Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Pontiac Grand AM owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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 [redacted] at the time she lived at [redacted].
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. …
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; updated 4/10/18
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Airbag complaints in other Grand AM years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Pontiac Grand AM?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Pontiac Grand AM, 7% of the model year's 293 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Pontiac Grand AM airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2004 Pontiac Grand AM, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Pontiac Grand AM airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 101,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 0 fires and 11 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.