IllustrationLUG BOLTS SHEARED OFF PASSENGER FRONT. OEM ROTOR HAD ROUGHLY 3/16 INCH PLAY CAUSING THE WHEEL HUB TO SLAM AGAINST IT. THERE IS LUG THREAD MARKS ON THE ROTOR. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Am years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
280–25K
3925–50K
4550–75K
3275–100K
51100–150K
28150K+
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
What owners actually said
293 reportsCAR JUST WILL NOT START AFTER THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON.. I STOP AT THE GROCERY STORE, CAME BACK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A GUY GIVE ME A BOOSTER BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED. THIS IS THE 5TH TIMES I COULD NOT START MY CAR. THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC STARTED IT UP…
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CAR JUST WILL NOT START AFTER THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON.. I STOP AT THE GROCERY STORE, CAME BACK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A GUY GIVE ME A BOOSTER BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED. THIS IS THE 5TH TIMES I COULD NOT START MY CAR. THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC STARTED IT UP BUT IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME. THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM IS BAD. GENERAL MOTOR KNEW OF THE ISSUE BUT THEY NEVER ISSUED A RECALL ON IT. I AM SICK OF TOWING AND GETTING STRUCK IN A PARKING LOT IN CLEVELAND. THIS CAR HAS A SECURITY SYSTEM ON THE KEY OR IGNITION. I NEED HELP VERY BAD. I AM 61 YEARS OLD AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR MY CAR. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICES TO GET HELP IN STARTING MY VEHICLE. THEY TRIED TO HELP BY TELLING ME THE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW TO GET IT START. IT STILL WILL NOT STARTED. THIS LAST TIME, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM. DO NOT TOW IT TO HIS SHOP. THIS SEEMS COSTLY! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT SECURE INTO THE SEAT BELT CLIP, CAUSING THE BELT TO BECOME LOOSE. THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WOULD TIGHTEN EXCESSIVELY AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BEL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT SECURE INTO THE SEAT BELT CLIP, CAUSING THE BELT TO BECOME LOOSE. THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WOULD TIGHTEN EXCESSIVELY AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BELT COULD CAUSE INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000. ...UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF
CAR RANDOMALLY WILL NOT START. LOOKED UP ONLINE THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH GRAND AM, YOU MUST PUT IN THE KEY TURN TO THE ON POSITION FOR 15MIN THEN START CAR, THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK EITHER. PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS BAD. CHEVY KNEW OF THE ISSUE BUT THEY THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT. *TR
THE TIRES LOOSE AIR ALL THE TIME, BEEN TOLD IT HAS TO DO WITH THE RIMS. *TR
VEHICLE WON'T START. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY, JUST WHEN I'M IN A HURRY OR LATE FOR APPOINTMENT. CALLED DEALERSHIP. FUNNY THIS IS, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO! TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND WAIT 10 MINUTES. IT ALWAYS STARTS....FOR NOW! I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY GM HASN'T RECALLED THIS. ALSO, THE DASH IS WARPED AND PUTTING…
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VEHICLE WON'T START. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY, JUST WHEN I'M IN A HURRY OR LATE FOR APPOINTMENT. CALLED DEALERSHIP. FUNNY THIS IS, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO! TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND WAIT 10 MINUTES. IT ALWAYS STARTS....FOR NOW! I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY GM HASN'T RECALLED THIS. ALSO, THE DASH IS WARPED AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON WINDSHIELD. I'LL NEVER OWN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR
THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT CLICK FROM THE TURN SIGNAL, EVEN WHEN I AM NOT OPERATING THE TURN SIGNAL. IT MAY CLICK MANY TIMES IN A ROW, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER I HAVE USED THE TURN SIGNAL TO EITHER DIRECTION. I AM NOT SURE AT THIS TIME IF THE LIGHT IS ALSO FLASHING WITH THE NOISE, BUT THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH DOES NOT FLASH. THE PR…
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THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT CLICK FROM THE TURN SIGNAL, EVEN WHEN I AM NOT OPERATING THE TURN SIGNAL. IT MAY CLICK MANY TIMES IN A ROW, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER I HAVE USED THE TURN SIGNAL TO EITHER DIRECTION. I AM NOT SURE AT THIS TIME IF THE LIGHT IS ALSO FLASHING WITH THE NOISE, BUT THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH DOES NOT FLASH. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING WORSE WITH TIME. *TR
DRIVER HIT GAS INSTEAD OF BRAKE EXITING FROM A PARKING LOT AND DROVE INTO THE REAR WHEELS OF A FLAT BED TRACTOR AND TRAILER TRUCK. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT POPPED LOOSE. DRIVER SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION. PASSENGER SUFFERED CHEST PAIN AND HAS SINCE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH TORN CARTILAGE AND 2 CRACKS IN STERN…
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DRIVER HIT GAS INSTEAD OF BRAKE EXITING FROM A PARKING LOT AND DROVE INTO THE REAR WHEELS OF A FLAT BED TRACTOR AND TRAILER TRUCK. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT POPPED LOOSE. DRIVER SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION. PASSENGER SUFFERED CHEST PAIN AND HAS SINCE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH TORN CARTILAGE AND 2 CRACKS IN STERNUM. *TR
WON'T START WITHOUT HOLDING KEY TO ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES. TURN SIGNAL KEEPS MAKING CLICKING SOUND FOR UP TO 2 MINUTES AFTER TURNING OFF SIGNAL. *TR
Official recalls
214V400000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.