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2004 Pontiac Grand Am

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Am years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Am are substantially higher than the model-year median of 82.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

223 reports with mileage · 70 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports7 fire reports12 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

21 reports
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130,700 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Air BagsCrash

I WAS THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND SOMEONE ELSE WAS DRIVING AND FILED A CLAIM. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I DID NOT GET ANYTHING IN THE LAW SUIT HER NAME IS [XXX] AT THE TIME SHE LIVED AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11232776

101,049 miles · May 21, 2019
Air Bags

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AS IT DID DURING RECALL. THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED IT. I THEN BOUGHT IT FROM PREVIOUS OWNER WHO DID NOT MENTION THE PROBLEM AS BEING ON A RECALL. WE FOUND OUT BUT DEALER SAYS IT WAS REPAIRED. OBVIOUSLY THE FIX DID NOT WORK AS VEHICLE STILL SHUTS DOWN AND SAYS AIRBAG WARNING. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE WHEN THEY S…

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VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AS IT DID DURING RECALL. THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED IT. I THEN BOUGHT IT FROM PREVIOUS OWNER WHO DID NOT MENTION THE PROBLEM AS BEING ON A RECALL. WE FOUND OUT BUT DEALER SAYS IT WAS REPAIRED. OBVIOUSLY THE FIX DID NOT WORK AS VEHICLE STILL SHUTS DOWN AND SAYS AIRBAG WARNING. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE WHEN THEY SAY IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BUT WASN'T.

NHTSA ODI #11208949

170,000 miles · Mar 20, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A SNOWPLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A SNOWPLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE DRIVER DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10967133

131,000 miles · Sep 28, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE IGNITION KEY WAS ENCOUNTERED AND FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE IGNITION KEY WAS ENCOUNTERED AND FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD NO CONNECTION TO THE STARTER. AS A RESULT, THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ; UPDATED 4/10/18 *JB *TR

NHTSA ODI #10778269

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10660009

63,130 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS THE ANTI-THEFT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,130. DJR

NHTSA ODI #10654793

140,000 miles · Nov 6, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID A CRASH INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE TIRES WENT FL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID A CRASH INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE TIRES WENT FLAT AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DIRECTLY IN THE CONTACT'S FACE AND THE VEHICLE COASTED DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE RESIDUE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS CONSUMING THE VEHICLE SO THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK AND BACK. THE PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FAILURE AND WAS WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR ALONG WITH THE REPAIRS FROM THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10653148

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10652826

79,800 miles · Jul 2, 2014
Air BagsCrash

MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE AT WHICH POINT A TRAILER (REAR OF A PICK UP) HAULING DIRT WAS RELEASED FROM AND ONCOMING VEHICLE (TRAVELING APPROX. 45-55 MPH) AND MY HUSBAND DRIVING AT 35 MPH (BRAKING AS HE SAW IT COMING TOWARDS HIM) THE TRAILER SLAMMED INTO THE FRONT END OF OUR CAR. …

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MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE AT WHICH POINT A TRAILER (REAR OF A PICK UP) HAULING DIRT WAS RELEASED FROM AND ONCOMING VEHICLE (TRAVELING APPROX. 45-55 MPH) AND MY HUSBAND DRIVING AT 35 MPH (BRAKING AS HE SAW IT COMING TOWARDS HIM) THE TRAILER SLAMMED INTO THE FRONT END OF OUR CAR. THIS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BE BENT WITH SEVERAL OTHER DAMAGES INCLUDING BROKEN AXLE, AND DRIVESHAFT WITH OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TOTALED HAD IT NOT HAD GAP COVERAGE AND DUE TO FAULT THE OTHER DRIVERS INSURANCE WOULD HAVE HAD TO BUY THE CAR OUT FROM OUR CREDIT AGENCY. APPROX. DAMAGE WAS A LITTLE OVER $5000. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE AIRBAGS (EVEN OR REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED) AND WITH GM'S RECENT RECALLS (MY MAKE AND MODEL INCLUDED BUT THE VIN HAS NOT BEEN FLAGGED YET) THEY ARE CLAIMING THE ISSUE WITH OUR CAR ISNT LIKE THE RECENT COLBOLT RECALL A FEW MONTHS BACK. BUT OUR VEHICLE CAN BE JARRED INTO ACC. WHILE STILL IN MOTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL . WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD MINIMAL KEY ON OUR RINGS (HOUSE, CAR, WORK KEYS WITH A SINGLE RING) GM EXPLAINED TO ME THIS LAST WK THAT THE CAR WAS JUST ADDED ON THE LIST FOR UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION NOT THE FAULTY IGNITION AND I WOULD NEED TO WAIT AND SEE IF OUR VIN WAS INVOLVED BUT THEY ASSURED THE CAR WAS SAFE. AFTER READING UP ON THE RECENT COMPLAINTS OF THE YEAR MAKE AND MODEL I SEE THIS IS NOT JUST OUR CAR AND I HIGHLY DOUBT IN ANYWAY IT IS A COINCIDENCE. WE ALSO HAVE THE DIRECTIONAL ISSUE WERE IT SOMETIMES DOESNT WORK AND WHEN IT DOES IT HAS A LONG LASTING CLICKING AFTER USE AND TO OUR KNOWLEDGE THIS PART WAS REPLACED ATLEAST TWICE BY PERVIOUS OWNER AS WELL AS ONCE BY US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607835

195,300 miles · Jun 26, 2014
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,300.

NHTSA ODI #10606349

Official recalls

2

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

04V301000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Jun 30, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK THAT DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. A WELD ON THESE FUEL TANKS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK, AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.