Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Pontiac Grand Am problems
Owners filed 293 complaints about the 2004 Pontiac Grand Am with NHTSA between Nov 2003 and Nov 2021. The most-cited component is electrical system (140).
Complaints
293
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system140
- Exterior lighting53
- Air bags21
- Structure20
- Vehicle speed control18
- Engine17
- Steering15
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Power train11
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Visibility9
- Service brakes7
- Fuel/propulsion system7
- Electronic stability control (esc)7
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
15
13
12
31
33
18
26
14
9
19
42
26
12
6
8
6
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
140 reports6 crashes5 fires1 related recall
“ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, I HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TIMELY SECURITY RE-SET PROCEDURE DUE TO THE SYSTEM DISABLING MY ABILITY TO START MY CAR. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH OTHER CAR OWNERS LIKE MINE. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR”
Exterior lighting
53 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“FUEL SYSTEM RECALL , STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE CAR EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL, HARD TO SEE WHILE DRIVING CAR AT NIGHT ELETRICAL SYTEM IGNITION RECALL POWER CUTS ON AND OFF”
Air bags
21 reports13 crashes
“I WAS THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND SOMEONE ELSE WAS DRIVING AND FILED A CLAIM. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I DID NOT GET ANYTHING IN THE LAW SUIT HER NAME IS [XXX] AT THE TIME SHE LIVED AT [XXX]. *TR”
Structure
20 reports1 crash
“SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON IN DASHBOARD. AT TIMES CAR DOES NOT WANT TO START. READ ON LINE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, WHEN I PUT IN MY VIN NUMBER IT SAYS NO RECALL. ON ANOTHER SITE, THEIR IS A RECALL FOR 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM HELP!!! I AM CONFUSED.”
Vehicle speed control
18 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AS THE TRANSMISSION MADE AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION, RAISED THE HOOD, AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE AND THEN DROVE HOME WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS A MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Engine
17 reports1 fire
“EVERY YEAR THAT WE FIX THE INTAKE VALVE ON THE CAR NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON AND IT WILL BE THE SAME INTAKE VALVE. THIS CLOGS ALL THE VALVES IN THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO SOMETIMES IT'S SLOW OR CUT OFF. CAR WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS EVEN AFTER YOU FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATE THAT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE. ALSO THE BLINKERS WILL STOP WORKING YOU HAVE TO HIT THE HAZARDOUS BLINKERS FOR THE BLINKERS TO START WORKING AGAIN THIS COULD CAUSE A REAR-END ACCIDENT I ALSO TOLD THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO FIX IT.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.