2005 Pontiac Grand Prix: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 3, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 134,300 miles · MO

I was driving down the road and all of a sudden my car lost power and said "reduced engine power" I was pressing the gas going 55 MPH and it suddenly lost all rpms and speed dropped. I was almost rear ended by another vehicle traveling behind me. I was very upset on the side of the road with my son. I was told about many others who have had this problem with pontiacs. What is being done about this? And if nothing why? My son and I were very lucky we weren't I'm an accident. Want answers and why there isn't a recall getting these cars fixed. It is very unsafe.

Filed Apr 22, 2015 · Airbags, Brakes · 123,000 miles · MN

My car has been acting up for a while. It started with gauges and info center flickering while going down the road like it was losing power intermittently. Than started doing this thing when you start it and let off on the key it continues to turn engine over. I received the letter for the recall and took it in. I told dealer what it was doing and they snapped back and said that wasn't part of the recall. I said oh I thought the ignition switch was the problem they said no. They took my keys put their stupid inserts in and sent me on my way. I have been nervous about it and than today it happened going down highway at 65mph and everything shut off!!! No air bags no power steering no power brakes luckily I was not in traffic and cost to shoulder shut key off restarted car everything fine again. Key never turned to off position. The switch itself is the problem. Why did some get a new switch and all I get is a key upgrade. I am very disappointed and I feel they have not fixed the really problem. I can not let anyone in my family drive this car. I look forward to hearing your response.

Filed Oct 7, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 58,885 miles · NY

On 9/26/14 I took the vehicle in for a recall for unintentional ignition key rotation. The vehicle was supposedly repaired. But when I attempted to pull out of the driveway at bill rapp pontiac service the vehicle shut down again. It said in the information data that "start up failure due to electrical throttle malfunction. Reduced engine power." I waited approximately 30 seconds and attempted to restart the vehicle which did start up. On approximately 9/29/14 while entering interstate 81n in syracuse, ny, the vehicle once again shut down on the highway. I contacted bill rapp pontiac service department and was told that I needed to bring in the vehicle again but that I would have to pay for any further services since there is currently no other recall for the 2005 pontiac grand prix except for the one with the key rotation issue. What can I do? My car is still shutting down in street and highway traffic.

Filed Sep 9, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 57,005 miles · NY

Since we purchased this vehicle in december 2013 there has been four incidents where the engine totally shut down while in traffic without warning. The first two incident occurred while my daughter was driving while away at college with this vehicle. On approximately 5/17/14, while on interstate 287 (60mph) the vehicle shut off without warning. On approximately 6/20/14 in s. Orange, nj the vehicle shut off without warning in street traffic (28mph). The third and fourth incidents happened when I was driving the vehicle on approximately 8/7/14 at a stop light (0mph) while waiting for the signal to change the vehicle shut down totally. On 9/1/14 while driving on interstate 81n the vehicle totally shut off without warning. Once the engine shut down, the check engine light came on, a message read "loss of engine power' came on. I was driving approximately 72mph and came very close to causing a major accident with three other cars and a tractor-trailer. I was in the passing lane attempting to pass the truck with three other vehicles behind me. When I attempted to accelerate the vehicle shut down. The lights on the dash board went black and the steering wheel locked. The car behind me went into a ditch on the left, while the second car swerved to the right to avoid a collision with me. I had been driving for approximately three (3) hours from s. Orange, nj to syracuse, ny. I was using only the ignition key and the car remote on the keyring. No other items were on the key ring. Fortunately there was no one injured and no crash occurred. I am not using this vehicle because I am terrified to drive it. This is especially disturbing since this vehicle was purchased for my daughter who is away at college. This is more than an unintended key rotation as gm is claiming. Please, I need your help. This vehicle is very dangerous. Purchase mileage = 56,372, current mileage = 58,824.

Filed Jul 24, 2014 · Electrical · 60,200 miles · IA

Driving in town at @30 MPH and the car lost power, luckily there was a business close by that when I lost power I was able to muscle the steering wheel to get my car off the street. Ignition was no longer in the run position. Car was able to start back up and I was able to carry on my way. I use only a key with no key chain, no extra weight on the ignition.

Filed Mar 25, 2014 · Electrical · 93,000 miles · FL

Gm recent admission and the federal safety agency confirmation of accidents and deaths cause by ignition switch turning off in general motor vehicles is also applicable to pontiacs too which was not mentioned. I have a 2005 pontiac gran prix in which I had this happened twice to me. The second time almost causing me to almost get side swipe by a large truck while going around a bend on a bright sunny day in florida. As describe by the incident of these events. I was driving and operating my pontiac normally, and when I entered the corner the car lost all power as it kept on going. Everything shut down. And because of the lost of power to the steering and power brakes I had to literally manhandle the vehicle from going directly into oncoming traffic and getting smashed. An even that was very scare and now I know the cause. I do not know why gm model from saturn, oldmobile and pontiac are not mentioned in the recall. But obviously they all use and incorporate the same ignition systems, parts and components. Because of neglect of general motor I almost lost my life driving one of their vehicle. I still have the vehicle and I have had one other inside of lost of power that could be related. By I believe that pontiacs are also susceptible to the same problem with the ignition switch as the cars that are all being recalled and involved in deadly accidents.

