2004 Pontiac Grand Prix: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix: 7 recalls, 454 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
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Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #03V331000 · 2003 · 59,528 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #04V299000 · 2004 · 281 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain passenger vehicles have a condition where the front frame rear body mount bracket May fracture.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #04V287000 · 2004 · 47,991 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #05V046000 · 2005 · 19,924 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If this were to occur, greater brake pedal force and a longer distance May be required to stop the vehicle.
The fix: Dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly. This recall began on March 8, 2005.
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V400000 · 2014 · 5,877,718 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #15V201000 · 2015 · 330,742 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Engine & cooling, Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #15V701000 · 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold May result in a fire.
The fix: 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 engineâs front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, or 15v-201 that have not yet received the…
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Steering Equipment recall #09E005000 · 2009 · 979 vehicles
What's wrong: 697-902 and 697-903, sold under dorman's "oe solutionstm" brand name, and napa p/nos. 7-8502 and 7-8503 which were sold for replacement use on the various vehicles listed above. A potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area.
Why it matters: A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners and replace the defective steering knuckles free of charge and reimburse the repair facility or owner for labor. The recall began on February 23, 2009.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E025000 · 2009 · 42,540 vehicles
What's wrong: Dope, Inc. is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dope, Inc. will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 58 mention a fire, 47 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (107): the most common themes are electrical failure (45), stalls / loses power (28), fire / smoke (26).
- Engine (98): the most common themes are fire / smoke (49), leaks (22), stalls / loses power (14).
- Steering (64): the most common themes are steering problems (56), noise or vibration (22).
- Exterior lights (41): the most common themes are noise or vibration (4), stalls / loses power (3).
The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix has 454 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 19 Grand Prix model years for complaints (1.7× the average Grand Prix year). Complaints peaked in 2004 (68 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 72,975 miles. Neighboring years: 2003 (106 complaints, 3 recalls), 2005 (148 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 28 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 26 | 20 | Premium |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 25 | 19 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.
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FAQ
Does the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix problems?
Owners have filed 454 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (107), engine (98), steering (64).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.8 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.