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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

Engine complaints

17 reports
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120,000 miles · Jun 27, 2019
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AS THE TRANSMISSION MADE AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION, RAISED THE HOOD, AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AS THE TRANSMISSION MADE AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION, RAISED THE HOOD, AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE AND THEN DROVE HOME WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS A MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11222967

37,000 miles · May 7, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

EVERY YEAR THAT WE FIX THE INTAKE VALVE ON THE CAR NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON AND IT WILL BE THE SAME INTAKE VALVE. THIS CLOGS ALL THE VALVES IN THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO SOMETIMES IT'S SLOW OR CUT OFF. CAR WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS EVEN AFTER YOU FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND NOT…

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EVERY YEAR THAT WE FIX THE INTAKE VALVE ON THE CAR NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON AND IT WILL BE THE SAME INTAKE VALVE. THIS CLOGS ALL THE VALVES IN THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO SOMETIMES IT'S SLOW OR CUT OFF. CAR WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS EVEN AFTER YOU FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATE THAT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE. ALSO THE BLINKERS WILL STOP WORKING YOU HAVE TO HIT THE HAZARDOUS BLINKERS FOR THE BLINKERS TO START WORKING AGAIN THIS COULD CAUSE A REAR-END ACCIDENT I ALSO TOLD THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #11092248

171,000 miles · Apr 7, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REMAINED ON AND ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO SHUT OFF ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE EMITTED A FUEL ODOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REMAINED ON AND ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO SHUT OFF ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE EMITTED A FUEL ODOR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ODI #10854062

120,000 miles · Apr 5, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

REGULAR OCCURRENCES STARTED AT 120K MILES, THESE ARE ALL ISSUES WHICH PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED BY CURRENT 2004 GRAND AM OWNERS BUT HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND I HAVE CALLED EVERY 6 MONTHS FILING THESE COMPLAINTS. 1) GAS FUMES ARE COMING IN THE CAR WHEN IT IS RUNNING OR SITTING STILL IDLING, 2) BLINKERS START BLINKIN…

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REGULAR OCCURRENCES STARTED AT 120K MILES, THESE ARE ALL ISSUES WHICH PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED BY CURRENT 2004 GRAND AM OWNERS BUT HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND I HAVE CALLED EVERY 6 MONTHS FILING THESE COMPLAINTS. 1) GAS FUMES ARE COMING IN THE CAR WHEN IT IS RUNNING OR SITTING STILL IDLING, 2) BLINKERS START BLINKING ON THEIR OWN AROUND 80 DEGREES F OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, MECHANIC SAID IT WAS BECAUSE GREASE IN STEERING COLUMN BECOMES THIN AND SHORTS OUT OTHER WIRING CAUSING THE SMOKE (FIRE) WHICH COMES FROM STEERING COLUMN, THIS OCCURS EVERY SUMMER TO FALL WHEN TEMPS ARE 80 DEGREES OR HIGHER), 3) HORN DOES NOT WORK, MECHANIC REPLACED HORN MECHANISM BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE & I AM CONCERNED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WON'T WORK EITHER SINCE THEY ARE INTER TWINED IN THE STEERING COLUMN, 4) THE DASH IS WARPING, CRACKING AND BREAKING HORRIBLY, IT CAUSES A STICKY HAZE (GAS) ON MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING ISSUES WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, I CONTINUALLY WIPE OFF BUT IT DOES NOT HELP, 5) THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 2K MILES, THE MECHANIC STATES IT IS A FUEL SYSTEM INDICATOR CODE, INDICATING THE FUEL CAP IS NOT FITTING CORRECTLY, WHICH HE HAS CONFIRMED IS INCORRECT. STARTING AT 142K THE CAR OVERHEATS (I JUST GOT THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT CHANGED), THE CAR SHAKES TREMENDOUSLY AND SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WHEN TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS INDICATING THIS OVERHEATING, LEAVING THE CAR UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SINCE NO POWER STEERING ETC, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PARTS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. I AM VERY TIRED AND WORRIED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IN THIS CAR. PLEASE ASSIST AS I HAVE BEEN CALLING SINCE 2013 ABOUT THE #'D ISSUES. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10853618

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2016
EngineSteeringUnknown Or Other

KEEP HAVING TO CHANGE IGNITION SWITCH AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10849666

1,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015
Engine

ENGINE LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #10806339

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

IF YOU HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH YOUR IGNITION BEFORE OR AFTER THE KEY RECALL AND HAVING TO PAY FOR A. NEW IGNITION BECAUSE OF A BANDAID OF A FIX. EMAIL ME AND SEE IF WE CAN GET HELP FROM AN ATTORNEY. EMAIL [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10725857

121,658 miles · May 10, 2015
Engine

SMELL OF GAS UNDER HOOD WHILE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE RECALLS THAT WERE FOR THIS CAR HAVE EVER BEEN DONE.

NHTSA ODI #10715502

179,053 miles · Mar 19, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,053. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN

NHTSA ODI #10695437

197,745 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Engine

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ADVERTISED A CAR FOR SALE BY STATING"AC WORKS HEATER WORKS" UNFORTUNATELY WITHIN 45 MIN AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON SIDE OF THE ROAD IN EXTREMELY HIGH HEAT DUE TO CAR DYING BECAUSE IT OVERHEATED BUT I WASNT AWARE OF IT BECAUSE IT NEVER GOT HOT ON TEMP GAUGE BECAUSE…

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I PURCHASED A CAR FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ADVERTISED A CAR FOR SALE BY STATING"AC WORKS HEATER WORKS" UNFORTUNATELY WITHIN 45 MIN AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON SIDE OF THE ROAD IN EXTREMELY HIGH HEAT DUE TO CAR DYING BECAUSE IT OVERHEATED BUT I WASNT AWARE OF IT BECAUSE IT NEVER GOT HOT ON TEMP GAUGE BECAUSE I LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO THERMOSTAT IN THE MOTOR.. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE SELLER TO ANSWER HER PHONE OR RETURN MY CALLS. THE AC CAN'T WORK WITHOUT A THERMOSTAT AND HEATER NEEDS HEATER CORE IN ORDER TO WORK IN WHICH THE CAR HASN'T ONE. I'M STUCK WITH A VEHICAL THAT I CAN'T DRIVE AND THE SELLER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CAR BUT FAILED TO MENTION ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10625898

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.