Filed Mar 9, 2014 · Transmission · 68,300 miles · MI

I leased my 05 grand prix gt new in 2005 and purchased it in 2008 after I purchased the vehicle I too noticed the change in shifting gears loss of power or no movement then all of a sudden the transmission would pop into gear when the vehicle had approx 68k miles. I had taken the vehicle to several dealers, and they told me either they could not replicate the problem or they sold me on something else including transmission flushes. One mechanic informed me quit as few vehicles been in for complaining about the same thing. There seems to be a problem in the design of these transmission.

Filed Oct 11, 2012 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · WV

My 2005 pontiac grand prix gxp transmission just stopped while I was driving. I have read how about 225 people have documented on a website of their transmission issues with this same make and model vehicle here http://www.gmls4.com/index.php/topic,33.0.html with my car only having around 80,000 miles and has not been driven hard I am really disappointed in gm for making a vehicle like this. The transmission is now whining and I can drive it about ten yards and there will be lose of power and it will not drive in any gear on the vehicle. I am very disappointed and need this corrected and will ultimately need a new transmission which will ultimately have the same problem down the road.

Filed Oct 2, 2009 · Steering · 111,000 miles · MI

My 2005 grand prix has an issue with power steering fluid leaking which LED to a loss of power steering assistance. I've had the steering gear replaced about 3 months ago, and now the return line was replaced. After all of this it is leaking again.

Filed Jan 6, 2009 · Steering · 72,775 miles · IN

2005 pontiac grand prix gt 3.8 l v6 engine: the rack and pinion steering system failed to work properly. When attempting to make a left turn, the power steering function unexpectedly failed, causing loss of control. I was able to stop the vehicle in time to avoid running off of the road. Also, I was almost rear-ended by the vehicle turning behind me. I was not able to continue with the turn at the location of the failure. It was necessary to back up into traffic in order to adjust the steering wheel so that I was able to pull off of the roadway. The steering wheel was not able to turn to the left (no power assist). The steering wheel was able to turn freely to the right (power assisted). Due to the immediate nature of the failure, this issue could result in a severe accident which could cause significant damage or injury. The vehicle was repaired at a local repair shop. The technician replaced the rack and pinion for the vehicle. During his analysis, he spoke to a local pontiac dealer. Their repair shop representative stated that they were aware of similar occurrences, but general motors had not issued any form of safety recall. During my initial attempt to troubleshoot the problem, I read several similar complaints online. Most reported an immediate loss of power steering, typically in one direction. The total repair for this item was $521.00. The replacement part was $300, labor was $200, and indiana tax (7%) was $21. I would appreciate any assistance that you may offer in resolving this safety issue. Thank you for your time.

Filed Jun 29, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 35,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 pontiac grand prix. When the window defogger is activated and the windshield wipers are engaged, the vehicle shuts down. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalls and loses power. The mechanic stated that the o-ring was missing, which causes the vehicle to lose power due to lack of heat. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. When the contact took her vehicle to the dealer, it was still under warranty. However, when she picked up her vehicle from the dealer, she noticed that 100 miles had been added, which put the vehicle out of warranty. The failure persists. The current mileage is 37,000 and failure mileage was 35,000.

Filed Apr 26, 2005 · Acceleration, Engine · 4,200 miles · LA

2005 pontiac grand prix gt sedan VIN #[xxx] purchased 12/16/2004. Intermittently vehicle stalls/ loss of power in the engine. While driving the vehicle it will suddenly just loses power. You continue to press the accelerator pedal and then the engine will suddenly take back off at a great speed. This has happened while driving normally without trying to accelerate and also while trying to accelerate. The car has lost power while trying to merge in traffic. The car has lost power while trying to cross highways. The car has lost power while just driving down the road. Gmc has performed the following repairs without fixing the problem. 12/30/2004 [xxx]-module, powertrain control-engine reprogramming. 01/24/2005 [xxx]-solenoid,pressure control-replaced. 02/04/2005 [xxx]-module, PCM/vcm-replaced. 02/14/2005 [xxx]-pedal,accelerator-replaced. Dealership purchased from capital buick-pontiac-gmc 225‑293‑3500. Dealership has advised that they do not know what is wrong with the car. We have been told that we have to go direct to pontiac with the problem. Have been in contact with pontiac since 02/15/05. Pontiac advised that they were going to research the problem and see if any other grand pri was reporting like problems. So far the only advice from pontiac is they want us to come in and take another grand prix off the lot and see if we can get this car to duplicate the same problem. This did not impress me at all. So after waiting for 2-1/2 months for pontiac to do something to fix the problem, I have decided to report this to the federal safety agency. *ak *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)