Problems · by component

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix engine problems

98 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix cite engine, 22% of all 454 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
98
22% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
36
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

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
“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
“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
“I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 2015 RECALL FOR THE VALVE COVER ON 3/1/16. IT WAS ABOUT 63,000 AT THE TIME THIS RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE, OIL AND ENGINE COOLANT STILL LEAKS FROM THE VALVE COVER AND FROM THE FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I WENT IN TO GET IT CHECKED AT THE SAME GM SERVICE LOCATION THAT PERFORMED THE RECALL IN 2015 BECAUSE THE CAR HEATS UP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST OVER $900 TO REPAIR THE MANIFOLD LEAK. THIS RECALL DID NOT REPAIR THE ISSUE AS DESCRIBED AND CONTINUES TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE EITHER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2019EngineODI 11206352
“PONTIAC OIL LEAK RECALL I BOUGHT A PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. I WAS DRIVING IT HOME ONE DAY WHEN I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE SO I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD. I HAD AN ISSUE WITH RPMS FALLING AS I WAS TRYING TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN. I HOPPED OUT AND WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD. THIER WAS A FIRE THAT WAS GOING UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I PUT IT OUT AS FAST AS I COULD. UPON IT GOING OUT I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY AN OIL LEAK. THE FIRE DID A FAIR AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AND HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE MY JOB BY ME NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TO WORK. I RECIEVED THE RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE OIL LEAK 4 MONTHS AFTER I HAD PURCHASED IT AND AFTER THE RECALL CAUSED THE LOSS OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GMS PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE WEATHER OR NOT THEY WILL BE REPLACING OR REIMBURSING FOR THE LOSS DUE TO THIER DEFECT. I CANT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE OFF HAND WHICH IS WHY I AM PUTTING MAY 2ND AS THE DATE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2019EngineFire reportedODI 11206041

Showing 6 of 98 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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