Pontiac Grand Prix Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Pontiac Grand Prix across 14 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (149). The words owners use most often: “fell off” (14% of reports).
- 555exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $390typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fell off: mentioned in 77 of 555 complaints (14%)
- Low beam: mentioned in 69 of 555 complaints (12%)
- Headlight lens: mentioned in 52 of 555 complaints (9%)
- High beams: mentioned in 42 of 555 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Pontiac Grand Prix at $390, and half of them between $200 and $490.
Based on 28 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2018), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 248 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 555 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 19 a fire, 3 an injury.
Pontiac Grand Prix exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Grand Prix | 30 | 21% | 110,000 |
| 2007 Grand Prix | 92 | 42% | 100,000 |
| 2006 Grand Prix | 48 | 20% | 116,000 |
| 2005 Grand Prix | 3 | 2% | 117,350 |
| 2004 Grand Prix | 41 | 9% | 200 |
| 2003 Grand Prix | 8 | 8% | 35,816 |
| 2002 Grand Prix | 24 | 7% | 70,200 |
| 2001 Grand Prix | 18 | 6% | 92,625 |
| 2000 Grand Prix | 22 | 5% | 76,000 |
| 1999 Grand Prix | 8 | 2% | 78,900 |
| 1998 Grand Prix | 90 | 18% | 58,000 |
| 1997 Grand Prix | 149 | 18% | 74,000 |
| 1996 Grand Prix | 4 | 5% | — |
| 1995 Grand Prix | 18 | 11% | 130,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2007
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, 2006-2008 Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7x vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the headlamp driver module (HDM) may overheat and fail, causing the headlamps and daytime running lights to not illuminate.
Risk: Headlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's visibility to oncoming vehicles, both of which increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HDM, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14291.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Took it in to Valvoline for an oil change and they checked the headlights,blinkers etc.They could not get main headlights to come on so they replaced them and they still would not come on.Told me I was going to have to take it to a mechanic.High beams and fog lights work but replaced bulbs and…
Low beam lights quit randomly, running lights did once too. This has happened multiple times so I switch to hi beams before I crash. This is a documented safety issue and recall should include my car.
My headlights quit working while I was driving with no warning
The contact owns a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated while driving at night the headlights had started to fail and would not properly illuminate. The contact stated that the fog lights and hi-beam worked as designed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer in 2021 to be…
Not sure if the problem is in the engine or engine or the fuel but I but I smell Exhaust or gas when the engine is running. With the headlights I can barely see at night. Having my brights on Is like having your regular lights on.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Pontiac Grand Prixs have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 555 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Pontiac Grand Prix. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Pontiac Grand Prix exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Pontiac Grand Prix?
Owners report a typical cost of $390 (half paid between $200 and $490), from 28 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Pontiac Grand Prix?
The most frequent phrase is “fell off”, in 77 of 555 complaints, followed by “low beam” (69).
Other Pontiac Grand Prix problems
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (795)
- Electrical System problems (737)
- Steering problems (607)
- Engine problems (574)
- Power Train problems (367)
- Visibility problems (264)
- Air Bags problems (245)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (245)
See all Pontiac Grand Prix problems.