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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

Electrical System complaints

140 reports
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60,230 miles · Jun 10, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,230. UPDATED 8/29/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10597413

56,000 miles · Jun 5, 2014
Electrical System

WE OWN A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WONDERING WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL. WE HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE INCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING WHERE WE LOST POWER AND THE CAR WAS HARD TO CONTROL DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING AND LUCKY FOR US HE WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOING EXTREMELY SLOW OR IT COUL…

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WE OWN A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WONDERING WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL. WE HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE INCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING WHERE WE LOST POWER AND THE CAR WAS HARD TO CONTROL DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING AND LUCKY FOR US HE WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOING EXTREMELY SLOW OR IT COULD HAVE KILLED HIM IF HE WAS ON A HIGHWAY GOING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNS UP HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR GRAND AMS. COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ALSO BEING RECALLED. THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596493

23,626 miles · Apr 28, 2014
Electrical System

THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES. TWICE I HAD TO INSTALL A NEW IGNITION SWITCH, MOST RECENTLY SEPT. 2013. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED. LAST IGNITION INSTALLED 10/28/2013, MILEAGE 32936 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585244

89,000 miles · Apr 10, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

MY VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING PROPERLY LAST YEAR, SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK, SOMETIMES NOT, I SPENT $200 OUT OF POCKET TO FIX THE ISSUE, THERE IS NOW A TICKING NOISE IN THE SAME AREA AND I'M READING ONLINE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE 100'S ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE TICKING NOISE MAKES MY CAR NOT ONLY UNBEARABL…

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MY VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING PROPERLY LAST YEAR, SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK, SOMETIMES NOT, I SPENT $200 OUT OF POCKET TO FIX THE ISSUE, THERE IS NOW A TICKING NOISE IN THE SAME AREA AND I'M READING ONLINE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE 100'S ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE TICKING NOISE MAKES MY CAR NOT ONLY UNBEARABLE TO DRIVE/ RIDE IN BUT MAKES ME UNCERTAIN WHETHER MY TURN SIGNAL IS ON OR NOT. I'M CONSTANTLY DISTRACTED BY DRIVING TO CHECK MY TURN SIGNALS AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. GM'S WEBSITE WAS NOT HELPFUL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578782

89,000 miles · Mar 30, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I FILED A SAFETY REPORT ON 9/11/2013 CONFIRMATION # 10543131 AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM NHTSA AT ALL SINCE FILING THE REPORT. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF THE REPORT STATUS. TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575646

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10573855

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR TURNED OFF, AND I HAD TO FIGHT TO GET THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO AND NO ONE WAS HURT, AND NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO ANY CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD…

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IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR TURNED OFF, AND I HAD TO FIGHT TO GET THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO AND NO ONE WAS HURT, AND NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO ANY CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567637

105,000 miles · Dec 6, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THIS PROBLEM IS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW MONTHS AND I HAVE TAKEN MY PONTIAC GRAND AM 2004 TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS WITH NOT LUCK..ONE DAY DRIVING TO WORK EARLY MORNING MY CAR SITTING FOR 8HRS DIDN'T WANT TO CRANK OR START...BATTERY WAS DEAD SO I REPLACE IT...MY CAR START BUT AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MIN WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SHUT OFF.…

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THIS PROBLEM IS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW MONTHS AND I HAVE TAKEN MY PONTIAC GRAND AM 2004 TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS WITH NOT LUCK..ONE DAY DRIVING TO WORK EARLY MORNING MY CAR SITTING FOR 8HRS DIDN'T WANT TO CRANK OR START...BATTERY WAS DEAD SO I REPLACE IT...MY CAR START BUT AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MIN WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SHUT OFF. MECHANICS HAVE CHECK AND CHANGED FUEL PUMP AND FILTER,WATER PUMP ,CRANK SHAFT SENSOR , TEMPERATURE SENSOR,SENSOR BEHIND ALTERNATOR,FUEL PRESSURE CHECK AND REGULATOR IS NEW,THERMOSTAT CHANGE.I HAVE SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLAR BETWEEN PARTS AND LABOR.I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT THE QUALITY OF AMERICAN CARS IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING ONE.IF THERE IS ANY FIX KNOWN IN THIS SITE I NEED TO KNOW , I HAVE A FAMILY AND DON'T WANT TO LOOSE IT IN A HIGHWAY IN A ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555083

110,000 miles · Sep 3, 2013
Air BagsElectrical System

9.13.13 I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY AND GM.COM REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTLY SINCE FEBRUARY 2013 REGARDING MY HORN. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE HORN IS SURROUNDED BY THE AIR BAG AND IF IT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT COULD BE COMPROMISED DURING AN ACCIDENT.…

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9.13.13 I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY AND GM.COM REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTLY SINCE FEBRUARY 2013 REGARDING MY HORN. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE HORN IS SURROUNDED BY THE AIR BAG AND IF IT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT COULD BE COMPROMISED DURING AN ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE CAR (WHICH WAS NOT ON THE CAR FAX WHEN PURCHASED USED) AND MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN I NEED IT TO. THE HORN WORKS UNDER THE HOOD (THE LOCK / UNLOCK REMOTE WORKS PROPERLY WITH THE REQUIRED BEEP) BUT WHEN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS PRESSED IT DOES NOT WORK. IT WORKED FOR 1 YEAR AND 18 MONTHS CONSISTENTLY AND THEN IT QUICK WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I AM AFRAID, IF I AM IN A WRECK, THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG WILL NOT SAVE MY LIFE (I DO WEAR MY SEAT BELT). I HAVE BEEN ADVISED, BY DEALERSHIPS, MECHANICS, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY, AND A REPRESENTATIVE AT GM TODAY 9.3.13 THIS WILL NEED FIXED OUT OF POCKET - AND IT WILL BE COSTLY TO ORDER THE PART AND REPAIR. I WAS ALSO ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. ARE VEHICLE OWNERS REIMBURSED FOR ITEMS THAT COMPROMISE THEIR SAFETY THAT SHOULD WORK PROPERLY (THE HORN AND AIRBAG IN MY CASE)? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10538622

35,000 miles · Aug 9, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE PASS LOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE PASS LOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534454

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.