Is the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix a bad year?
331 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 139, 4.3× a quiet Grand Prix year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix were filed between 87k and 160k miles. You're at 127,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Grand Prix owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 127,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 136 (41%) | 89k–160k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 25 (8%) | 81k–169k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 12 (4%) | 42k–127k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 57 (17%) | 57k–116k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 26 (8%) | 31k–110k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 24 (7%) | 60k–94k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 20 (6%) | 40k–88k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 18 (5%) | 46k–95k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exhaust | 9 (3%) | 66k–102k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 12 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 127,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 331 complaints: 19 mention a crash · 96 mention a fire · 12 report an injury · 12 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Car was not accelerating on high way then all power was last in car including the breaks. I was able to get the car to the side of the highway.
My Pontiac grand Prix 2002 caught fire in my driveway a mere 10 minutes after I got out of the vehicle. 5 days later I received a letter stating that there was a recall on my car for engine compartment fires.
I have a complain on my 2002 Pontiac grand Prix V6, we have changed the thermostat, water pump, belts, hoses, etc, anything u can think of we've done it.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 127,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix: 7
The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold. Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
A potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area. A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning.
These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket and eventual oil seepage. Certain underhood fires may be caused by drops of engine oil, from seepage or spillage, being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (Upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Pontiac: 102
Repair instructions Pontiac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Engine compartment fire
Engine compartment fire
Loss of brake lamp illumination
Engine compartment fires
Neighbouring years
2001 Grand Prix: 306 complaints, consider selling · 2003 Grand Prix: 106 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Pontiac Grand Prix year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · All Grand Prix years side by side
Other Pontiac models: Pontiac Aztek · Pontiac Bonneville · Pontiac G5 · Pontiac G6 · Pontiac G8 · Pontiac GTO · Pontiac Grand Am · Pontiac Montana · Pontiac Solstice · Pontiac Sunfire · Pontiac Torrent · Pontiac Vibe. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix a bad year?
331 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 139, 4.3× a quiet Grand Prix year. At 127,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix were filed between 87k and 160k miles. You're at 127,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (136), fuel system (25), steering (12), electrical system (57), brakes (26). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 87k–160k miles.
How many recalls does the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Exhaust (NHTSA 15V-701), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E025000), Engine (NHTSA 09V-116), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.