2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.

20032005
Complaints
624
Crashes
78
Fires
78
Injuries
85
Fatalities
5
Recalls
3

Worst 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#198 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:169,520 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:36
#283 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:109,183 mi
Crash-related:12
Fires:16
#348 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:139,389 mi
Crash-related:8
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Engine Problems
98
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
36
Avg Miles
169,520
Electrical Faults
83
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
16
Avg Miles
109,183
Steering Defects
48
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
139,389
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
34
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,393
Engine & Cooling
27
complaints
Crashes
Fires
9
Avg Miles
76,521
Brakes
25
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
136,830
Airbags
21
complaints
Crashes
17
Fires
Avg Miles
115,142
Body Structure
15
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
6
Avg Miles
133,202
Structural Problems
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,974
Unintended Acceleration
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
113,349
Hydraulic Brakes
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
65,363
Wheel Issues
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
48,330
Suspension Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
348,836
Electronic Stability Control
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
159,735
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
61,172
Transmission / Drivetrain
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
107,057
Automatic Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,900
Wheels:Rim
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,640
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
33,742
Headlight/Taillight Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,706
Electrical System:Ignition
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
77,655
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,201
Electrical System:Horn
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
13,574
Gasoline Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
88,920
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
102,522
Seat Belt Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
55,950
Steering:Rack And Pinion
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
40,911
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles

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Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~7,212,016 vehicles.

15V701000Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~1,003,556 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

15V201000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~330,742 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.

14V400000Electrical System:ignition
~5,877,718 affected

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.

Other Pontiac Grand Prix Years

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix has 624 NHTSA complaints, 78 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 98 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (98 complaints, avg 169,520 mi); Electrical Faults (83 complaints, avg 109,183 mi); Steering Defects (48 complaints, avg 139,389 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 111,021 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix include 78 crash-related reports, 78 fire reports, 85 injuries, and 5 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 7,212,016 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine problems) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Pontiac Grand Prix reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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