2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. PROBLEMS WITH CAR KEY IGNITION AND STARTING UP. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR A MILE, BEFORE IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand Am years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
293 reportsOWNER OF THE 2004 PONTIAC WAS LEAVING WORK AND JUST CUT OFF WHILE IN RUN POSITION. *TR
FIRST I WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR WEBSITE DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY WITH INTERNET EXPLORER. I TRIED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND THE AFFECTED PARTS : SECTION WOULD NOT WORK. I'M USING SAFARI AND THE AFFECTED PARTS: SECTION WORKS. GM RECALL 14350 / NHTSA 14V400 SHOULD BE AMENDED TO HAVE GM PROVED TWO CUT KEYS WITH TWO KEY RINGS…
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FIRST I WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR WEBSITE DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY WITH INTERNET EXPLORER. I TRIED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND THE AFFECTED PARTS : SECTION WOULD NOT WORK. I'M USING SAFARI AND THE AFFECTED PARTS: SECTION WORKS. GM RECALL 14350 / NHTSA 14V400 SHOULD BE AMENDED TO HAVE GM PROVED TWO CUT KEYS WITH TWO KEY RINGS AND THE INSERTS LISTED ON THE RECALL. I WAS A GM SERVICE MANAGER AND TECH FOR OVER 17 YEARS AND KNOW HOW THE RECALL SYSTEM WORKS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE RECALL IS: 1: VEHICLES OVER 10 YEARS HAVE HAD THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED. 2: AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT KEYS ARE NOT THE SAME DESIGN AS THE OEM KEYS TO ALLOW THE INSERTS AND ARE FLAT METAL. 3: THE RECALL USES A INSERT IN THE CUT SLOT THAT DOES NOT WORK IN AFTERMARKET KEYS. ON 10/14 /2014, I WENT TO MY LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL COULD NOT BE DONE WITH THE AFTERMARKET KEY. DO I NEED TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP CUT ME TWO KEYS AT A COST OF $30. I CAN GET A REPLACEMENT KEY CUT AT ACE HARDWARE OR WAL MART FOR $2.00. AFTERMARKET IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACEMENT KITS INCLUDE A FLAT METAL KEY. PLEASE CONTACT GM ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLETED RECALL 14350 / NHTSA 14V400. THE LARGE NUMBER OF UNCOMPLETED RECALLS IS DUE TO THE CONTENTS OF MY LETTER. THANK YOU *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED FOR MONTHS AND THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE REMEDY FOR …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED FOR MONTHS AND THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INSPECT OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO REMEDY FOR THE CONTACT OTHER THAN TO GET THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT, AFTER WAITING FOR LONGER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT, AFTER WAITING FOR LONGER THAN THREE HOURS, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
THE VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT IT AND WERE T-BONED IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH IS WAS STATED AS ROAD CONDITIONS, BUT WITH THIS RECALL AND THE FACT THAT A LOT OF STUFF USED TO HANG FROM THE KEY CHAIN, WE ARE NOW WONDERING IF THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE SITUATI…
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THE VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT IT AND WERE T-BONED IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH IS WAS STATED AS ROAD CONDITIONS, BUT WITH THIS RECALL AND THE FACT THAT A LOT OF STUFF USED TO HANG FROM THE KEY CHAIN, WE ARE NOW WONDERING IF THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS THE ANTI-THEFT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,130. DJR
AFTER TURNING CAR OFF FOR 3 MINUTES, KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. ON JUNE 11TH I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. HE SAID THAT WEIGHT OF KEYS WAS THE LIKELY CULPRIT IN DAMAGING TUMBLERS INSIDE IGNITION SWITCH. IT COST $369.20 TO REPLACE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. ALL I HAD ON MY KEY RING WAS CAR KEY, FOB, AND HOUSE KEY, WHICH IS ALL I…
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AFTER TURNING CAR OFF FOR 3 MINUTES, KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. ON JUNE 11TH I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. HE SAID THAT WEIGHT OF KEYS WAS THE LIKELY CULPRIT IN DAMAGING TUMBLERS INSIDE IGNITION SWITCH. IT COST $369.20 TO REPLACE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. ALL I HAD ON MY KEY RING WAS CAR KEY, FOB, AND HOUSE KEY, WHICH IS ALL I HAVE EVER HAD ON ANY KEY RING FOR ANY CAR I'VE OWNED AND I'VE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER MAKE/MODEL OF CAR. RECALL # 14350 WILL CHANGE OUT THE KEY STATING THAT "IF THE KEY RING IS CARRYING ADDED WEIGHT AND THE VEHICLE...EXPERIENCES SOME OTHER JARRING EVEN, IT MAY UNINTENTIONALLY MOVE THE KEY AWAY FROM THE 'RUN' POSITION." THIS SORT OF "JARRING EVENT" MESSES WITH THE TUMBLERS, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY CAR OVER TIME. CHANGING THE KEYS SHOULD HELP TO PREVENT THE KEY FROM DAMAGING THE TUMBLERS THUS CAUSING IT TO MOVE FROM THE 'RUN' POSITION BUT IF THE FACTORY KEY HOLDS "TOO MUCH" WEIGHT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TUMBLERS, THIS DAMAGE, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY GM AS WELL! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID A CRASH INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE TIRES WENT FL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID A CRASH INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE TIRES WENT FLAT AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DIRECTLY IN THE CONTACT'S FACE AND THE VEHICLE COASTED DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE RESIDUE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS CONSUMING THE VEHICLE SO THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK AND BACK. THE PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FAILURE AND WAS WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR ALONG WITH THE REPAIRS FROM THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Official recalls
214V400000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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