NHTSA — Engine Problems

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
92,497 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2004 Pontiac Grand Am Owner Comments

problem #17

Jul 182018

Grand Am

  • 120,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle began to accelerate on its own. The contact exited the interstate and attempted to brake as the transmission made an abnormally loud sound. The contact pulled into a fuel station, raised the hood, and observed smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was unable to be driven. The contact waited a while and then drove home with the brake pedal down to the floorboard. The contact's husband was a mechanic and diagnosed the vehicle, but no failure code was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Shapeppton, PA, USA

problem #16

Apr 012006

Grand Am

  • 37,000 miles
Every year that we fix the intake valve on the car not even a month later the check engine light will come back on and it will be the same intake valve. This clogs all the valves in the system causing the car to sometimes it's slow or cut off. Car will not pass emissions even after you fix this issue. I have contacted GM and notified them of this issue and they state that it's not an issue. Also the blinkers will stop working you have to hit the hazardous blinkers for the blinkers to start working again this could cause a rear-end accident I also told the manufacturer about this issue and they are not wanting to fix it.

- Senoia, GA, USA

problem #15

Apr 012014

Grand Am

  • 171,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that all the electrical components remained on and illuminated when the vehicle was turned off and the driver side door was open. The contact stated that the electrical system was supposed to shut off once the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle emitted a fuel odor and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 171,000.

- Dacula, GA, USA

problem #14

Jan 012013

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles

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

Regular occurrences started at 120K miles, these are all issues which previously complaints have been filed by current 2004 Grand Am owners but have not been corrected and I have called every 6 months filing these complaints. 1) gas fumes are coming in the car when it is running or sitting still idling, 2) blinkers start blinking on their own around 80 degrees F outside temperature, mechanic said it was because grease in steering column becomes thin and shorts out other wiring causing the smoke (fire) which comes from steering column, this occurs every summer to fall when temps are 80 degrees or higher), 3) horn does not work, mechanic replaced horn mechanism but it did not fix the issue & I am concerned the air bag system won't work either since they are inter twined in the steering column, 4) the dash is warping, cracking and breaking horribly, it causes a sticky haze (gas) on my windshield causing issues when driving at night, I continually wipe off but it does not help, 5) the service engine soon light has been on for 2K miles, the mechanic states it is a fuel system indicator code, indicating the fuel cap is not fitting correctly, which he has confirmed is incorrect. Starting at 142K the car overheats (I just got the water pump and thermostat changed), the car shakes tremendously and shuts off while driving when temperature gauge is indicating this overheating, leaving the car unable to be driven since no power steering etc, the replacement of the parts has not corrected the issue. I am very tired and worried about my family's safety in this car. Please assist as I have been calling since 2013 about the #'d issues. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

problem #13

Dec 012015

Grand Am

  • miles
Keep having to change ignition switch and transmission went out.

- Orange Cove, CA, USA

problem #12

May 272015

Grand Am

  • 1,000 miles
Engine light.

- Thibodaux, LA, USA

problem #11

Jun 172015

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • miles

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

IF YOU HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH YOUR IGNITION BEFORE OR AFTER THE KEY RECALL AND HAVING TO PAY FOR A. NEW IGNITION BECAUSE OF A BANDAID OF A FIX. EMAIL ME AND SEE IF WE CAN GET HELP FROM AN ATTORNEY. EMAIL [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bardstown, KY, USA

problem #10

May 102015

Grand Am

  • 121,658 miles
Smell of gas under hood while car is not running. I just bought the car used and would like to know if the recalls that were for this car have ever been done.

- Swansea, IL, USA

problem #9

Oct 012014

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 179,053 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that the security warning indicator illuminated and the engine stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 179,053. Updated 4/30/15

- Eminence, MO, USA

problem #8

May 242012

Grand Am

  • 197,745 miles
I purchased a car from an individual who advertised a car for sale by stating"ac works heater works" unfortunately within 45 min after purchasing the vehicle I was left stranded on side of the road in extremely high heat due to car dying because it overheated but I wasnt aware of it because it never got hot on temp gauge because I later found out there was no thermostat in the motor.. I was unable to get the seller to answer her phone or return my calls. The ac can't work without a thermostat and heater needs heater core in order to work in which the car hasn't one. I'm stuck with a vehical that I can't drive and the seller was aware of the problems concerning the car but failed to mention anything was wrong with car.

- Panama, OK, USA

problem #7

Jul 242014

Grand Am

  • 73,000 miles

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

My car will crank but won't turn over and start.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #6

Jun 022014

Grand Am

  • 100,000 miles
On several occasions the ignition switch failed to turn, which locked up the steering column, many times the key would not release from the ignition switch, therefore it would not turn off.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #5

Sep 012004

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 4,000 miles
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 brakes and steering when the key shuts off. However, my wife has driven my car and luckily hasn't had this experience. I'm afraid that she would lack the body strength necessary to handle the steering and brakes. At times, I have been able to shift the transmission into neutral and restart with the car still in motion, but it was very difficult to maneuver and come to a stop while trying to restart at the same time. Please advise.

- Richmond, RI, USA

problem #4

Oct 142011

Grand Am 4-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
Car randomly will not start. Passlock system if flawed, with time the electrical terminals/connections start failing and causes system to think you are trying to hotwire the car and it engages security override. Sometimes comes on while you are driving and you must pull over and turn your car off or else it will stop while you are driving. You must put in the key turn to the on position for 15min then start car, that doesn't always work either. Passlock system is bad and apparently from research the issue runs across the board for GM vehicles from this time frame.

- High Ridge, MO, USA

problem #3

Nov 142012

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine control module chip needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.

- Chesterfield, MI, USA

problem #2

Mar 142012

Grand Am 6-cyl

  • 125,000 miles
Won't start without holding key to on position for 10 minutes. Turn signal keeps making clicking sound for up to 2 minutes after turning off signal.

- Lincoln Park, MI, USA

problem #1

Nov 282012

Grand Am

  • 119,000 miles
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 made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 119,000.

- Levittown , NY, USA

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