10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,718 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Am:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #72

Aug 292014

Grand Am

  • 83,000 miles
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.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #71

Aug 152014

Grand Am

  • miles
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.

- Ryan, IA, USA

problem #70

Oct 312014

Grand Am

  • miles
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.

- Central Square, NY, USA

problem #69

Oct 162014

Grand Am

  • 63,130 miles
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

- Scottsboro, AL, USA

problem #68

Jun 062014

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 187,000 miles
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!

- Beaver Dam, WI, USA

problem #67

Oct 302014

Grand Am

  • 140,000 miles
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.

- South Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #66

Nov 042013

Grand Am

  • 147,868 miles
I had all issues service, the vehicle continues to have electrical issue burning out fuses car wont start. There is no check engine to indicate cause if faulty fuse. Took the car to several mechanic no one can solve the issue car wont start.

- Allentown, PA, USA

problem #65

Oct 012013

Grand Am

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. While driving various speeds, all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel and the steering wheel began to smoke. The instrument panel gauges failed to work. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

- Springhill , TN, USA

problem #64

Sep 172014

Grand Am

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact received NHTSA campaign 14V400000 (electrical system). The contact stated that the recall remedy was not a permanent fix. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact did not experience a failure.

- Muncie, IN, USA

problem #63

Sep 112014

Grand Am

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #62

Aug 192014

Grand Am

  • 166,000 miles
During traffic my 2004 Pontiac Grand Am just shut itself off! moments before I did hit a pothole. Suddenly, the lights in dash illuminated, bells sounded, and my key independently moved from the on position to off. I lost power steering, brakes. The car slowed to a stop. I called 911 in desperate fear of being hit.-car wouldn't restart, key wouldn't come out of ignition. I became angered and pounded on the ignition area and near the radio. The car then was able to respond and turn on. I learned that my car had been recalled in July, but there is no remedy on how to fix it. I was towed to the dealer. Mechanic, at dealer, said no codes came up to indicate a problem. He said though I had some miles on my car, the car was in terrific condition and didn't appear to be this old. I told him that I have been impeccable with my car. The service manager told me they aren't going to do anything because there is no remedy. However, the service manager said my car is not safe. I was never so scared in my life. All I could think about was my children. My life was endangered as there was no way to make my care indicate there was a problem- flashers weren't responding. On May 23, 2014, I hit a pot hole pretty hard while entering a parking lot (I was going slow), my car shut off and on in moments, lost power steering momentarily. The key was stuck between on and off, not coming out of the ignition. I was towed to the dealer, they replaced the ignition. According to my paperwork and repair by the dealer, GM has advised me that my car in involved with a recall and I should seek reimbursement for the ignition switch I had repaired.

- Shirley, NY, USA

problem #61

Jul 252014

Grand Am

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the ignition made a clicking sound and started to smoke. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- Vandalia, IL, USA

problem #60

Jun 062014

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 190,000 miles
Report receipt date: July 03, 2014 NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 component(s): Electrical system potential number of units affected: 6,729,742 key wouldn't turn in ignition. On June 10, 2014, I got the key to turn on and start the car but it would not turn all the off. I had to disconnect the battery when the car was parked. On July 11, 2014 I took the car to fischbach tires 1200 N spring St, beaver dam, wi 53916 (920) 887-3711 to fix the problem. They replaced the ignition switch and gave me two new keys and I was charged $369.20. Can I be reimbursed for this charge since it is part of this recall and if so, how do I go about it?

- Beaver Dam, WI, USA

problem #59

Jan 062014

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
My concern is about my future safety in my Pontiac Grand Am. Since these recalls have been going out I have checked to see if this car will be on the list. I have had to replace my ignition three times last replacement was in 2011, I was lucky that when the replacements took place my car had failed to start and I wasn't driving, however in Jan of 2014 when driving during a snow storm trying to get home, my car hit an ice patch and slide into a guard rail. The impact was so hard that it damaged and bent my left side bumper, breaking the headlight to pieces. To replace the headlight the bumper required to be pulled out and straighten. My air bag did not deploy on impact, even though I hit my head on the headliner, and there was major damage to the car. I live in the mountains of va, how fast was the car going, I am not sure but I can guess impact was about 20/25 mph. Even though the police did come (only because they witness the incident) no police report was filed, I have been looking for this car to be recalled and sure enough its on the list as of July 3 2014. I have not received a letter on the recall, nor does it show up on the cars VIN. The roads in my location are mountain roads with curve after curve and up and downs, although the speed limits are reduced in order to drive safely, my worry is that if I lose control of my car because the electrical system, I will be going down the side of some mountain. I called my local dealer for help, and was told because the recall was not on the VIN# they will not help me. I already know my air bags do not work, I already know I have had ignition problems, so if the ignition stops working, this is an accident waiting to happen. I don't understand if this car make and model is on the NHTSA list why can't I get it fixed?

- Swords Creek, VA, USA

problem #58

Jun 022014

Grand Am

  • 100,000 miles
On several occasions the ignition switch failed to turn, which locked up the steering column, many times the key would not release from the ignition switch, therefore it would not turn off.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #57

Mar 012012

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 60,230 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact indicated that after restarting the engine, the vehicle resumed normal function. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ignition cylinder lock was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The failure mileage was 60,230. Updated 8/29/2014

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #56

Jul 142011

Grand Am

  • 56,000 miles
We own a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. Wondering why it is not included in the GM recall. We have had 3 separate incidents while driving where we lost power and the car was hard to control due to loss of power steering and brakes. My 17 year old son was driving and lucky for us he was in the neighborhood going extremely slow or it could have killed him if he was on a highway going at a higher rate of speed. Doing an internet search turns up hundreds of people having the same problem with their Grand Am. Could you please explain why this vehicle is not also being recalled. Thanks.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #55

May 042009

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 23,626 miles
The car has approximately 34,000 miles. Twice I had to install a new ignition switch, most recently Sept. 2013. Both times the car would not start and had to be towed. Last ignition installed 10/28/2013, mileage 32936

- Valley Cottage, NY, USA

problem #54

Feb 162013

Grand Am 4-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
My vehicle's turn signals quit working properly last year, sometimes they would work, sometimes not, I spent $200 out of pocket to fix the issue, there is now a ticking noise in the same area and I'm reading online there should be a recall because 100's are having the same issue. The ticking noise makes my car not only unbearable to drive/ ride in but makes me uncertain whether my turn signal is on or not. I'm constantly distracted by driving to check my turn signals and this is a safety issue. GM's website was not helpful.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #53

Sep 112011

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
I filed a safety report on 9/11/2013 confirmation # 10543131 and I have not heard from NHTSA at all since filing the report. Please advise me of the report status. Turn signals work intermittently.

- Sun City West, AZ, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »