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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
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2004
Air Bags

COMPLAINT AGAINST GENERAL MOTOR CORPORATION. *BF ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. VEHICLE SERVICED THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10097747

1,300 miles · Oct 20, 2004
Structure

THE VEHICLE WAS FLOODED. WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE SUN ROOF BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE DRAINS. THE PATH THE WATER WENT WAS THE FLOOR BOARD, IT SOAKED THE COMPUTER ON THE SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD PANEL. THIS CAUSED ELECTRICAL FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED BY THE WATER. ALSO, THE MOLD AND MILDEW WAS MAKING THE CONSUMER'S CHILD…

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THE VEHICLE WAS FLOODED. WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE SUN ROOF BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE DRAINS. THE PATH THE WATER WENT WAS THE FLOOR BOARD, IT SOAKED THE COMPUTER ON THE SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD PANEL. THIS CAUSED ELECTRICAL FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED BY THE WATER. ALSO, THE MOLD AND MILDEW WAS MAKING THE CONSUMER'S CHILD SICK. THEY HAVE HAD RESPIRATORY INFECTION ETC. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10097257

4,100 miles · Oct 13, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS TANK RUPPTURED TRAVELING ON A ROAD FREE OF DEBRI AT A SPEED OF 20-25 MPH/ I HEARD A LOUD THUMP IN REAR OF VEHICHLE UPON ARRIVING HOME WHEN GETTING OUT I SMELLED A VERY STRONG GAS AROMA, LOOKING UNDER THE CAR GAS WAS STREAMING OUT OF BOTTOM OF GAS TANK IN ABOUT 6 STREAMS APPROXIMATELY 1-1 1/2 INCHES IN FRONT OF MY EXHAUST S…

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GAS TANK RUPPTURED TRAVELING ON A ROAD FREE OF DEBRI AT A SPEED OF 20-25 MPH/ I HEARD A LOUD THUMP IN REAR OF VEHICHLE UPON ARRIVING HOME WHEN GETTING OUT I SMELLED A VERY STRONG GAS AROMA, LOOKING UNDER THE CAR GAS WAS STREAMING OUT OF BOTTOM OF GAS TANK IN ABOUT 6 STREAMS APPROXIMATELY 1-1 1/2 INCHES IN FRONT OF MY EXHAUST SYSTEM. NO ONE WITH GM SEEMS TO FEEL THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE FOR THE GAS TANK TO FAIL AT THIS SPEED OR THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD BEEN IN THE HAIRDRESSER FOR ABOUT 2 HR SO THE CAR WAS COLD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I AM SCARED TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN RUNNING A NORMAL DAY OF MY ERRANDS AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS WARM WITH GAS STREAMING OVER IT. THEY ARE MAKING ME PAY $750.00 TO REPLACE THE TANK. I FEEL THAT THIS IS UNFAIR ALSO ANYONE OWNING THIS CAR LIKE MYSELF IS IN DANGER, AS THEY ARE MAKING LIGHT OF THE SITUATION AND COULD HAPPEN AGAIN TO MYSELF AND OTHER OWNERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10095680

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY ON IT IS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED…

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WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY ON IT IS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10094135

500 miles · Sep 22, 2004
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD DIM WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OR ROLLING DOWN THE POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10094081

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2004
Air BagsSuspension

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DELARSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091803

4,600 miles · Aug 30, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. ALSO, THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE MOUNTING OF THE BRAKE LINE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE LINE TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS VERY…

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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. ALSO, THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE MOUNTING OF THE BRAKE LINE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE LINE TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS VERY CAVALIER IN HIS APPROACH, THUS IRRITATING THE CONSUMER. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10079985

100 miles · Aug 16, 2004
Steering

DURING LOW SPEED MANUEVERS, TURNING INTO A PARCKING SPACE,PARRALLEL PARKING, WHEN TURNING AT IDLE SPEED STEERING TIGHTENS UP LIKE IT IS MANUAL STEERING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED A NEW POWERSTEERING PUMP. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 10,000 MILES BUT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE NEW.. JUST A LITTLE INFO INCASE ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS …

