Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I WAS THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND SOMEONE ELSE WAS DRIVING AND FILED A CLAIM. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I DID NOT GET ANYTHING IN THE LAW SUIT HER NAME IS [XXX] AT THE TIME SHE LIVED AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AS IT DID DURING RECALL. THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED IT. I THEN BOUGHT IT FROM PREVIOUS OWNER WHO DID NOT MENTION THE PROBLEM AS BEING ON A RECALL. WE FOUND OUT BUT DEALER SAYS IT WAS REPAIRED. OBVIOUSLY THE FIX DID NOT WORK AS VEHICLE STILL SHUTS DOWN AND SAYS AIRBAG WARNING. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE WHEN THEY SAY IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BUT WASN'T.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A SNOWPLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE DRIVER DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE IGNITION KEY WAS ENCOUNTERED AND FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD NO CONNECTION TO THE STARTER. AS A RESULT, THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ; UPDATED 4/10/18 *JB *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS THE ANTI-THEFT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,130. DJR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID A CRASH INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE TIRES WENT FLAT AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DIRECTLY IN THE CONTACT'S FACE AND THE VEHICLE COASTED DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE RESIDUE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS CONSUMING THE VEHICLE SO THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK AND BACK. THE PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FAILURE AND WAS WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR ALONG WITH THE REPAIRS FROM THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE AT WHICH POINT A TRAILER (REAR OF A PICK UP) HAULING DIRT WAS RELEASED FROM AND ONCOMING VEHICLE (TRAVELING APPROX. 45-55 MPH) AND MY HUSBAND DRIVING AT 35 MPH (BRAKING AS HE SAW IT COMING TOWARDS HIM) THE TRAILER SLAMMED INTO THE FRONT END OF OUR CAR. THIS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BE BENT WITH SEVERAL OTHER DAMAGES INCLUDING BROKEN AXLE, AND DRIVESHAFT WITH OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TOTALED HAD IT NOT HAD GAP COVERAGE AND DUE TO FAULT THE OTHER DRIVERS INSURANCE WOULD HAVE HAD TO BUY THE CAR OUT FROM OUR CREDIT AGENCY. APPROX. DAMAGE WAS A LITTLE OVER $5000. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE AIRBAGS (EVEN OR REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED) AND WITH GM'S RECENT RECALLS (MY MAKE AND MODEL INCLUDED BUT THE VIN HAS NOT BEEN FLAGGED YET) THEY ARE CLAIMING THE ISSUE WITH OUR CAR ISNT LIKE THE RECENT COLBOLT RECALL A FEW MONTHS BACK. BUT OUR VEHICLE CAN BE JARRED INTO ACC. WHILE STILL IN MOTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL . WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD MINIMAL KEY ON OUR RINGS (HOUSE, CAR, WORK KEYS WITH A SINGLE RING) GM EXPLAINED TO ME THIS LAST WK THAT THE CAR WAS JUST ADDED ON THE LIST FOR UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION NOT THE FAULTY IGNITION AND I WOULD NEED TO WAIT AND SEE IF OUR VIN WAS INVOLVED BUT THEY ASSURED THE CAR WAS SAFE. AFTER READING UP ON THE RECENT COMPLAINTS OF THE YEAR MAKE AND MODEL I SEE THIS IS NOT JUST OUR CAR AND I HIGHLY DOUBT IN ANYWAY IT IS A COINCIDENCE. WE ALSO HAVE THE DIRECTIONAL ISSUE WERE IT SOMETIMES DOESNT WORK AND WHEN IT DOES IT HAS A LONG LASTING CLICKING AFTER USE AND TO OUR KNOWLEDGE THIS PART WAS REPLACED ATLEAST TWICE BY PERVIOUS OWNER AS WELL AS ONCE BY US. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,300.
9.13.13 I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY AND GM.COM REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTLY SINCE FEBRUARY 2013 REGARDING MY HORN. SEVERAL MECHANICS TOLD ME IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE HORN IS SURROUNDED BY THE AIR BAG AND IF IT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT COULD BE COMPROMISED DURING AN ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE CAR (WHICH WAS NOT ON THE CAR FAX WHEN PURCHASED USED) AND MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN I NEED IT TO. THE HORN WORKS UNDER THE HOOD (THE LOCK / UNLOCK REMOTE WORKS PROPERLY WITH THE REQUIRED BEEP) BUT WHEN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS PRESSED IT DOES NOT WORK. IT WORKED FOR 1 YEAR AND 18 MONTHS CONSISTENTLY AND THEN IT QUICK WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I AM AFRAID, IF I AM IN A WRECK, THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG WILL NOT SAVE MY LIFE (I DO WEAR MY SEAT BELT). I HAVE BEEN ADVISED, BY DEALERSHIPS, MECHANICS, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY, AND A REPRESENTATIVE AT GM TODAY 9.3.13 THIS WILL NEED FIXED OUT OF POCKET - AND IT WILL BE COSTLY TO ORDER THE PART AND REPAIR. I WAS ALSO ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. ARE VEHICLE OWNERS REIMBURSED FOR ITEMS THAT COMPROMISE THEIR SAFETY THAT SHOULD WORK PROPERLY (THE HORN AND AIRBAG IN MY CASE)? *JB
DRIVER HIT GAS INSTEAD OF BRAKE EXITING FROM A PARKING LOT AND DROVE INTO THE REAR WHEELS OF A FLAT BED TRACTOR AND TRAILER TRUCK. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT POPPED LOOSE. DRIVER SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION. PASSENGER SUFFERED CHEST PAIN AND HAS SINCE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH TORN CARTILAGE AND 2 CRACKS IN STERNUM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG INTERNAL HORN CONTACT FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,195. UPDATED 10/03/11 *BF UPDATED 11/23/11
MY SISTER WAS DRIVING MY 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM WHEN SHE WAS REAR ENDED BY A CAR BEHIND HER BECAUSE A CAR HIT THE CAR BEHIND HER AND CAUSING MY CAR TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF MY CAR. MY CAR HAS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND BACK AND IS NOW CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. FOR THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE ON MY CAR THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *JB
I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM HITTING THE MEDIAN WHICH SPUN ME AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY HITTING THE OTHER CEMENT WALL ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER ALL THAT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE ASKED ME "WHY DIDN'T THEY DEPLOY"? I SAID "THAT I DIDN'T KNOW. *NM
2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TS THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED THEN PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT SHE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. NO REPAIRS TO VEHICLE WERE MADE. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DUE TO THE SUDDEN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HER HANDS. BOTH SHE AND THE PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE INCURRED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
COMPLAINT AGAINST GENERAL MOTOR CORPORATION. *BF ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. VEHICLE SERVICED THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TC
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DELARSHIP. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .