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2004 Pontiac Grand AM Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2004 Pontiac Grand AM has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Turn signal and hazard light clicking or failure.” Every Pontiac is now 15+ years old, which changes the maintenance question from 'what mileage?' to 'how old is it?' — hoses, belts, coolant, and brake fluid age out even on low-mile cars. The G6 uses GM's Oil Life System (change oil when the message appears, at most every 12 months) with Dex-Cool coolant and either the 2.4L Ecotec four or the 3.5/3.9L pushrod V6. Parts remain cheap and plentiful through GM's shared platforms — these cars are inexpensive to keep healthy if the age-based items aren't ignored.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Pontiac Grand AM.

Reported to NHTSA

Turn signal and hazard light clicking or failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

40 NHTSA complaints · 2008-07 → 2018-08

“AFTER USING TURN SIGNAL CLICKING NOISE WILL COME ON AND NOT GO AWAY. TOOK CAR TO REPAIR SHOP AND TOLD ABOUT DEFECT ON THE TURN SIGNAL OR BETTER KNOWN AS THE WIPER MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. TOTAL EXPENSES OF REPAIR $289.00. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10238635
“BLINKER NOISE KEEPS (CLICKING) GOING AFTER BLINKER HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. IT IS INTERMIITTENT AND STOPS AND STARTS AGAIN EVERY FEW MINUTES. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE BLINKER REPLACED ONCE LAST YEAR AND ALREADY THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10236123
“TURNING SIGNAL SWITCH KEEPS MAKING NOISE EVEN WHEN SWITCH IS NOT BEING USED. 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. I HAVE NOTICED A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALL OCCURRING AROUND 50,000 MILES. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10282029

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Windshield wiper transmission link failure

VISIBILITY

5 NHTSA complaints · 2008-08 → 2011-02

“I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM 3 TIMES, IF I GO THRU A CAR WASH IT BREAKS MY WIPERS EVERY TIME, MY DRIVES SIDE WIPER WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, FINALLY I HAD TO GET IT CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT WOULD COST 500”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10384088
“MY GIRLFRIENDS 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM (V6) HAS A PROBLEM WITH HER WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TRANSMISSION LINK. ON THE LINK ITSELF THERE IS A PLASTIC BALL SOCKET THAT CONNECTS THE LINK TO THE MOTOR TRANSMISSION. THIS PLASTIC SOCKET IS DEFECTIVE AND SLIPS OFF OF ITS CONNECTION THUS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10326696
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER IT RAINS OR SNOWS, THE WINDSHIELD FAILED TO WORK; HOWEVER, DURING NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND HAS NOT CALLED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10298569

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition switch failure, key sticking and engine stalling

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

47 NHTSA complaints · 2010-03 → 2021-11

“MY CAR STALLS OUT FROM TIME TO TIME BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH I TOOK IT TO GMC THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE ORIGINAL KEY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11092393
“IGNITION KEY CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE DISABLED. I STILL OWN THE VEHICLE AND THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. NO CRASH HAS EVER OCCURED BECAUSE THERE IS STILL SOME MINIMAL FUNCTIONALITY TO THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10568509
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10626912

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Security light and PASSLOCK no-start condition

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

37 NHTSA complaints · 2008-09 → 2018-09

“PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM IS FAILING. CAR WILL START UP PERFECTLY ONE DAY BUT THEN THE NEXT DAY IT MAY NOT START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL BE FLASHING. TAKES TEN MINUTES TO RESET. BASICALLY YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN AND WHAT DAY THAT YOUR CAR WILL START AND ITS A HUGE NUISANCE. I'M”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10367953
“ON MY WAY TO WORK SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TRIED TO START CAR AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO PUT THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10526219
“PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM ON '04 PONTIAC GRAND AM. CAR WON'T START AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. THE TEMP FIX IS TO TURN IGNITION ON FOR 10+ MINUTES THEN TURN OFF AND CAR WILL START. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN YOU'RE AT PLACES LIKE A GAS STATION. THERE ARE REPORTS ALL OVER THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10277927

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard warping and deterioration

STRUCTURE

8 NHTSA complaints · 2010-01 → 2016-04

“DASHBOARD IS ALL CURLED UP AND MELTING FROM THE HEAT EVEN WITH COVERING THE WINDSHIELD...NOW IT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE WITH THE SUN GLARING OFF AND RIGHT INTO YOUR EYES. THE DASHBOARD APPEARS TO HAVE SHRUNK..NOTHING FITS EVEN AROUND THE GAUGES. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10598593
“DASH BEGAN PEELING BACK AT THE WINDSHIELD SHORTLY AFTER NEW WARRANTY EXPIRED. NOW IT SO WARPED THAT IT IS CRACKING AND BREAKING EVERY VENT COVER, OR IT POPS THEM OUT AS YOU DRIVE! (NOT FUN LATE AT NIGHT WHEN YOU GET HIT BY WHO KNOWS WHAT IN THE DARK!) MY LATEST CONCERN ~”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10324286
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10611037

