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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

What owners actually said

293 reports
150,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE IGNITION MADE A CLICKING SOUND AND STARTED TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10616785

73,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Engine

MY CAR WILL CRANK BUT WON'T TURN OVER AND START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615963

190,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Electrical System

REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JULY 03, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 COMPONENT(S): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 6,729,742 KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN IGNITION. ON JUNE 10, 2014, I GOT THE KEY TO TURN ON AND START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR WAS …

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REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JULY 03, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 COMPONENT(S): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 6,729,742 KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN IGNITION. ON JUNE 10, 2014, I GOT THE KEY TO TURN ON AND START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. ON JULY 11, 2014 I TOOK THE CAR TO FISCHBACH TIRES 1200 N SPRING ST, BEAVER DAM, WI 53916 (920) 887-3711 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GAVE ME TWO NEW KEYS AND I WAS CHARGED $369.20. CAN I BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS CHARGE SINCE IT IS PART OF THIS RECALL AND IF SO, HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615911

100,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingCrash

MY CONCERN IS ABOUT MY FUTURE SAFETY IN MY PONTIAC GRAND AM. SINCE THESE RECALLS HAVE BEEN GOING OUT I HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF THIS CAR WILL BE ON THE LIST. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY IGNITION THREE TIMES LAST REPLACEMENT WAS IN 2011, I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN THE REPLACEMENTS TOOK PLACE MY CAR HAD FAILED TO START AND I WASN'T DRIVING,…

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MY CONCERN IS ABOUT MY FUTURE SAFETY IN MY PONTIAC GRAND AM. SINCE THESE RECALLS HAVE BEEN GOING OUT I HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF THIS CAR WILL BE ON THE LIST. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY IGNITION THREE TIMES LAST REPLACEMENT WAS IN 2011, I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN THE REPLACEMENTS TOOK PLACE MY CAR HAD FAILED TO START AND I WASN'T DRIVING, HOWEVER IN JAN OF 2014 WHEN DRIVING DURING A SNOW STORM TRYING TO GET HOME, MY CAR HIT AN ICE PATCH AND SLIDE INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THAT IT DAMAGED AND BENT MY LEFT SIDE BUMPER, BREAKING THE HEADLIGHT TO PIECES. TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT THE BUMPER REQUIRED TO BE PULLED OUT AND STRAIGHTEN. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT, EVEN THOUGH I HIT MY HEAD ON THE HEADLINER, AND THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF VA, HOW FAST WAS THE CAR GOING, I AM NOT SURE BUT I CAN GUESS IMPACT WAS ABOUT 20/25 MPH. EVEN THOUGH THE POLICE DID COME (ONLY BECAUSE THEY WITNESS THE INCIDENT) NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS CAR TO BE RECALLED AND SURE ENOUGH ITS ON THE LIST AS OF JULY 3 2014. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LETTER ON THE RECALL, NOR DOES IT SHOW UP ON THE CARS VIN. THE ROADS IN MY LOCATION ARE MOUNTAIN ROADS WITH CURVE AFTER CURVE AND UP AND DOWNS, ALTHOUGH THE SPEED LIMITS ARE REDUCED IN ORDER TO DRIVE SAFELY, MY WORRY IS THAT IF I LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, I WILL BE GOING DOWN THE SIDE OF SOME MOUNTAIN. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER FOR HELP, AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NOT ON THE VIN# THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. I ALREADY KNOW MY AIR BAGS DO NOT WORK, I ALREADY KNOW I HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS, SO IF THE IGNITION STOPS WORKING, THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THIS CAR MAKE AND MODEL IS ON THE NHTSA LIST WHY CAN'T I GET IT FIXED? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614937

54,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA ODI #10611037

100,000 miles · Jul 3, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN, WHICH LOCKED UP THE STEERING COLUMN, MANY TIMES THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEREFORE IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608021

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

88,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI #10605604

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2014
Structure

DASHBOARD IS ALL CURLED UP AND MELTING FROM THE HEAT EVEN WITH COVERING THE WINDSHIELD...NOW IT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE WITH THE SUN GLARING OFF AND RIGHT INTO YOUR EYES. THE DASHBOARD APPEARS TO HAVE SHRUNK..NOTHING FITS EVEN AROUND THE GAUGES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598593

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.