NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2004 Pontiac Grand Am (Page 5 of 6)

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,718 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Pontiac Grand Am electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Pontiac Grand Am Owner Comments (Page 5 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #32

Mar 132011

Grand Am

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

GM vats/passlock system shuts down vehicles anytime, anywhere, without warning....even in -10 degree temps in blizzard conditions ten miles from the nearest house. The dealers soak people for $600 - $1200 to replace fuel pumps, key cylinders, ecms and bcms but the problem persists. Your organization shows a post for a few drops of oil while braking but this passkey issue is a danger to anyone who owns a 1999-2005 GM vehicle. The car just stops right in the middle of the thruway, during rush hour, in some cases. Thousands of people are having this problem and GM refuses to issue a recall or even offer a reliable solution that we're more than willing to pay for. Our cars turn into lawn ornaments and that's about all.

- Cowlesville, NY, USA

problem #31

Mar 202010

Grand Am

  • 68,000 miles
Fast clicking noise coming from radio/hazard light area. This happens when no signal lights is on.

- Aylmer, 00, USA

problem #30

Dec 282010

Grand Am 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
2004 Pontiac Grand Am with approximately 65,000 miles. Clicking sound normally associated with directional/turn signal is being heard, even when directional is not in use. Sometimes the clicking is activated by moving or turning the steering wheel. The clicking is not constant or consistent, but it does occur every time the directional signal is used. The sound appears to come from the dashboard area (near the radio and hazard light button). The dealership is aware of the issue and has diagnosed it as a faulty/dirty multifunction switch, which he says he replaces frequently. If this is a known issue, I believe General Motors (Pontiac) should address the issue before it turns more serious.

- Marietta, OH, USA

problem #29

Feb 232008

Grand Am

  • 37,071 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 02/23/2008, vehicle would not start and was taken to GM certified auto center. Performed diagnostic circuit check - passlock systems failure. Replaced passlock cylinder and switch. On 05/22/2008, taken to a different GM certified auto center. Diagnostic found ignition cylinder loose internally causing loss of contact. Replaced ignition cylinder and switch for the second time in only four months. On same day (05/22/2008), driver reported a clicking type noise as if turn signals were on when they weren't. diagnostic found internal failure in multi-function switch - replaced. On 12/29/2010, clicking noise returned and vehicle taken to GM certified auto center. Diagnostic found internal short/failure in multi-function switch and it was replaced for a second time. When leaving auto center, "service engine soon" light on. Diagnostic indicated ignition switch needed to replaced, for a third time.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #28

Nov 172010

Grand Am

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The vehicle will not start because the battery was drained. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and informed her to take the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- New Riegel, OH, USA

problem #27

Nov 252010

Grand Am

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. Upon starting the vehicle she noticed that the security light located on the dashboard was illuminated. After driving for approximately 30 minutes the warning light shut off. The failure continued to recur intermittently for approximately two weeks until the vehicle would no longer start. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The failure and current mileages were 92,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- South Paris, ME, USA

problem #26

Aug 012010

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 not spending over 600 dollars to get this fixed when this product should have already been recalled. It's ridiculous.

- West Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #25

Aug 012010

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
I own a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. There is an electrical problem with the car that causes a security malfunction. On numerous random occasions when I put the key in the ignition and try to start my car and security light comes on the car will not start. I have to wait 10 minutes until the security light turns off and then re-start the car. I have not been able to correct this failure. I bought the car August of 2010 and have had the problem the entire time.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #24

May 012010

Grand Am

  • 50,000 miles
The turn signal switch in the car or the hazard switch seem to be defective. It constantly keeps clicking after I use it and sometimes rarely I can see smoke from the steering column. I have seen multiple complaints on this issues I am not sure why it hasn't been recalled.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #23

Aug 202010

Grand Am

  • 63,922 miles
Security light came on while driving in interstate 80 to kearney Nebraska. Dealership in fremont told me not to turn off car until I got to destination. Told it may not start again. Talked to two different dealerships one in kearney Nebraska and one in fremont Nebraska. The dealership in kearney said they could not get to it due large volume of business. Told me to leave it in on position for 10 minutes then restart car. I got back to fremont and the dealership in fremont verified the problem. The security sensor was having trouble acknowledging the key and thought someone was stealing the car. The car possible not start again or shut down.the fremont dealership replaced the ignition cylinder and wiring harness. It cost $630. I asked if they had heard of this problem. They said yes, that they had seen it quite frequently. I checked the internet and there were numerous blogs and statements to the same situation that others had experienced the same problem.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #22

Aug 022010

Grand Am

  • 52,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that when the security light came on, the vehicle stalled. If the key was left in the on position, the system would reset itself and the vehicle would function normally. A mechanic told the contact that resetting the system could cause the electrical system to fail. The contact previously owned a Grand Am that caught fire because of this failure. The dealer stated that the pass lock system was failing. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were 52000.

- Wyandotte, MI, USA

problem #21

Apr 032010

Grand Am

  • 105,000 miles
My 2004 Grand Am I have a clicking noise from the dash area and ever so often smoke from the steering column. Also the driver side weather stripping does not fit right. Weather stripping flew off while driving on the highway.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #20

Feb 012010

Grand Am

  • miles
Passlock system 2004 Grand Am Pontiac, the security light is blinking and read the manual follow the steps but my car wont crank

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #19

Mar 012010

Grand Am

  • 96,000 miles
I love my Pontiac gram am, the car not starting has been the only problem with the car. Just called the dealler ship and they said it would cost about $419 to fix the problem. I already spent $1000 or more on towes and new battieries, etc. Till I learned the 10 min trick. I'm getting sick and tired of waiting the ten minutes for my security light to reset. What does it take for a recall this problem. I can't imagine how many more people have had to have this problem.

- Garrison , NY, USA

problem #18

Feb 212010

Grand Am

  • 66,000 miles
Car will not start. Passlock security system bad. Have to leave ignition on for 10 minutes to let system reset. Found pages of complaints about the GM passlock security system on the web. I guess nothing will be done till somehow there is a death. With the gov. Now owning a part of GM the NHTSA is now really in GM's back pocket and will not do anything.

- Burleson, TX, USA

problem #17

Feb 022010

Grand Am

  • miles
Turn signal switch clicking, when after using the turn signal and during driving. I took it to the dealership they said it was the turn signal switch. I see that in December 2004 GM issued a policy covering turn signal/hazard flasher for a replacement. We did not receive a letter about this. I would like you to look into this and see if the 2004 Grand Am is also included in this recall, if so how do I go about to get the dealership the proper papers to fix this issue at "no cost" to me. This has been an occurring issue since early 2009, I just had time today to get it to the dealership to have it looked at, because the clicking is getting worse.

- Tawas City, MI, USA

problem #16

Dec 152009

Grand Am

  • 99,000 miles
2004 Pontiac Grand Am got in car, and car would not start. Lights come on, radio on just wouldn't start. I had to be late work because I didn't have a ride and googled the problem, finally found out it is a problem with the security system and lots of people are having it. It has since happened one more times since the first time (first time was 12/15/09) today is the 16th. Twice in two days. It is winter and I hope this doesn't happen when I am with my kids. It's to cold for that. I have heard when people take their cars in to GM to have it fixed it costs about $600 and there is no way we have the money for that so right now we are having to put the key to "on" position and wait 10 minutes for the security system to reset. It will start then but that is so frustrating and if it happens when we are away from home this winter it will be cold as well. I can't believe when I searched online the amount of people having this same problem as me!

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #15

Sep 252009

Grand Am

  • miles
The passlock system in my 2004 Grand Am keeps acting up. I go to start my car and I have to put my key in the "on" position for 10 min. This could be a safety issue. My car shut off while driving it the other day. Power steering was not working. Had to glide to a stop. Was told this was a malfunction of the passlock system. I think that this is a recall situation and needs to be addressed. Dealership cannot figure out what is causing this problem other than it is a passlock system malfunction.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #14

Sep 112009

Grand Am

  • 74,633 miles
Pass lock on Grand Am 2004 SE keeps turning car off when running./will not start for 10 min when trying to start.

- Lagrange, KY, USA

problem #13

Jul 212009

Grand Am

  • 106,033 miles
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 internet of this same problem and Pontiac needs to recall and fix the problem.

- Riverside, CA, USA

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