Problems · by component

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix electrical system problems

107 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix cite electrical system, 24% of all 454 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
107
24% of all complaints
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
18
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“OIL LEAKING ,TRACTION CONTROL KEEPS SHUTTING ON AND OFF,EVAC LEAK,IN MOTION,SMOKE AND OIL STAINS COMING FROM CAR. SCANNER READS MISFIRE NEEDS PLUGS AND WIRES BUT JUST GOT PLUGS AND WIRES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2020Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11354752
“FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID MY CAR BURNED UP COLD IN THE YARD ELECTRICAL FROM THE FUSE BOX PASSENGER SIDE. THE ALARM WENT OFF I LOOKED OUTSIDE FLAMES WAS GOING THRU WINDSHIELD THRU THE DASH TIRES WAS BURNING CALLED FIRE DEPT. 02/04/2020. CAR IS TOTALLED. I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR..IT JUST BURST INTO FLAMES. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN, ENGINE WAS COLD. IT WAS PARKED HAD BEEN PARKED OVER 24 HOURS. GROVE FIRE DEPT RESPONDED STARR SC. I WILL JUST HAVE TO SEND A PICTURE LATER. IT'S DARK NOW”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2020Electrical system, EngineODI 11307176
“ON FEBRUARY 8, 2019, MY MOTHER WAS PULLING INTO A MAINTENANCE GARAGE TO GET AN OIL CHANGE. UPON PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HER VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, HE VEHICLE HIT AN EMPLOYEE, WENT THROUGH THE MAINTENANCE GARAGE DOOR, THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, ACROSS A FOUR LANE STREET, AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED IN A FIELD ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE OIL CHANGE VENUE. THIS IS AN APPROXIMATE DISTANCE OF 300 FEET. UPON FURTHER REVIEW BY MY MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ABS SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DROP IN THE CAR, AND THE CAR NOT TO STOP. THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO WAS CRACKED RESULTING IN A CUT TO THE ABS WIRE, CAUSING THE ABS MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE CAR TO NOT STOP, AND THE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPEED FORWARD. GENERAL MOTORS WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS CLAIM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2020Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11298730
“MY VEHICLE IGNITION TURNS TO ON MODE WHEN DRIVING AND I LOOSE ALL POWER. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE RECALL REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS DIED ON ME SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY, ON THE STREETS AND JUST PULLING UP IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY. I NOW CANT ENJOY MY CAR BECAUSE FOR ME THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. GM SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 30, 2019Electrical systemODI 11216970
“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

Showing 6 of 107 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Jul 3, 2014NHTSA 14V400000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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