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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
50,000 miles · Oct 8, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS 2.2L 4 CYL MANUAL TRANS. ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2007. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, SLOWING DOWN AND DEPRESSING CLUTCH PEDAL TO DOWNSHIFT, ENGINE SPEED RUNAWAY OCCURRED. RPM INCREASED UNCONTROLLABLY PAST 3500 RPM, ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO SHUT IGNITION OFF AND RESTART ENGINE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A SERV…

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VEHICLE IS 2.2L 4 CYL MANUAL TRANS. ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2007. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, SLOWING DOWN AND DEPRESSING CLUTCH PEDAL TO DOWNSHIFT, ENGINE SPEED RUNAWAY OCCURRED. RPM INCREASED UNCONTROLLABLY PAST 3500 RPM, ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO SHUT IGNITION OFF AND RESTART ENGINE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A SERVICE SHOP, BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED TO NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS UNLESS DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS COULD BE MADE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS WITH A COUPLE OF OCCURRENCES ON A WEEKLY BASIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244706

95,486 miles · Sep 18, 2008
Exterior Lighting

SINCE 2006, TURN SIGNAL CONTINUED TO TICK AFTER SIGNAL ARM WAS AT "OFF." OFTEN THE TICKING WOULD BEGIN SPONTANEOUSLY, PARTICULARLY DURING HOT WEATHER ABOVE 90 DEGREES, WITHOUT USING THE SIGNAL ARM, AND WITHOUT MAKING A TURN. ON AUGUST 20TH, A HOT DAY, AFTER MAKING A TURN, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. A LOCA…

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SINCE 2006, TURN SIGNAL CONTINUED TO TICK AFTER SIGNAL ARM WAS AT "OFF." OFTEN THE TICKING WOULD BEGIN SPONTANEOUSLY, PARTICULARLY DURING HOT WEATHER ABOVE 90 DEGREES, WITHOUT USING THE SIGNAL ARM, AND WITHOUT MAKING A TURN. ON AUGUST 20TH, A HOT DAY, AFTER MAKING A TURN, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. A LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PARK THE CAR AND JUMP OUT, MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIR AT THE COST OF $421.45 TO REPLACE A TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. AT THIS TIME, THE TURN SIGNAL WORKS FINE WITHOUT EXTRA TICKING. THE CAR MILEAGE WAS AT 95486. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242869

120,124 miles · Sep 17, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT IS A MECHANIC AND HAS SERVICED FOUR DIFFERENT 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AMS. HE STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON EACH VEHICLE AND CAUSED A LEAK. THE LEAK COMES FROM THE WHEEL CYLINDER, WHICH PREVENTS PROPER BRAKING. HE BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE …

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TL*THE CONTACT IS A MECHANIC AND HAS SERVICED FOUR DIFFERENT 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AMS. HE STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON EACH VEHICLE AND CAUSED A LEAK. THE LEAK COMES FROM THE WHEEL CYLINDER, WHICH PREVENTS PROPER BRAKING. HE BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,124. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10242560

128,000 miles · Sep 12, 2008
Equipment

MAKE : PONTIAC MODEL : GRAND AM YEAR : 2004 MANUFACTURER : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH IN MY 2004 GRAND AM STARTED MAKING THIS CLICKING NOISE AS IF THEY WERE ON BUT WERE NOT THEN IT HAD BECOME MORE INTENSE AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE CAR WAS OFF AND WOULD START AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS STARTED…

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MAKE : PONTIAC MODEL : GRAND AM YEAR : 2004 MANUFACTURER : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH IN MY 2004 GRAND AM STARTED MAKING THIS CLICKING NOISE AS IF THEY WERE ON BUT WERE NOT THEN IT HAD BECOME MORE INTENSE AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE CAR WAS OFF AND WOULD START AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS STARTED, NOW MIND YOU THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD WITH 58,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST GOT IT BARELY 2 WEEKS AGO... THIS HAD JUST STARTED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND JUST RECENTLY AS THE CAR WAS IN IDLE I ACCIDENTALLY HIT AND PUSHED THE KEY INWARD AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NOW IT HAS COME TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2003 FOR DEFECTIVE HAZARD LIGHTS NOT ONLY IN THE GRAND AM BUT IN OTHER GM MADE CARS. MY QUESTION IS, IF THERE WAS THEN HOW COME A YEAR LATER THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST AND IN NOT ONLY MY GRAND AM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241921

