Most common 2004 Pontiac GTO problems
Share of the 245 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac GTO complaints by model year
Best GTO years: 2005. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Pontiac GTO:
Front strut to tire interference
Note: the complaint and warranty counts given in the failure report summary of this resume include all records related to tire wear and wheel alignment and are not limited to tire-strut contact.general motors (GM) identified two contributors to premature front tire wear in the subject vehicles.one of the contributors causing the premature tire wear was out of specification negative camber.GM stated that excessive…
What 2004 Pontiac GTO owners say
Suspension all 169 →
Vehicle was involved in a 1 car accident. For no known reason the vehicle went out of control while pulling out of a parking lot. Upon removal of the damaged front fender it was determined that the tires on this vehicle were bald on the inside of the tire. This damage to the tires it was ultimately caused the accident. This defect is what is know as strut rub and is caused because of a design flaw in the particular vehicle. Pontiac 2004, GTO in addition to this issue my vehicle has had number issues with the shifter. It has been looked at by the dealer 6 to 7 times and shifter was replaced once. Within a couple of weeks the shifter starts rattling again. This vehicle is definitely a lemon and should be recalled. GM refuses to buy back the vehicle because it was in an accident, even though the accident was caused by the defect in the suspension on this vehicle. …
History: the 2004-2005 Pontiac GTO is an imported version of the australia holden monaro. The holden manaro comes from the factory with 235/45r17 tires, tires that are generally 235mm (9.25") wide. However, when Pontiac specs the GTO for the us, they finally decided on a 10mm wider tire, a 245/45r17 bf goodrich g-force kdws tire. No changes were made to the suspension of the vehicle for us import though. Current problem: the larger tire causes rubbing on the front strut, namely and more commonly the passenger side strut. This is evidenced by a rubbing mark on the strut body and many times wear marks on the tires themselves. In some cases, front suspension binding has occurred. In other cases, tire replacement was necessary. This is due, in fact, to the increase in size of the tire that Pontiac has chosen to put on the imported version. …
Wheels & tires all 68 →
History: the 2004-2005 Pontiac GTO is an imported version of the australia holden monaro. The holden manaro comes from the factory with 235/45r17 tires, tires that are generally 235mm (9.25") wide. However, when Pontiac specs the GTO for the us, they finally decided on a 10mm wider tire, a 245/45r17 bf goodrich g-force kdws tire. No changes were made to the suspension of the vehicle for us import though. Current problem: the larger tire causes rubbing on the front strut, namely and more commonly the passenger side strut. This is evidenced by a rubbing mark on the strut body and many times wear marks on the tires themselves. In some cases, front suspension binding has occurred. In other cases, tire replacement was necessary. This is due, in fact, to the increase in size of the tire that Pontiac has chosen to put on the imported version. …
I purchused my 2004 Pontiac GTO in November of 2004 I was one of the first to owen this car in 2004. However about 9,000 miles of me driving my car I had rear tire problems the camber and toe was not straigh. I took my car back to the dealer ship and they told me not there problem. I took my car to a number of diffrent alinment places and they all checked alinment and said it was off a little but not enough to were only on the inside of the rear tiers. I replace the tires my self. About 1,000 miles later my steering was shaking and front end, the first thing I thought it was my rotoers I went to replace and relize it was my front tires. Again I took to dealer and again they turn me away. I contacted Pontiac and GM they said the will sent an inspector to look at car that never happen> the dealer ship did not want to set up with me. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Vehicle was involved in a 1 car accident. For no known reason the vehicle went out of control while pulling out of a parking lot. Upon removal of the damaged front fender it was determined that the tires on this vehicle were bald on the inside of the tire. This damage to the tires it was ultimately caused the accident. This defect is what is know as strut rub and is caused because of a design flaw in the particular vehicle. Pontiac 2004, GTO in addition to this issue my vehicle has had number issues with the shifter. It has been looked at by the dealer 6 to 7 times and shifter was replaced once. Within a couple of weeks the shifter starts rattling again. This vehicle is definitely a lemon and should be recalled. GM refuses to buy back the vehicle because it was in an accident, even though the accident was caused by the defect in the suspension on this vehicle. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Pontiac GTO. The contact stated that the vehicle was manufactured in australia, and that they should never have been allowed to ship the 2004 defective models to the united stated. He is experiencing suspension failure, in which the vehicle does not drive in a straight line. The vehicle veers from left to right. The contact must use both hands to drive the vehicle. He stated that the suspension and motor were changed. The motor was changed because it was very difficult to shift and it would slip and make noise. There was also transmission failure with the vehicle. While driving over a minor bump at any speed, the vehicle would break down. He also stated that the vehicle had piston slap. When the vehicle was idling, he could hear a ticking noise. The noise was caused by the piston striking the top of the motor head. …
2004 Pontiac GTO engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 26 / 19 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Pontiac GTO a good car?
Based on 245 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 GTO rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the GTO at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Pontiac GTO?
The suspension — 169 complaints, 69% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the wheels & tires (68) and transmission & drivetrain (17).
How many recalls does the 2004 Pontiac GTO have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Pontiac GTO. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac GTO?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005. See the full Pontiac GTO years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Pontiac GTO problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 18,000 miles; 93% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.