grand Prix model that meets or exceeds the average. In fact, there’s a pretty large gap between the two, indicating that these cars aren’t considered safe.
Not only do good crash test scores tell you that you will be protected, but they are also important to get cheap car insurance rates. You can expect to pay higher premiums for a car that’s rated this low.
If you live in one of the states listed below, we can show you the cheapest vehicles to insure in yours.
| What Used Cars Are the Cheapest To Insure In: |
| Ohio |
| North Carolina |
| Michigan |
| Georgia |
| Texas |
| New York |
| Illinois |
| Pennsylvania |
| California |
MPG – Over The Years
The Pontiac Grand Prix has only been offered as a gas-powered car. Across the board, the ratings have remained pretty much the same for the model lineup. Based on the information in the graph above, you see that the 2001 Grand Prix scores 21 mpg, while the other models are rated at 20 mpg. All of this information is sourced from fueleconomy.gov.
Current Market Value of All Pontiac Grand Prix Years & Cost Per Year to Repair and Maintain Each
The Pontiac Grand Prix can be found for a rock-bottom price because of its age. Most models should cost well under $5,000, so it’s a great cheap used car option. The older it is and the more miles it has on the odometer, the lower the resale value continues to drop. However, average resale value is determined by a mixture of factors, including age, mileage, trim level, and features. Always run your own KBB value report before buying or selling a Grand Prix.
The good news is that most Pontiac Grand Prix models don’t cost a lot to maintain or repair. Some model years cost more than you want to spend, which is why you want to be careful. A major repair with an older model with a low resale value means the car is heading to the junkyard.
When shopping for a used Pontiac Grand Prix, it’s important to keep in mind that not all vehicles are cared for equally. To protect yourself from lemons, take along a FIXD Sensor on your test drive. FIXD connects to a free app on your smartphone to tell you more about the vehicle you’re checking out, including check engine lights and other hidden issues that the owner or dealership may be attempting to hide. Click here to learn more and get FIXD for only $19.99 (regular price $59)!
Important Features Timeline
1996: Minor powertrain and trim upgrades
1997: Completely redesigned with a longer, wider wheelbase, supercharged V6 engine added to GTP models, all models include standard traction control, dual airbags, antilock brakes, and side-impact protection
1998: Supercharged GTP models receive some new exterior and interior colors
1999: 3.8L V6 receives five more horsepower, taking it to 200, standard sound system includes six speakers, with an optional eight-speaker Bose system
2000: 3.1L V6 engine earns 15 more horsepower, 2,000 Daytona Pace Car replicas produced
2001: Special Edition appearance package available for GT and GTP trims, OnStar system is available for GTP trim level
2002: 40th Anniversary package can be added to GT and GTP trims
2003: Coupe dropped from the lineup, SE trim comes standard with AM/FM/CD stereo and rear reading lamps, Limited Edition package available for GT and GTP trims that includes a rear spoiler, embroidered floor mats, unique wheels, special badging and leather insert seats
2004: Fully redesigned to start the 8th generation
2005: Remote vehicle start becomes available with all trims, GXP joins the lineup later in the year with a 303-horsepower V8 engine
2006: Special Edition package available with body-color grille, ground effects, bright exhaust tips, and unique 17” alloy wheels
2007: Tire pressure monitoring system becomes standard, new wheel designs introduced
2008: GT model with the supercharged V6 discontinued
The Best Years of the Pontiac Grand Prix
The only way to accurately determine the best Pontiac Grand Prix models is to combine the Owner Survey Scores and FIXD Reliability Ratings with the other data we have. This information includes the safety rankings, average annual ownership costs, common trouble codes, fuel economy ratings, and the recalls listed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
We excluded the 2001 to 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix models because we need more information. If you plan to purchase these, you would need to perform further research.
2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
FIXD Reliability Score: 1/10
Owner Reliability Score: 10/10
KBB Value: $3,399
Fuel Economy: 20 mpg
Annual Maintenance/Repair: $250
Safety Rating: 3.4/5
We had to choose the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix as the best model year because of its low cost of ownership and the scores received by drivers.
The Owner Reliability score of the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix is a perfect 10 out of 10. With the FIXD Reliability score, it only earns 1 out of 10, but that’s normal for these cars.
The NHTSA crash test scores for the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix are only 3.4 (out of 5). This is an alarming score and well below average, as are all of the other models we review.
The gas-powered 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix earns a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg. This is a decent score for the model year.
At $250 a year, this Pontiac Grand Prix has the lowest average cost of ownership of the models we ranked. This model does have a slightly higher chance of brake and fuel system repairs that cost more than $500.
The most common DTC seen by the 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix is the Barometric Pressure Circuit Low (P2228) code. It also suffers from the Throttle Position Sensor Intermittent (P1125) and the Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch “D”/“E” Voltage Correlation (P2138) code.
The 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix only suffers from two recalls, which is better than some other midsize cars of this time.
