2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints

WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR IT WOULDN'T START. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO JUMP THE CAR. I MADE IT 11 MILE AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. (WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. THAT IS WHAT THEY SAID) SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR JUMPED MANY TIMES. 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW.*AK

1) THE INTERMET CAST ALUMINUM STEERING KNUCKLE FAILED IN MY 2004 PONTIAC GRAN PRIX AT 26,000 MILES. I RECOLLECT HITTING 2 LARGE POTHOLES, ONE AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES, THE SECOND AT 25500 MILES AND THE KNUCKLE BROKE AFTER BUMPING A CURB AT A SPEED OF 28 MILES AN HOUR AT 26,000 MILES. ) WHEN THE STEERING KNUCKLE FAILED, THE HALF SHAFT CAME OUT, THE TIE ROD BENT, THE ALUMINUM RIM BROKE, AND THE MCPHERSON STRUT BENT. TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $3,500. I WAS LUCKY THAT I HIT A CURB AT A LOW SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO STILL STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MODE I BELIEVE WAS IMPACT, RATHER THAN FATIGUE, WHICH COULD HAVE OCCURRED AT 70 MILES ON AN INTERSTATE. 3) GM WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE AS IT WAS DUE TO COLLISION WITH A CURB. THIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT COST TO THE COMPANY THAT I WORK FOR. *AK

ALL 2204 MODEL YEAR PONTIAC GRAND PRIX'S EXHIBITED UNUSUAL AND EXCESSIVE HEADLIGHT 'BOUNCING'. THERE ARE MANY OTHER REPORTED COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. A MODEL YEAR RUNNING CHANGE WAS MADE TO THE 05 GRAND PRIX'S WHICH EFFECTED A PERMANENT FIX. THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TSB ISSUED FOR PRIOR 05'S AND ALL 04'S BUT THIS BULLETIN HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED. I WOULD ARGUE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE MERITING A RECALL. *JB

MY ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON A SUNNY DRY DAY. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DOING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME HAD HIT A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED FOR THE LIGHT. I WAS THE FOURTH CAR BACK AND HAD HEARD THE CRASH. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY GRABBED AND THEN PROCEEDED TO JUST CONTINUE TO GO AND BASICALLY MY CAR HIT THE BACK OF A TRUCK CAUSING ABOUT $10,000 IN DAMAGE AND SENDING ME TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAD ENOUGH ROOM BEHIND THAT VEHICLE TO STOP. IT WAS LIKE THE PEDAL JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. I AM ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. GM TOLD ME THAT IT'S BECAUSE THE BUMPERS DID NOT MEET WITH EACH OTHER. MORE LIES IF YOU ASK ME. I THINK THEY NEED TO HAVE THESE VEHICLES CHECKED BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GET HURT BAD. THIS HAS COST ME MUCH GRIEF, LOSS OF WORK AND OUT OF POCKET MONEY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE DIED. A FEW MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE THE GEARS WERE DROPPING. WHEN THE ENGINE DIED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR 10 SECONDS BEFORE RESTARTING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY OTHER GRAND PRIX OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES IN WHICH A CHIP HAS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

THE HEADLIGHTS SHAKE ON THE 2004 GRAND PRIX AS A RESULT OF INSECURE MOUNTING. THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE INSTALLED AS DESIGNED. I ALSO CONTACTED PONTIAC VIA E-MAIL, THEIR REPLY WAS THAT THIS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF ANY CAR AND IS A GRAVE DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS ONCOMING TRAFFIC!. *AK

VEHICLE HAD A DESIGN FLAW IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLEAR PLASTIC COVER. *BF IN DAYLIGHT THERE IS A BRIGHT SEMI CIRCULAR REFLECTION IN EACH CORNER. THE SUN GLARES DIRECTLY OFF THE PLASTIC INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES CAUSING A SUDDEN DISTRACTION.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE A 2004 GRAND PRIX, HORN ONLY SOUNDS ON A CERTAIN AREA OF WHEEL, AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE WHEN ANOTHER CAR JUMPS IN FRONT OF YOU. *NM

HORN DOES NOT WORK. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING PACKAGE. THEN, HORN WORKED. CURRENTLY, HORN IS DEFECTIVE AGAIN. *AK