Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 137 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.
The 25 most recent of 137, in the owner's own words
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, I HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TIMELY SECURITY RE-SET PROCEDURE DUE TO THE SYSTEM DISABLING MY ABILITY TO START MY CAR. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH OTHER CAR OWNERS LIKE MINE. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR
I PULLED UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO START IT SEVERAL TIMES BUT ALL I GOT WAS A CLICK. THE IGNITION ISN'T CATCHING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WALDORF CHEVROLET CADILLAC (2298 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20601, (301) 645-7000), BUT THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR BECAUSE THE RUBBER COVERING ON THE KEY WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 231,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER (NEIL HUFFMAN AUTO GROUP, 3810 SPRINGHURST BLVD #310, LOUISVILLE, KY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000. **TR CONSUMER STATED CAR FAILED TO START ON MANY OCCASIONS. ONLINE COMPLAINTS INCLUDE NOT STARTING POSSIBLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN WRITE OPERATING CAR. PASSLOCK CODE FAULTY. VIN IS INVALID UPDATED 10/26/18*JB
TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS BURNT OUT DUE TO OVERHEATING TCC SOLENOID PRESSURE SOLENOID WILL NOT LET ME GO IN REVERSE OR DRIVE
VEHICLE IS BLACKING OUT WHILE DRIVING AT A STOPPING HAPPENED ONCE NOW KEY DOES NOT TURN DO TO IGNITION LOCK NOT BEING REPLACED AT RECALL OLD KEY GET STUCK AS WELL AS NEW KEY IF I DIE DRIVING AT LEAST I CAN SAY I STILL LIKE MY PONIAC
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
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.
THE IGNITION SYSTEM OR SENSOR DOESN'T WORK.SOME TIME IT WANT START.AFTER WAITING FOR THE SECURITY LIGHT QUICK FLASHING IT WILL START SOMETIME.
SECURITY LIGHT FLUSHED 2 DAYS AGO, AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ENGINE OFF THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK OR START. TOOK THE BATTERY TO BE CHARGED, AND IT STILL WOULD NOT CRANK OR START. I SPENT ALL NIGHT ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THE PONTIAC GRAND AM'S FROM 1999 - 2005 CAN HAVE SECURITY PASSLOCK ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE CAR NOT TO CRANK OR START. WITH THE KEY TURNED ON THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THE WINDOWS WILL GO UP AND DOWN, BUT YOU CAN'T CRANK THE CAR. I FOUND A PROCEDURE THAT WILL TEMPORARILY BYPASS THE SECURITY PASSLOCK, WHICH INVOLVE FOLLOWING THE SEQUENCE OF TURNING THE KEY TO ON POSITION WAIT 10 - 12 MIN. TURN CAR TO OFF (HOPEFULLY THE SECURITY LIGHT IN DISPLAY WILL GO OFF COMPLETELY) THEN TURN THE KEY TO START. THAT WORK FOR ME, BUT THE SECURITY LIGHT DISPLAY IN THE DASH PANEL DID NOT GO OFF. I HAVE TO HOPE THAT I WILL LATER BE ABLE TO CRANK THE CAR UP AGAIN. I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS, AND DANGEROUS. YOU COULD BE SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY FROM OTHERS AND STRANDED. THUS YOU COULD BE IN POTENTIAL DANGEROUS FROM THE ELEMENTS OR ENVIRONMENT OR COULD BECOME A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE IF THE RIGHT PERSON(S) APPROACH YOU WHEN YOU ARE STRANDED.
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.
SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON IN DASHBOARD. AT TIMES CAR DOES NOT WANT TO START. READ ON LINE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, WHEN I PUT IN MY VIN NUMBER IT SAYS NO RECALL. ON ANOTHER SITE, THEIR IS A RECALL FOR 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM HELP!!! I AM CONFUSED.
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS AT WORK AND I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER SHIP TO HAVE IT WORKED ON. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAS HAS A PONTIAC GRAND AM AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF EACH CAR WAS THE SAME. MY CAR WILL NOT START, MY TEMP GUAGE DOESN'T WORK, MY TURN SIGNALS DOESN'T WORK, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK, AT NIGHT WHEN MY LIGHTS ARE ON MY CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, MY FOR LIGHTS DOESN'T WORK,MY SECURITY ALARM DOESN'T CHIRP WHEN U LOCK IT,MY RPM FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN AT IDLE. ALL THIS HAPPENED WHEN MY WIRING HARNESS GOT A SHORT.
TL* 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.
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). *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE IN 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM: THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN MY 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM SEEM TO HAVE GONE HAYWIRE. A FEW OF THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS HAVE COME ON FOR NO REASON. THESE INCLUDE THE SECURITY INDICATOR, BRAKE INDICATOR, AND SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE POWER LOCKING SYSTEM WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK RANDOMLY AS WELL AS WITH THE VEHICLE'S DOME LIGHT. I FEAR THAT IF IT IS A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM THAT IT WILL SPREAD TO MORE VITAL ASPECTS OF THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THESE ISSUES WILL OCCUR WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, AND THERE IS NO PATTERN OR ORDER TO HOW THIS EVENTS WILL OCCUR.
TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES CAN PRESS HAZARD BUTTON TO ACTIVATE TURN SIGNAL FOR A MOMENT. POWER WINDOWS QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER AT ONCE WITH NO WARNING. HEADLIGHT ADJUSTERS BROKE OFF (CRUMBLED INTO PIECES), CAN NO LONGER ADJUST HEADLIGHTS WHICH CAUSES A DANGER WITH REDUCED VISIBILITY AT NIGHT PARTNERED WITH THE INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNALS THIS CAUSES QUITE THE HAZARD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
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. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. ...UPDATED 01/20/16 *BF *CN
CAR RUNS GREAT SHUT IT OFF NEXT MORNING WON'T START WANTS TO BUT WON'T THAT WAS THE 1ST INCIDENT THE 2ND TIME ISHUT IT OFF GO TO START BACK UP AN HALF HOUR LATER AND DOES SAME THING CHANGED EVERYTHING AGAIN STILL DOESN'T WORK TRIED RESETTING THE COMPUTER MYSELF STILL DIDN'T WORK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STARTER MALFUNCTIONED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE AND SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED NORMALLY AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,191.
MY DAUGHTER WENT TO START HER PONTIAC GRAND AM 2004. IT WOULD NOT START, AND THE SECURITY LIGHT IN DASH WAS FLASHING. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 1 AND HALF HOURS. IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE 2 TIMES, AND ONCE WHEN I ACCOMPANIED HER TO FILL UP FOR GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITH ME DRIVING HER CAR IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS. AND HAS HAPPENED ATLEAST ONCE A WEEK WITH MY DAUGHTER THE PAST 4 MONTHS. I FOUND OUT ON LINE AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE PONTIAC THE CAR DOES NOT START, NOT EVEN A CLICK. THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES. READING UP ON THIS. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY ON AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY 10 LONG MINUTES. IN THE COLD AND HEAT. MY DAUGHTER IS A NEW DRIVER, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS KNOWN GM PROBLEM. IF IT STALLS OR DOES NOT START AND AN EMERGENCY ARISES. NOW SHE HAS TO WAIT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ANYONE, LET ALONE A YOUNG DRIVER. GM NEEDS TO OWN UP AND FIX THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER LOCKED ALL OF THE DOORS AND CLOSED ALL OF THE WINDOWS. WHEN THE SECURITY LIGHT WENT OFF, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
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.
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