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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
68,000 miles · Dec 13, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED PRIOR TO MAKING A TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD ONLY ILLUMINATE ONCE THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED, BEFORE COMPLETELY FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED PRIOR TO MAKING A TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD ONLY ILLUMINATE ONCE THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED, BEFORE COMPLETELY FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,028.

NHTSA ODI #10439745

100,000 miles · Dec 1, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10437978

41,000 miles · Nov 28, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MULTI FUNCTION AND HAZARD SWITCHES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MULTI FUNCTION AND HAZARD SWITCHES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,100.

NHTSA ODI #10437448

28,195 miles · Sep 16, 2011
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG INTERNAL HORN CONTACT FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG INTERNAL HORN CONTACT FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,195. UPDATED 10/03/11 *BF UPDATED 11/23/11

NHTSA ODI #10425785

130,000 miles · Jun 23, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HAD A COMPUTER TECHNICIAN INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE TECHNICIAN RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DETERMINED THAT THE PASS CODE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE IGNITION SYSTEM. THE TE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HAD A COMPUTER TECHNICIAN INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE TECHNICIAN RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DETERMINED THAT THE PASS CODE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE IGNITION SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT GUARANTEE THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR IF THE PASS CODE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10408651

50,000 miles · Jun 12, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

MY 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM MAKES A CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE LIKE THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON, BUT THEY ARE NOT. THE NOISE VARIES FROM A VERY SLOW SPEED TO REALLY FAST AND JUST STARTS AND STOPS AT RANDOM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405996

95,000 miles · May 31, 2011
SteeringFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE CLICKING SOUND WAS CONSTANT, SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE CLICKING SOUND WAS CONSTANT, SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI #10403870

74,000 miles · May 9, 2011
Exterior Lighting

VEHICLE HAS 74233 MILES. WHILE DRIVING CLICKING SOUND NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH DIRECTIONAL/TURN SIGNAL IS BEING HEARD, EVEN WHEN DIRECTIONAL IS NOT IN USE. SOMETIMES THE CLICKING IS ACTIVATED BY MOVING OR TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CLICKING IS NOT CONSTANT OR CONSISTENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399501

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2011
Electrical System

GM VATS/PASSLOCK SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN VEHICLES ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, WITHOUT WARNING....EVEN IN -10 DEGREE TEMPS IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TEN MILES FROM THE NEAREST HOUSE. THE DEALERS SOAK PEOPLE FOR $600 - $1200 TO REPLACE FUEL PUMPS, KEY CYLINDERS, ECMS AND BCMS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOWS A POST FOR A FEW DR…

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GM VATS/PASSLOCK SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN VEHICLES ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, WITHOUT WARNING....EVEN IN -10 DEGREE TEMPS IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TEN MILES FROM THE NEAREST HOUSE. THE DEALERS SOAK PEOPLE FOR $600 - $1200 TO REPLACE FUEL PUMPS, KEY CYLINDERS, ECMS AND BCMS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOWS A POST FOR A FEW DROPS OF OIL WHILE BRAKING BUT THIS PASSKEY ISSUE IS A DANGER TO ANYONE WHO OWNS A 1999-2005 GM VEHICLE. THE CAR JUST STOPS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THRUWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR, IN SOME CASES. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND GM REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR EVEN OFFER A RELIABLE SOLUTION THAT WE'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO PAY FOR. OUR CARS TURN INTO LAWN ORNAMENTS AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395685

68,000 miles · Mar 30, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

FAST CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM RADIO/HAZARD LIGHT AREA. THIS HAPPENS WHEN NO SIGNAL LIGHTS IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393776

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.