2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
FIXD Reliability Score: 2/10
Owner Reliability Score: 8/10
KBB Value: $3,013
Fuel Economy: 20 mpg
Annual Maintenance/Repair: $500
Safety Rating: 3.8/5
The 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix is next on our list because it’s an affordable sedan that isn’t expected to cost a lot each year to own.
The Owner Reliability score of the 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix is 8 out of 10, which isn’t perfect but nothing to complain about. With the FIXD Reliability score, it only earns 2 out of 10, but that’s not alarming when looking at the other models.
The NHTSA crash test score for the 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix is only 3.8 (out of 5). Again, this is much lower than compared with other vehicles, so it’s something to think about.
The gas-powered 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix earns a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg. For a sedan this old, that’s a decent rating.
At $500 a year, this Pontiac Grand Prix shouldn’t cost you a lot to drive. However, we do notice a slightly elevated risk of expensive AC/heat repairs.
The most prevalent issue with the 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix is the System Too Lean Bank 1 (P0171) code. It also deals with the Exhaust Gas Recirculation A Control Circuit (P0403) code. If this issue requires a new exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, you may spend $151 to $389. There’s also a chance for the Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (P0420) DTC. In this case, a new catalytic converter is usually required, costing $1,538 to $2,041.
The 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix also has two recalls, but that’s not too alarming when compared with other midsize vehicles from this timeframe.
2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
FIXD Reliability Score: 2/10
Owner Reliability Score: 7/10
KBB Value: $1,882
Fuel Economy: 20 mpg
Annual Maintenance/Repair: $625
Safety Rating: 3.4/5
The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix rounds out our best model year list because of its good owner scores and low cost of annual repairs or maintenance.
The Owner Reliability score of the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix is 7 out of 10. With the FIXD Reliability score, it only earns 2 out of 10, which falls in line with the other two we’ve discussed.
The NHTSA crash test score for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix is only 3.4 (out of 5). We can’t rave about these scores as the car is far below average.
The gas-powered 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix earns a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg, which can help you save money at the pump compared with other cars from the same year.
At $625 a year, this Pontiac Grand Prix is another that’s going to keep ownership costs down. However, we do notice a slightly elevated risk of expensive brake and fuel system repairs.
The most common DTC with the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix is the Manifold Air Pressure (MAP) Barometric Pressure Sensor Circuit High Voltage Input Problem (P0108) code. This repair may require a new Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor, costing $54 to $158. You may also deal with the Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected (P0304) code. There’s also a chance of the System Gross Leak Evaporative System Malfunction (P0455) DTC.
The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix shows nine recalls. This is more than the other two models we chose.
The Worst Years of the Pontiac Grand Prix
Once we picked out the best Pontiac Grand Prix models, it became easier to determine which ones should be avoided. We use the same data to figure out these rankings, beginning with the one you should stay away from.
2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
FIXD Reliability Score: 2/10
Owner Reliability Score: 7/10
KBB Value: $3,879
Fuel Economy: 20 mpg
Annual Maintenance/Repair: $1,125
Safety Rating: 3.8/5
When choosing a Pontiac Grand Prix, it’s clear this one is expected to cost the most. It also doesn’t have the highest ratings.
The Owner Reliability score of the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix is 7 out of 10. With the FIXD Reliability score, the 2008 Grand Prix earns 2 out of 10.
As far as the crash test scores are concerned, the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix only gets a 3.8 (out of 5) rating. This should be alarming if you plan to drive your family around.
The 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix also earns a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg. This isn’t a terrible rating, considering how old the model is.
Your biggest concern with the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix is how much it costs to own. On average, owners are spending $1,125 a year. It also shows a higher chance of expensive brake repairs.
Based on data from the FIXDapp installed on these cars, the Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch “D”/“E” Voltage Correlation (P2138) code seems to be the most common. It also suffers from the Throttle Position Sensor Intermittent (P1125) code. We also show a higher instance of the Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (P0420) DTC. To replace the catalytic converter, you may spend $1,538 to $2,041.
On the bright side, the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix only suffers from one recall.
2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
FIXD Reliability Score: 1/10
Owner Reliability Score: 8/10
KBB Value: $3,492
Fuel Economy: 20 mpg
Annual Maintenance/Repair: $900
Safety Rating: 3.8/5
The 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix also has a higher cost of ownership, so it could cost more to repair than it’s worth.
The Owner Reliability score of the 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix is 8 out of 10. With the FIXD Reliability score, the 2007 Grand Prix earns 1 out of 10, so it doesn’t get much worse.
With crash testing, the 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix only gets a 3.8 (out of 5) rating. If you want a safe sedan, this isn’t your best option.
The 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix also earns a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg. There are some sedans that do better than this, but it’s not a terrible score for the model year.
More concerning is the cost of ownership of the 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix. Owners estimate spending $900 a year, and there are higher instances of engine, AC/heat, and fuel system repairs.
The most common code with the 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix is the Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (P0420) DTC. To replace the catalytic converter, you may spend $1,538 to $2,041. There’s also a chance for the Random, Multiple Misfire Detected (P0300) code. You may also notice the System Gross Leak Evaporative System Malfunction (P0455) DTC.
The 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix shows four recalls and seems to be one of the most complained about models, according to the NHTSA.
FAQs
What years of the Pontiac Grand Prix have engine and/or transmission problems?
Of the model years we’ve gathered data on, the 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix is the only one with an elevated chance of engine troubles. We don’t see any indication of transmission problems with the reviewed model years.
What is considered high mileage for a Pontiac Grand Prix?
The Pontiac Grand Prix isn’t a newer vehicle. Because there are so many older models, we can get a good indication of how long this car will last. However, the mileage can vary based on how well the car was cared for, so it’s important to stay up to date on the maintenance schedule.
Based on our data, a high-mileage Pontiac Grand Prix could be considered anything over 175,000 miles.
The 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix models have the highest mileage in our surveys at 275,000. Yet, most of the other models in our survey show mileage numbers between 150,000 and 180,000.
What other vehicles should I consider?
Pontiac is no longer producing vehicles, but you could look at the Chevy Malibu if you want something from the GM brand. Chevrolet also has some SUVs that may fit your needs, such as the Trax, Trailblazer, Equinox, or Blazer.
Some other midsize cars worth looking into include the Honda Accord, Kia Optima (K5), Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry.
What owners of the Pontiac Grand Prix like to use their car for:
Percent based x/5-star: 0-10% = 1, 11-20% = 2, 21-30% = 3, 31-40% = 4, 41%+ = 5
| Frequent Use Categories: | How Useful? (Out of 5 Stars) |
| Family Vehicle | ***** |
| Lots of Driving (travel/long commute) | *** |
| Hauling/Towing | * |
| Office on Wheels | * |
| Sport/Fast Driving | * |
| Luxurious Driving | * |
| Outdoor/Off-Road | * |
A Note About Data and Information Sources
This article has many details about the Pontiac Grand Prix’s reliability; here’s what we used for our assumptions and recommendations.
- FIXD Reliability Score & Data: Engine reliability information is captured via the FIXD App.
The FIXD Reliability Score is calculated using the number of DTCs per year, weighted by mileage. This is then turned into a scale of 1-10 for easy graphing.
This is an objective score.
- Owner Reliability Score & Data: This data is the result of surveying Pontiac Grand Prix owners who use FIXD.
The Owner Reliability Score comes straight from owners of the Pontiac Grand Prix.
This is a subjective score.
To determine the Owner Reliability Score we ask each car owner:
How reliable would you say your Pontiac Grand Prix is?
a. Just point A to point B driving
b. A Daily Commuter
c. Good for a 100-mile road trip
d. Good for a 500-mile road trip
e. I could take a cross-country road trip, no problem
From here we translate their answers into the Owner Reliability Score:
a. = 2
b. = 4
c. = 6
d. = 8
e. = 10
Keep in mind, owners may think their car is more or less reliable than it actually is.
One potential problem is that people often buy the same make or model they are used to when they go car shopping, just a newer year.
Ford, for instance, has a number of consumer loyalty awards for the Ford F-Series, Ford Mustang, and Ford Expedition.
Car owners may be so loyal to the make or model they currently own that they would have trouble accurately comparing their cars’ reliability to others.
It’s for this reason that we ask car owners a question that is relative to mileage rather than relative to other cars.
Still, be mindful of the accuracy of these Owner Reliability Scores, people’s perceptions and unconscious blindspots can skew data.
We suggest looking at both the FIXD Reliability Score and the Owner Reliability Score for this reason.
- KBB Value: Average private-seller valuations as supplied by Kelley Blue Book (KBB), based on a Pontiac Grand Prix with typical mileage for that respective model year.
- Fuel Economy: Mileage-per-gallon estimates according to the EPA MPG on Fueleconomy.gov
- Annual Maintenance/Repair: Upkeep expenses as reported by surveyed Pontiac Grand Prix owners
- Safety Rating: Crash test data collected and reported by NHTSA. We average all ratings for each year to come up with a simplified, average safety score. This makes it easier to look at on a graph.
References
- Pontiac Grand Prix, wikipedia.org. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Grand_Prix
- Pontiac Grand Prix U.S. Sales Figures, carsalesbase.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from https://carsalesbase.com/us-pontiac-grand-prix/
- Pontiac Grand Prix reviews, edmunds.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023, from https://www.edmunds.com/pontiac/grand-prix/2008/review/
Brian Jones owns a used car dealership outside of Dallas, Texas. He has also worked for decades as an ASE Certified Master Technician for a variety of new car dealerships. Now he spends his time consulting dealerships and writing for some renowned publications, such as Motor1 (https://www.motor1.com/info/team/brian-jones/). When he’s not working, he’s tinkering around with pickup trucks and traveling with his family.