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DURING LOW SPEED MANUEVERS, TURNING INTO A PARCKING SPACE,PARRALLEL PARKING, WHEN TURNING AT IDLE SPEED STEERING TIGHTENS UP LIKE IT IS MANUAL STEERING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED A NEW POWERSTEERING PUMP. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 10,000 MILES BUT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE NEW.. JUST A LITTLE INFO INCASE ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086937

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2004
Service Brakes, Air

NO OTHER MANUFACTURER, AMERICAN OR FORIEGN, HAS A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF WARPED FRONT ROTORS, AND WITHIN THE LAST DECADE THIS PROBLEM INCREASINGLY SHOWS ITSELF AT RELATIVEY LOW MILAGE. MY MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE (LAST 3 YEARS) WAS A NEW GRAND AM SE DEVELOPING PULSATING BRAKES AT 20K MI. THE DEALER FOUGHT WITH US TOOTH & NAIL AND SA…

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NO OTHER MANUFACTURER, AMERICAN OR FORIEGN, HAS A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF WARPED FRONT ROTORS, AND WITHIN THE LAST DECADE THIS PROBLEM INCREASINGLY SHOWS ITSELF AT RELATIVEY LOW MILAGE. MY MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE (LAST 3 YEARS) WAS A NEW GRAND AM SE DEVELOPING PULSATING BRAKES AT 20K MI. THE DEALER FOUGHT WITH US TOOTH & NAIL AND SAID "THAT'S YOUR FAULT, WE AINT PAYING FOR ANYTHING!" I CALLED THE PONTIAC ZONE AND RAISED HELL, ..NO CIGAR. FINALLY GOT WITH THE SHOP MANAGER TO PULL THE ROTORS & PUT THEM ON THE LATHE AND SEE HOW TRUE THEY WERE. THEY WEREN'T, BUT WE KNEW THAT BEFORE WE GOT STARTED. THE BRAKE PADS SHOWED VERY LITTLE WEAR. CONCLUSION, I GOT HUSTLED OUT OF THE SHOP WITH "WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT." THEY DID, A NEW BRAKE JOB AT NO CHARGE. THE SECOND CAR WAS A 2000 MALIBU. CHEVROLET, THEY SAID PAY US FOR NEW ROTORS OR TAKE A HIKE. WE HIKED. REPLACED THE BRAKES MYSELF AND THE PROBLEM CAME RIGHT BACK AROUND 18K MI. I SOLD THE CAR INSTEAD OF FIXING IT. MY LAST GM CAR IS AN 04 GRAND AM, AND WITH JUST 11K MI, ...HERE WE GO AGAIN!! GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM. IT'S RAMPANT IN THE PRODUCT LINE- UP. TO ANNOUNCE A CHANGE WOULD BE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN AS A MATTER OF CORPORATE POLICY AS THAT MIGHT DRAW LIABILITY LEADING TO POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION SUITS. KEEP IN MIND THAT BRAKES ARE A SAFETY ITEM NOT SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS OF WARRANTY OR LIABILITY WHERE IT CAN BE SHOWN THAT GM "KNEW, OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN", THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. ERGO, OPENED ENDED LIABILITY. FURTHER, GM HAS KNOWN OF THESE POORLY PERFORMING PARTS THRU THEIR DEALERSHIPS AND HIGH VOLUME REPLACEMENTS ORDERED THRU THE DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT PARTS OUTLETS. AND FINALLY, THE ASTONISHING THING ABOUT THIS PART IS THAT IT'S AS LOW TECH AS IT GETS. IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN CAST PIG IRON. THE FIX IS IN THE METAL CHEMISTRY AND CASTING TECHNIQUE. WHERE GM GETS A FREE RIDE IS TO ARGUE THAT THIS ITEM IS "CONSUMABLE" AND SUBJECT TO WEAR AND ABUSE BEYOND THE MANUFACTURERS CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #10086675

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2004
StructureInjury

UPON CLOSING MY CAR DOOR, THE PLASTIC FRAME AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE SIDE WINDOW CUT MY THUMB OPEN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086075

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.