7,100 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

MY 2004 GRAND AM IS HAVING SEVERAL ONGOING PROBLEMS. IT WONT START AND WHEN IT DOES IT DIES CONSTANTLY. I ALMOST RAN INTO A DITCH AFTER IT LOST POWER GOING 50 MPH. ANOTHER TIME IT LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF A THREE LANE STREET WITH A GREEN LIGHT. I WAS BARLEY MISSED BY TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES GOING 45MPH. MY PONTIAC GRAND AM' H…

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MY 2004 GRAND AM IS HAVING SEVERAL ONGOING PROBLEMS. IT WONT START AND WHEN IT DOES IT DIES CONSTANTLY. I ALMOST RAN INTO A DITCH AFTER IT LOST POWER GOING 50 MPH. ANOTHER TIME IT LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF A THREE LANE STREET WITH A GREEN LIGHT. I WAS BARLEY MISSED BY TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES GOING 45MPH. MY PONTIAC GRAND AM' HAS A SECURITY PROBLEM INVOLVING A PASSLOCK FAILURE. I GOT IN MY CAR TODAY, AND IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. PONTIAC SAYS TO TURN THE KEY ON FOR 10 MIN AND RESET THE COMPUTER EVERY TIME I TRY TO START MY CAR. I WORK LATE NIGHTS. I CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE TO SEE IF ITS GOING TO START OR I HAVE TO SIT IN THE DARK FOR TEN MINUTES AND WAIT FOR MY CAR TO START. I ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HAZARD RELAY AND THE MULTIFUNCTION RELY LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHER GRAND AM OWNERS. IN 2003 PONTIAC RECALLED CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IM NOT SURE WHY THEY AREN'T TAKING CARE OF THE 2004 PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240978

58,000 miles · Aug 30, 2008
Exterior Lighting

THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH IN MY 2004 GRAND AM STARTED MAKING THIS CLICKING NOISE AS IF THEY WERE ON BUT WERE NOT THEN IT HAD BECOME MORE INTENSE AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE CAR WAS OFF AND WOULD START AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS STARTED, NOW MIND YOU THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD WITH 58,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST GOT IT BARELY 2 WEEK…

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THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH IN MY 2004 GRAND AM STARTED MAKING THIS CLICKING NOISE AS IF THEY WERE ON BUT WERE NOT THEN IT HAD BECOME MORE INTENSE AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE CAR WAS OFF AND WOULD START AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS STARTED, NOW MIND YOU THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD WITH 58,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST GOT IT BARELY 2 WEEKS AGO... THIS HAD JUST STARTED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND JUST RECENTLY AS THE CAR WAS IN IDLE I ACCIDENTALLY HIT AND PUSHED THE KEY INWARD AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NOW IT HAS COME TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2003 FOR DEFECTIVE HAZARD LIGHTS NOT ONLY IN THE GRAND AM BUT IN OTHER GM MADE CARS. MY QUESTION IS, IF THERE WAS THEN HOW COME A YEAR LATER THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST AND IN NOT ONLY MY GRAND AM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240358

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2008
Exterior Lighting

AFTER USING TURN SIGNAL CLICKING NOISE WILL COME ON AND NOT GO AWAY. TOOK CAR TO REPAIR SHOP AND TOLD ABOUT DEFECT ON THE TURN SIGNAL OR BETTER KNOWN AS THE WIPER MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. TOTAL EXPENSES OF REPAIR $289.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238635

60,000 miles · Jul 28, 2008
Exterior Lighting

BLINKER NOISE KEEPS (CLICKING) GOING AFTER BLINKER HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. IT IS INTERMIITTENT AND STOPS AND STARTS AGAIN EVERY FEW MINUTES. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE BLINKER REPLACED ONCE LAST YEAR AND ALREADY THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236123

57,280 miles · Jul 19, 2008
Electrical SystemFire

CAR STARTED POPPING FUSES FOR THE PARKING LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS THEN MY WIFE WAS AT BANK AND LIGHTS CAME ON AUTOMATICALLY THEN THE HARNESS UNDER DASH STARTED SMOKING I HAD TO CUT POWER FROM BATTERY TO STOP FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234935

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2008
Visibility

THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. IT HAS NEVER WORKED AND EITHER HAS MY CAR LIGHTER EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP A FEW TIMES. THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE ALL THE SAME. THE WINDOW GOES NEITHER UP AND OR DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234775

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.