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration and engine RPM surge

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

6 NHTSA complaints · 2008-10 → 2019-06

“VEHICLE IS 2.2L 4 CYL MANUAL TRANS. ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2007. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, SLOWING DOWN AND DEPRESSING CLUTCH PEDAL TO DOWNSHIFT, ENGINE SPEED RUNAWAY OCCURRED. RPM INCREASED UNCONTROLLABLY PAST 3500 RPM, ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO SHUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10244706
“WAS DRIVING NORMALLY DOWN ROAD ON WAY TO WORK. APPROACHED INTERSECTION AND DEPRESSED CLUTCH TO DOWN SHIFT AND APPLY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. HOWEVER WITH CLUTCH DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REV UP ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, UNTIL IT REACHED THE RED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10259729
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10902990

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake line rupture, corrosion and fluid leak

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

4 NHTSA complaints · 2008-09 → 2016-04

“PROBLEM: THE STEEL BRAKES LINE GOING TO THE FRONT AND BACK RUPTURED AT THE SAME TIME DURING WHAT WAS TO BE AN EMERGENCY STOP. THEY WERE ON TOP OF THE ABS MODULE AND WERE HEAVILY RUSTED. HENCE, THERE WAS NO BRAKING EXCEPT BY PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN I WAS CUTOFF BY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10859905
“BOLT WORE HOLE THROUGH BRAKE LINE CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND NO BRAKES WHETS SO EVER. CANT FIND A BRAKE LINE TO FIT BOTH SIDES WHERE IT SCREWS IN AT THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT SIZES AND THEY ONLY SELL THEM WITH THE SAME SIZE. DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN ONCE IT HAS HAPPEN 3 TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10294685
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, HE FOUND THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE FLOORBOARD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10487350

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel odor and fumes entering the cabin

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

7 NHTSA complaints · 2009-02 → 2019-06

“MY SON WAS DRIVING THIS 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM AND NOTICED GASOLINE ODOR/FUMES COMING INTO THE VEHICLE CABIN AREA WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM OPERATING. UPON INSPECTION OF HIS COMPLAINT WE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THIS FUEL LEAK WAS MINIMAL WHEN THE ENGINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10808078
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10651333
“I HAVE A 2004 PONTIAC, GRAND AM. FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AND 3 DAYS THE PAST WEEK AS I WARM UP MY CAR IN THE MORNINGS, AN UPON RETURNING TO LEAVE FOR WORK EVERY MORNING THERE ARE STRONG OVERPOWERING FUMES. SO STRONG MY EYES BURN AND GET AN UPSET STOMACH. I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10257076

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 5,000 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it, and at least every 12 months. On engines this age, many mechanics suggest a practical 5,000-mile ceiling — aging seals and PCV systems contaminate oil faster.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles. Check tire date codes too — sidewall age (6+ years) retires tires on old cars before tread wear does.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and especially brake hoses and hard lines at every service — line corrosion is a real failure mode on 15-year-old northern cars.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace every 2 years. Decade-old fluid is the hidden cause of soft pedals and seized calipers on aging GM sedans.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid (4T45-E / 4T65-E)

Every 45,000 mi

Drain-and-fill every 45,000 miles with Dexron VI. On high-mile units that have never been serviced, prefer repeated drain-and-fills over a pressure flush.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium plugs at 100,000 miles on the G6's engines. Replace wires/boots on the pushrod V6 at the same time — they're brittle at this age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Serpentine Belt & Tensioner

Every 60,000 mi

At this age, replace the belt AND tensioner as a pair on any evidence of cracking or noise — a weak tensioner eats new belts.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles — a cheap, 5-minute job on the G6.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 100,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles — but on cars this old the interval is effectively 'every 5 years.' Check for intake and water-pump seepage while it's drained; use Dex-Cool only, never mixed with green coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery & Charging System Test

Every 25,000 mi

Test the battery and alternator annually. Parasitic drains from aging body modules are common on this era of GM — a healthy battery masks them until it doesn't.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

385 crashes 1990–2024

How the 385 occupant deaths break down

289

driver deaths

95

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

385

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2003 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

24

complaints mentioning a crash

7

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Pontiac Grand AM reflects Pontiac's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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