Wrench.Pro

2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Oil leak recall remedy parts availability and follow-up.” Every Pontiac is now 15+ years old, which changes the maintenance question from 'what mileage?' to 'how old is it?' — hoses, belts, coolant, and brake fluid age out even on low-mile cars. The G6 uses GM's Oil Life System (change oil when the message appears, at most every 12 months) with Dex-Cool coolant and either the 2.4L Ecotec four or the 3.5/3.9L pushrod V6. Parts remain cheap and plentiful through GM's shared platforms — these cars are inexpensive to keep healthy if the age-based items aren't ignored.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Reported to NHTSA

Oil leak recall remedy parts availability and follow-up

ENGINE

30 NHTSA complaints · 2010-01 → 2025-10

“THEY STATED THEY RECEIVED ONLY 5 REPAIR KITS AND HAVE A BACKLOG OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR PARTS TO COME IN SO THEIR VEHICLES CAN BE REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10854371
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10860363
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OIL LEAKS PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIRS. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK OIL EXCESSIVELY WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10918469

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition switch and key release failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

26 NHTSA complaints · 2008-11 → 2019-10

“THE IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10575966
“AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION START SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10660882
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE REMAINED ON WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10628906

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake line corrosion and rupture

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

7 NHTSA complaints · 2010-04 → 2015-09

“APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUST THROUGH!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10436604
“THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE AND BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AS A RESULT OF RUST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10396614
“I PARKED AND HAD MY CAR TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED THROUGH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10349514

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake light failure with multifunction switch

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

5 NHTSA complaints · 2008-11 → 2014-06

“BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND FLASHER SWITCH IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION,MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM CAUSE NEW PART FROM GM IS $700.00 LABOR NOT INCLUDED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10285923
“MECHANIC ALERTED ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE BUMPER ARE NOT WORKING. BRAKE LIGHT IN CENTER OF BACK WINDOW WORKS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10324875
“I OWN A 02 GRAND PRIX GT WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES ON IT AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10247444

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine compartment fire and smoke

ENGINE

73 NHTSA complaints · 2009-02 → 2022-10

“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG CHEMICAL BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11144921
“PARKED CAR AND TURNED IT OFF IN DRIVE WAY. SMELLED SMOKE AND GOT OUT. CAR FULLY ENGULFED IN MINUTES. CALLED 911 AND LOCAL VFD PUT OUT FIRE. TOTAL LOSS. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10489167
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10810901

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in collisions

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2014-07 → 2018-11

“ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME AROUND THE CURVE FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND HIT HER HEAD ON. BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10631709
“THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROVIDE RESTRAINT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10607871
“AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH FRONT END DAMAGE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11150954

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling or shutoff while driving

ENGINE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2013-02 → 2017-08

“AS IM DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS AND TURNS OFF..THEN I HV TO PUT IT ON NEUTRO AND TURN IT BACK ON THEN IT TURNS ON LIKE IF NOTHING AND STOPS AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10595675
“CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS FROM SLOW SPEEDS (<30 MPH) OR AFTER STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. COMPLETE AND ALMOST IMMEDIATE LOSS OF MOTOR AND POWER STEERING MAKING IT DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO STEER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10730271
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10500619

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 5,000 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it, and at least every 12 months. On engines this age, many mechanics suggest a practical 5,000-mile ceiling — aging seals and PCV systems contaminate oil faster.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles. Check tire date codes too — sidewall age (6+ years) retires tires on old cars before tread wear does.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and especially brake hoses and hard lines at every service — line corrosion is a real failure mode on 15-year-old northern cars.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace every 2 years. Decade-old fluid is the hidden cause of soft pedals and seized calipers on aging GM sedans.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid (4T45-E / 4T65-E)

Every 45,000 mi

Drain-and-fill every 45,000 miles with Dexron VI. On high-mile units that have never been serviced, prefer repeated drain-and-fills over a pressure flush.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium plugs at 100,000 miles on the G6's engines. Replace wires/boots on the pushrod V6 at the same time — they're brittle at this age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Serpentine Belt & Tensioner

Every 60,000 mi

At this age, replace the belt AND tensioner as a pair on any evidence of cracking or noise — a weak tensioner eats new belts.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles — a cheap, 5-minute job on the G6.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 100,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles — but on cars this old the interval is effectively 'every 5 years.' Check for intake and water-pump seepage while it's drained; use Dex-Cool only, never mixed with green coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery & Charging System Test

Every 25,000 mi

Test the battery and alternator annually. Parasitic drains from aging body modules are common on this era of GM — a healthy battery masks them until it doesn't.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

309 crashes 1990–2024

How the 309 occupant deaths break down

232

driver deaths

75

passenger deaths

2

not recorded by seat

309

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2001 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

19

complaints mentioning a crash

96

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix reflects Pontiac's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →