2004 Pontiac GTO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
245 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
18,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 190 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front is the most frequently named component, appearing in 71 of 245 complaints (29.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 27 | 11.0% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front | 71 |
| Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut | 57 |
| Tires | 52 |
| Suspension | 47 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 9 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
Suspension:Front: 71; Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut: 57; Tires: 52; Suspension: 47; Tires:Tread/Belt: 9; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 6; Electrical System: 5; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 125 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 51 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 125; 25,000 to 49,999: 51; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (125). 55 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 35 |
| 2006 | 35 |
| 2007 | 107 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2004: 11; 2005: 35; 2006: 35; 2007: 107; 2008: 24; 2009: 11; 2010: 8; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10073298 · 2004-05-28 (May 28, 2004)
PUT KEY IN IGNITION, TURNED KEY TO START POSTITION, RADIO, EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT, THEN BELLS STARTED GOING OFF, AND ERROR SAID ABS FAULT, WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND ERROR SAID AIRBAG FAULT. CAR WOULDNT EVEN TURN OVER, JUST A CLICK. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS GETTING TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, ANY GEAR, HAVE HAD IT POP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING, AND THERE IS ALSO A GRIND IN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEN I TURN. VERY UNSATISFIED. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078360 · 2004-06-17 (June 17, 2004)
HAD CAR FOR 3 DAYS, STARTED MISSING AND STALLING. APPEARED TO GO AWAY. THEN WENT TO GAS STATION TO FILL UP AND I COULDN'T GET THE GAS TO GO IN THE TANK. HAD TO PUT A LITTLE AT A TIME. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS BACK TO STALLING AND MISSING. A NEW TURN WAS THE DIGITAL DISPLAY FOR THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE DIAL SPEEDOMETER DID NOT INDICATE THE SAME SPEED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE HAD IT EVER SINCE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND A WEEK OF IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER. A NEW GAS TANK WAS ORDERED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT OREDERED CORRECTLY …
Owner-reported narrative. 333 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081611 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
THERE IS A SILVER TRIMMING IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD THAT EXTENDS TO THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD UNTIL IT TOUCHES THE BOTTOM OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSES A REFLECTION ON HALF OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IN THE DAY OR NIGHT. THIS REDUCES THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088748 · 2004-08-28 (August 28, 2004)
WHEN PROCEEDING NORMALLY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING RIGHT AFTER SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER. FOUND THAT ALL 6 BOLTS AND 3 RETAINERS HOLDING THE DRIVER'S AXLE SHAFT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD FALLEN OUT. NEXT DAY I FOUND ALL BOLTS AND RETAINERS WITHIN 50 FEET OF EACH OTHER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS SEVERELY HARASSED BY THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AND I WAS HARASSED THERE ALSO, BUT THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY AS A "FAVOR". CORRECTED BY RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088783 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, HEARD GRINDING NOISE FROM RIGHT, FRONT TIRE WHEN TURNING AND BACKING UP. ALSO NOTICED THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. BEFORE 5000 MILES I NOTICED AN EVER INCREASING ROUGH RIDE AND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED BADLY WHILE DRIVING, ALSO NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE WORN COMPLETELY BALD. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EVEN HAD THE CORDS HANGING OUT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER DISCOVERING THIS, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST PONTIAC DEALER. AFTER BEING …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088785 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
WHILE WASHING MY NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I DISCOVERED ON MY GTO THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE, REAR VIEW MIRROR IS SEVERELY SCRATCHED. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD FIX WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR A LEAKING HEAD, AND A BENT STRUT (BOTH GM WARRANTY ISSUES). DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO "BUFF'" THIS OUT WITH A PROCESS THEY HAD AND THAT IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME AND PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED, IN FACT IT WAS WORSE. WORSE TO THE POINT THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT O…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088786 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
WHILE WASHING MY NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I DISCOVERED ON MY GTO THAT THE RIGHT HEAD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ON THE LS-1 ENGINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088787 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
TRANSMISSION IS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO REVERSE. DOUBLE CLUTCHING DOES NOT REMEDY AND YOU ALMOST HAVE TO FORCE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT TAKES AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF FORCE (IN LBS OR NEWTONS) TO FORCE VEHICLE INTO GEAR. TRANSMISSION ALSO OCCASIONALLY "POPS" OUT OF GEAR. GEARS ALSO GRIND SOMETIMES WHEN CLUTCH IS FULLY ENGAGED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 7000 MILES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088787 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.