2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Problems, Recalls & Reliability
624 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 76/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 84,226 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990–1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2008.
Avoid
Where 2004 sits among all Grand Prix years
What owners report
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Grand Prix
“Out of no where my engine oil started leaking out , i put more oil in to and watched in run out the car like water.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Grand Prix
“1st problem is steering wheel locks up every know and then 2nd hit a bump or drive over rxr tracks the traction light and abs light come on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Grand Prix
“Dt: the contact stated there were multiple problems with the vehicle. Each of these problems were included in the recalls 04v287000, 03v331000, 04v299000 and 05v046000. However, this vehicle was not included in the recalls due to vin. The brake pads have been replaced twice.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Grand Prix
“My vehicle won't stop dieing then won't turn on! It try's turning over but won't work! I have change do sensors and did oil and everything i can think of please help!”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Grand Prix
“The car recently had an engine fire about 15 minutes after turning it off. The entire vehicle was completely totaled. It was stationary and in a parking lot when the issue occurred, and the vehicle was not running.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Grand Prix
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 408 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 90,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 33,000 and 150,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (9)
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…
Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket.…
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…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The…
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.…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014.…
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL…
Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IF ONE OF THE TWO ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURN SPRINGS FAILS AND THE TEMPERATURE IS -22 DEGREES F TO -40 DEGREES F,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 8, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET…
Fix: DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 1-800-620-7668.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE FRONT FRAME REAR BODY MOUNT BRACKET MAY FRACTURE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT FRAME ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKING SYSTEMS." ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE FITTING MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED PROPERLY, AND A BRAKE FLUID…
Fix: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE FITTING TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION, AND ADD BRAKE FLUID IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 28, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
509 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2004 Grand Prix TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?
The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix drew 624 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 76/100, scored against the model's worst year (1997).
What are the most common 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix problems?
The top reported problems for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix are electrical (152 complaints), engine (140), and steering (64).
At what mileage do 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix problems show up?
Owners most often report 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix problems around 90,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 33,000 and 150,000 miles.
Does the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix have recalls?
9 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.