Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On thanksgiving day 2014 my car cough on fire 10 minutes after my daughter and I got out of the car. I walked into a family members house and heard what sounded like a shotgun go off within about 5 to 10 seconds later another. I went outside to see what was going on to find my car engulfed in flames. We immediately called 911. The car was parked near a building structure with 4 or more vehicles parked inside. I quickly tried to remove my important property, pocketbook, and grabbed a water hose to try to keep the flames away from the structure as much as possible. The entire front compartment, motor mount and engine melted, was burned to the ground. The inside dash and floorboard was melted with large holes burned in them, and both front tired exploded and entirely melted as well. …
Within 10 minutes of arriving to my place of work, the Pontiac caught fire and the fire completely burned the engine compartment resulting in a total loss. 10 days after the fire, I received GM safety recall 14574 indicating the possibility of an engine compartment fire. When contacting GM, I am told there is nothing they can do for me since the car is no longer in my possession. This is extremely poor customer service and support for a problem they are aware of.
I had barely hit a curb pulling into the bank parking when my brake pad wouldn't stop. At less than 7mph. My air bags had deployed leaving me jarred, and in a shock I could not move. I sat locked in to my safetybelt until the construction worker down roadpulled me out to safety. Such a mils hit. Blew my airbags.. In return, damaged my windshield, dash, and, steering column. I was turning into a bank parking lot. Considered a private lot.
On Friday May 11 2018 at approximately 8:30 am, my car was parked & shut off in my driveway when I heard a loud "bang" noise. I ran to my window & saw flames & black smoke rolling out from under the hood of my car. It had exploded & caught on fire in less than 1 min after I got out, shut it off, pulled the keys & walked in my home. Fire department & police responded. I have pictures, & filed a fire & police report.
The car recently had an engine fire about 15 minutes after turning it off. The entire vehicle was completely totaled. It was stationary and in a parking lot when the issue occurred, and the vehicle was not running.
Recall n140574, case #[redacted] on 2/7/19, my son's car got stuck 2 blocks from home on a residential street. The Grand Prix was driven there to see if he could be pushed out, and got stuck - along with 4 other cars. We tried to push the car out, but it wouldn't move. We left the car running while trying to push the other vehicles. While walking from the car, we heard popping sounds, and saw a flames under the hood - passenger's side. My friend reached in and shut it off. I called the police. Fire trucks put out the fire, and a tow truck was called to get the car off the snow route and taken to an accident impound. The next day, I called GM and was assigned a case. A week later, I was assigned a pac unit rep, to investigate my case. I have many emails and pictures following my case. GM has provided a lot of misinformation, lack of communication, and no problem resolve. …
Mailing christmas packages and stopped to fill up with gas. Went inside to use restroom, came back out and as I approached the car, I smelled an unusual odor. Got in, started it, noticed smoke coming up on outside of window on passenger side. Since I was parked next to the gas pumps, I elected to put it in drive and pull forward away from people and gas pumps, yelled at employees to call fire dept. As by this time the smoke was coming through the vents into the inside of the car. By the time the firemen arrived, the front of the car was engulfed in flames (I took 3 pictures to show progression of the fire) that was so hot that parts were melting onto the asphalt. The firemen had to use a crowbar to open the hood to get to the fire. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that during inclement weather, the floorboard became flooded. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Vehicle was traveling north, went to turn west, lost control of vehicle striking a wooden bridge guardrail and embankment before returning to roadway. Damage is frontend, hood, headlights, undercarriage, right front wheel, steering components, engine. Daughter transported by ems
2004 Pontiac Grand Prix - water leakage in the front passenger floorboard via the air/heat fan belt area. Soaking entire front passenger side floorboard. I have contacted two different local Pontiac dealerships who informed me that they have both seen several 04 Grand Prix models come into their dealerships with this problem. They said that it was possibly one of two things. A problem with the deflector for the fresh air vent by the cowel or it could be the water hose leading from the sun roof that could be clogged. The fact that water is leaking into the interior of the car in the are where the water is collecting could cause a serious electrical short, as the area that the water is coming through the electrical components of the vehicle. I view this is as a default in the design of the vehicle and would like someone to look into this matter. …
Related recalls
Structure › Frame and members
Certain passenger vehicles have a condition where the front frame rear body mount bracket May fracture.
Remedy: 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.
Body complaints in other Grand Prix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the body & structure of the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix, 7% of the model year's 454 complaints. The component named most often is body (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-299 (frame and members, Jun 23, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 6 fires and 5 injuries to body & structure 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.