Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix problems

Owners filed 454 complaints about the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix with NHTSA between Sep 2003 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (107).

Complaints
454
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
46
Reported by owners
Fires
58
Reported by owners
Injuries
47
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system107
  2. Engine98
  3. Steering64
  4. Engine and engine cooling41
  5. Exterior lighting41
  6. Structure33
  7. Air bags28
  8. Service brakes25
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic21
  10. Power train19
  11. Wheels19
  12. Vehicle speed control18
  13. Suspension15
  14. Visibility12

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 Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200317
200468
200544
200629
200720
200820
200922
201015
201114
201216
20135
201438
201546
201655
201713
201813
201911
20205
20212
20220
20230
20240
20251

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

107 reports13 crashes18 fires1 related recall
“The contact owned a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that the "Low Oil" message was displayed monthly, requiring oil to be added to the engine. While driving at approximately 5 MPH, the contact noticed smoke in the cabin near the floor on the passenger’s and driver’s sides, extending towards the dashboard. After stopping and exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed fire underneath the driver's side door, near the rear of the tire extending up towards the dashboard. The contact stated that the fire quickly spread from the engine to the cabin of the vehicle. The Fire Department was called and responded; however, it took a considerable amount of time to extinguish the fire in the engine compartment. The vehicle was subsequently towed from the scene and declared a total loss. A Fire report and Police report were filed. The contact linked teh failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V201000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact had not sustained any injuries. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2025Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 11700813

Engine

98 reports5 crashes36 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ENGINE OIL WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AS DESIGNED, CAUSING THE BRAKING DISTANCE TO BE EXTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE HUBS, REAR BRAKES, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND FUEL GAUGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 229,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2021Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, EngineODI 11415812

Steering

64 reports9 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 24 MPH, A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2020SteeringODI 11325007

Engine and engine cooling

41 reports10 fires2 related recalls
“2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE 14574 STATES REMOVAL OF ENGINE MAIN COVER PARTS SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH IMPROVED DESIGN PARTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MAIN COVER WAS MISSING, AS THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE IT, ACCORDING TO GM'S INSTRUCTIONS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10873047

Exterior lighting

41 reports1 related recall
“MY CAR WAS RECALLED ONLY BUILT AFTER THE FINAL ASSEMBLY DATE FOR THE RECALL. GUAWTNEY CHEV. STOLE MY SERIES 3 SUPERCHARGED MOTOR AND PUT A SERIES 2 3.8L MOTOR IN IT, II TRIED TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION DONE BY A NEUTRAL PARTY ONLY IT WAS TURNED OVER TOO DEWAYNE BELL THERE OWN SERVICE MANAGER HOW FAIR OF AN INVESTIGATION DO YOU BELIEVE WAS CONDUCTED? HE LIED AND SAID THE COVER FOR MY MOTOR WAS PART OF RECALL OF COURSE IT SAID 3800 V6 SER. 3 SUPER CHARGED. I HAVE 5 WITNESS THAT WILL TESTIFY IT WAS SC. PRIOR TO THE DAY THEY HAD MY CAR, POLICE OFFICER RAN MY VIN# EIGHT DIGIT 2 3.8L V6 SSI CANADIAN EMPLOYEE SAID SAME THING ABOUT MOTOR! I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN OVER RECALLS IN US. SHE SAID MY CAR WASN'T PART OF RECALL CONCERNING OIL DRIPPING ON ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING FIRE HAZARD I'VE DISCOVERED WHY. GENERAL MANAGER JAMIE COBB HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED AND LIED AS WELL. CASE# 8-3040394409 HAVE THE PERSONS NAME THAT I SPOKE WITH SOMEWHERE, COULD DEFINITELY USE SOME HELP HERE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WHAT IS OUR SOCIETY COMING TO WHEN INDIVIDUALS IN A CORPORATION STOOP THIS LOW? THANK-YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WOULD LEAVE CONTACT INFO I'M NOT HARD TO FIND FOR WITH ALL OF YOUR ACCESSIBILITY. 06/07/17”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2018Power train, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11060962

Structure

33 reports3 crashes6 fires1 related recall
“RECALL N140574, CASE #[XXX] ON 2/7/19, MY SON'S CAR GOT STUCK 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE GRAND PRIX WAS DRIVEN THERE TO SEE IF HE COULD BE PUSHED OUT, AND GOT STUCK - ALONG WITH 4 OTHER CARS. WE TRIED TO PUSH THE CAR OUT, BUT IT WOULDN'T MOVE. WE LEFT THE CAR RUNNING WHILE TRYING TO PUSH THE OTHER VEHICLES. WHILE WALKING FROM THE CAR, WE HEARD POPPING SOUNDS, AND SAW A FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD - PASSENGER'S SIDE. MY FRIEND REACHED IN AND SHUT IT OFF. I CALLED THE POLICE. FIRE TRUCKS PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO GET THE CAR OFF THE SNOW ROUTE AND TAKEN TO AN ACCIDENT IMPOUND. THE NEXT DAY, I CALLED GM AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE. A WEEK LATER, I WAS ASSIGNED A PAC UNIT REP, TO INVESTIGATE MY CASE. I HAVE MANY EMAILS AND PICTURES FOLLOWING MY CASE. GM HAS PROVIDED A LOT OF MISINFORMATION, LACK OF COMMUNICATION, AND NO PROBLEM RESOLVE. THERE WERE ISSUES INVOLVING THE TITLE, BUT I RESOLVED. I HAD TO TAKE THE PICTURES FOR THE INVESTIGATION, EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD REPS WOULD BE SENT OVER. I WENT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TRIED TO CONTACT THE PAC UNIT. THEY ALSO DID NOT RESPOND TO HIM. AFTER MANY VISITS TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2019Electrical system, Structure, EngineFire reportedODI 11192214
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.