2004 Pontiac Grand Prix: common problems

Owners of the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix filed 454 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 454
involving a crash: 46

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
2 Engine 22% of all complaints
3 Steering 14% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
5 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
6 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
7 Structure 7% of all complaints
8 Air bags 6% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Electrical system: 107 complaints (24% of all), 13 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine: 98 complaints (22% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 64 complaints (14% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 50 complaints (11% of all), 11 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine and cooling: 41 complaints (9% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

3.8 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 3 complaints
3.8 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 3 complaints
automatic, 4-speed

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 454 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire84 · 19%
headlights and tail lights45 · 10%
stalls while driving36 · 8%
steering or power steering problems29 · 6%
warning lights, check engine27 · 6%
knocking, grinding or other noise23 · 5%
vibration22 · 5%
airbags did not deploy19 · 4%
A/C or heater15 · 3%
oil leak or consumption13 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	107	13
Engine	98	5
Steering	64	9
Service brakes	50	11
Engine and cooling	41	0
Exterior lighting	41	0
Structure	33	3
Air bags	28	24
Powertrain	19	2
Wheels	19	0
Vehicle speed control	18	4
Suspension	15	0
Visibility	14	0
Electronic stability control	9	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Knocking out my drivers light assembly, front fender, bumper, disabling thehoodof my car, tilting my radiator. Nothing ofthenight should of skinny tires,nor mademefail to maintain my vehicle.
Steering · crash · 2019-02-28 · NHTSA complaint #11183312
While driving 5 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, but the brakes failed to respond. As a result, the contact struck the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Service brakes · crash · 2017-03-07 · NHTSA complaint #10959448
Merit chevrolet might have switched the valve cover, but they did nothing to resolve the issue of engine oil leaking in my manifold. I arrived there and left there with the same problem and safety hazard. My engine is still at risk of igniting fire
Electrical system · crash · 2016-07-14 · NHTSA complaint #10884722
The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph downhill, the vehicle stalled and the contact lost all control of the vehicle. The vehicle continued downhill into an intersection, jumped a curb, and crashed into the bushes.
Electrical system · crash · 2015-12-18 · NHTSA complaint #10811146
The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the driver sustained a hand injury that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vine was included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v4000000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
Electrical system · crash · 2015-10-22 · NHTSA complaint #10785325
While driving 55 mph, the engine stalled. The vehicle spun out uncontrollably and crashed into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained injuries to the neck, back, and both legs. The front passenger sustained injuries to the neck and both legs.
Engine · crash · 2015-04-16 · NHTSA complaint #10706061
The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the engine stalled without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into the side of a bridge. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not repaired.
Engine · crash · 2015-03-23 · NHTSA complaint #10701123
Tl contact owns a 2004 pontiac grand prix. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, it accelerated rapidly into an intersection crashing into some carts. The vehicle was totaled. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,896.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2015-03-06 · NHTSA complaint #10692524

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

200317
200468
200544
200629
200720
200820
200922
201015
201114
201216
20135
201438
201546
201655
201713
201813
201911
20205
20212
20251

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 841 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand Prix has 187 complaints (29 years in the data). This year has 454, above average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, steering. Total complaints: 454. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (19%), headlights and tail lights (10%), stalls while driving (8%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2004 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.