Your vehicle report

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
454
Received Sep 2003 to Nov 2025
Official recalls listed
7
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Vehicle catches fire from wiring47 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Headlights dim or fail at night31 complaints · 6.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Airbags fail to deploy in crashes25 complaints · 5.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #15V701000General 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.
  • Recall #15V201000General 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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 46 crashes, 58 fires, 47 people injured, 2 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

1 more problem

Brakes

Electrical & lights

1 more problem

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

4 more problems

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
68
Show as a table
YearComplaints
200317
200468
200544
200629
200720
200820
200922
201015
201114
201216
20135
201438
201546
201655
201713
201813
201911
20205
20212
20220
20230
20240
20251
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total454

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Vehicle catches fire from wiring4710%–NHTSA recall #15V701000
Headlights dim or fail at night316.8%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes255.5%–
Ignition key sticks or will not turn224.9%–NHTSA recall #14V400000
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving194.2%–
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up194.2%–
Water leaks into cabin during rain143.1%–
Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly132.9%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking132.9%–NHTSA recall #05V046000
Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air122.6%–
Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed112.4%–
Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning81.8%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips71.5%–
Power steering cuts out while driving71.5%–
Tires blow out or tread separates61.3%–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines61.3%–NHTSA recall #03V331000
Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps61.3%–
Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed61.3%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract51.1%–
Horn fails with airbag warning light51.1%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #15V701000October 26, 20151,003,556 vehicles affected

    engine and engine cooling: engine; engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

    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.

    Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

    Remedy

    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. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

  • NHTSA recall #15V201000April 6, 2015330,742 vehicles affected

    engine and engine cooling: engine

    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.

    The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    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 recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

  • NHTSA recall #14V400000July 3, 20145,877,718 vehicles affected

    electrical system: ignition

    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.

    If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    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. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

  • NHTSA recall #05V046000February 9, 200519,924 vehicles affected

    vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

    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, the engine may not return to idle within three seconds, as required.

    If this were to occur, greater brake pedal force and a longer distance may be required to stop the vehicle.

    Remedy

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #04V287000June 23, 200447,991 vehicles affected

    service brakes, hydraulic

    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 and knuckle.

    Depending on whether one or both bolts backs out or fractures, the result Can be locking of the affected wheel during braking and an abrupt steering input in the direction of the locked wheel, reduced braking and noise from the affected wheel, or severing of a brake hose, increased brake pedal travel, and reduced steering control. Reduced braking or steering control could cause a crash.

    Remedy

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #04V299000June 23, 2004281 vehicles affected

    structure: frame and members

    Certain passenger vehicles have a condition where the front frame rear body mount bracket may fracture.

    If ignored, the bracket would fracture and degrade to the point where the intermediate steering shaft could separate, resulting in loss of steering control and a crash could occur.

    Remedy

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #03V331000September 12, 200359,528 vehicles affected

    service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    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 leak could occur.

    If enough fluid leaks, the brake pedal will be lower than normal, and stopping distances will be longer. If this occurs when stopping distance is limited, a crash could occur.

    Remedy

    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 Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN