Electrical System. Review the 107 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 98 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports58 fire reports33 injury reports

What owners actually said

454 reports

32,000 miles · Nov 30, 2005

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS ACTIVATED AT NORMAL STOP AT VERY SLOW SPEED. CONTINUED AT EVERY TOUCH OF THE BRAKE FOR NEARLY 2 MILES, EVEN WHEN BARELY TOUCHING THE BRAKE. DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. NOT OCCURRED SINCE. PONTIAC DEALER CAN FIND NO PROBLEM, NO CODE, HOWEVER I'M CONCERNED WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10144005

74,000 miles · Nov 15, 2005

Steering

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CAR WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ATTEMPTED TO MOVE TO LEFT LANE TO PASS A VEHICLE. NOTICED DIFFICULTY MOVING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF HIGHWAY TO INVESTIGATE. DISCOVERED THAT STEERING WHEEL COULD EASILY MOVE TO THE RIGHT BUT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN LEFT FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AT ANY SPEED. THERE WAS NO NOISES COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND IT APPEARED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. TOWED CAR TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. REPLACED RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10142798

20,000 miles · Nov 15, 2005

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON REPEATEDLY. THE ON BOARD ROADSIDE ASSISTANTS TOLD HER THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHILE TRAVELING LONGER DISTANCES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10142789

56,000 miles · Oct 26, 2005

Seat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. EACH OF THESE PROBLEMS WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS 04V287000, 03V331000, 04V299000 AND 05V046000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN. THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #10140883

47,000 miles · Oct 25, 2005

Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

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ON 8/20/05, THE TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, TURNING IT OFF, AND TURNING IT BACK ON, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. BETWEEN THAT TIME AND 8/23/05, THIS OCCURRED 5 MORE TIME. ON 8/23/05, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE USING CRUISE CONTROL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS CODES C0187 & C0197, AND REPLACED A FAULTY YAW SENSOR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 10/19/05 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AFTER OCCURRING 3 TIMES WITHIN A 2 DAY PERIOD. THE DEALERSHIP DROVE IT AND IT OCCURRED TWICE, BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOW HAD THE CAR FOR 6 DAYS. THE DEALERSHIP IS JIM HUDSON, AND THEIR PHONE # IS 803-783-0110. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140703

20,000 miles · Oct 18, 2005

Steering

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I PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUGUST 2004. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN. AFTER THE CAR WAS SERVICED, THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE (THE DEALERSHIP HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM) BUT THAT A RECALL HAD NOT YET BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH A MOUNT BRACKET THAT NEEDED BE TORQUED. IF THE BRACKET BECAME TOO LOOSE IT COULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE STEERING. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PERIODICALLY TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK IN TO BE SERVICED FOR THIS BUT YET AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I AM BEGINNING TO HEAR THE CLUNKING. THE STEERING ALSO SEEMS MUCH MORE LOOSE THAN IT PREVIOUSLY DID. I ALSO AM BEGINNING TO HEARING A CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ALONG WITH THE CLUNK. I DO FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT GM SHOULD DEFINITELY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10140110

35,000 miles · Oct 7, 2005

Steering

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, IT MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10139056

7,000 miles · Sep 9, 2005

Electrical System

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I OWN A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT2, THE DOOR LOCKS WILL TRY TO RE-LOCK AFTER EACH TIME THAT I SLOW DOWN AND RESTART, STOP AND RESTART. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL PONTIAC SERVICE CENTER AND THEY GAVE ME A BULLETIN REGARDING THIS CASE, BUT DIDN'T FIX IT. THEY TOLD ME TO TURN OFF THE AUTO LOCK, IF YOU DO THAT THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL WHEN YOU PLACE IT IN GEAR. THE INFORMATION PANEL HAS BEEN RE-WIRED ONCE DUE TO THE RADIO SHORTS IT OUT. THEY STILL HAVEN'T REPLACED THE RADIO AND I FEEL THAT THE RADIO THAT IS IN MAY BE CAUSING A SHORT OR MALFUNCTION AGAIN. THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT. I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT MY CARS REPAIRS I HAVE HAD SINCE DEC 2003 AND HAVE IT IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME THING LIKE 3 TIMES ALWAYS SOMETHING THEY WON'T OR DIDN'T FIX TO MAKE ME HAVE TO KEEP RETURNING FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE 3 KIDS AND A SHIFT WORKING HUSBAND AND I WORK FULL TIME AND THEY WILL NOT OFFER ME A LOANER WHILE IT IS BEING WORKED ON AND HAVE PUT ME IN A BAD SITUATION SEVERAL TIMES. I FEEL THAT THE SERVICE CENTER NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AND I NEED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10136045

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2005

Electrical SystemPower TrainCrash

2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE TRANSMISSION.*MR LATE LAST YEAR, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A NEARLY FLAT SERVICE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK, HITTING AND DAMAGING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF OWNER OF VEHI…

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NHTSA ODI #10136701

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2005

Steering

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MY 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO MY DEALER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND WHEN THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR. I AM STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM MORE FREQUENTLY. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS AND SERVICE BULLETINS I SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CAR. WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? ALSO, LAST AUGUST (2004) I WAS DRIVING AROUND A SLIGHT BEND WHICH MERGES ONTO A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND MY CAR WENT INTO A COMPLETE SPIN. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR AND SPUN NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE CRASHING INTO A HILL OF GRASS AT WHICH POINT THE CAR STOPPED AND SHUT DOWN. THIS WAS APPARENTLY A "DRIVER ERROR." *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134854

Official recalls

15V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Oct 26, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

15V201000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Apr 6, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

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.

05V046000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 9, 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IF ONE OF THE TWO ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURN SPRINGS FAILS AND THE TEMPERATURE IS -22 DEGREES F TO -40 DEGREES F, THE ENGINE MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE WITHIN THREE SECONDS, AS REQUIRED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, GREATER BRAKE PEDAL FORCE AND A LONGER DISTANCE MAY BE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 8, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

04V287000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Jun 23, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET AND KNUCKLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE OR BOTH BOLTS BACKS OUT OR FRACTURES, THE RESULT CAN BE LOCKING OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL DURING BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL, REDUCED BRAKING AND NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, OR SEVERING OF A BRAKE HOSE, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND REDUCED STEERING CONTROL. REDUCED BRAKING OR STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 1-800-620-7668.

04V299000 · Structure:frame And Members

Jun 23, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE FRONT FRAME REAR BODY MOUNT BRACKET MAY FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF IGNORED, THE BRACKET WOULD FRACTURE AND DEGRADE TO THE POINT WHERE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT COULD SEPARATE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT FRAME ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

03V331000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 12, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKING SYSTEMS." ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE FITTING MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED PROPERLY, AND A BRAKE FLUID LEAK COULD OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF ENOUGH FLUID LEAKS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BE LOWER THAN NORMAL, AND STOPPING DISTANCES WILL BE LONGER. IF THIS OCCURS WHEN STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE FITTING TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION, AND ADD BRAKE FLUID IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 28, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT 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

DP05010 · Unstable Headlamps

Opened Dec 21, 2005 · Closed Apr 10, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

ODI RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. BRAD LAMB OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMERS COUNCIL, REQUESTING INVESTIGATION OF AN ALLEGED DEFECT EVIDENCED BY SHAKE OR BOUNCE OF THE HEADLAMPS ON MODEL YEAR 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES.ODI'S PREVIOUS REVIEW OF THIS ISSUE IN OCTOBER 2003, DETERMINED THAT IT DID NOT WARRANT INVESTIGATION.ODI'S CURRENT ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED 36 COMPLAINTS IN THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATABASE; AND A DECLINING TREND OF REPORTS WAS EVIDENT.A FEW FIELD REPORTS OF SIMILAR NATURE WERE ALSO SUBMITTED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN ITS EARLY WARNING REPORTING DATA.A SERVICE BULLETIN AND A REVISED HEADLAMP RETAINING BRACKET WERE ISSUED IN NOVEMBER 2004, AND THESE ACTIONS ARE SEEN AS APPROPRIATE IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM WHILE ALL OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE STILL COVERED BY THE NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY.COMPROMISE TO SAFE VEHICLE OPERATION AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED.IT IS UNLIKELY THAT INVESTIGATION WOULD RESULT IN A NHTSA ORDER FOR THE RECALL AND REMEDY OF THIS PROBLEM.