Model year record
2004 Pontiac GTO recalls & problems
The 2004 Pontiac GTO has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 245 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is suspension (182 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2004 Pontiac GTO.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2004 Pontiac GTO 2-DR.
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
GTO
| City / highway | 16 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
5.7 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
GTO
| City / highway | 15 / 20 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| SuspensionFront; Front › Macpherson strut | 182 | 18,000 mi |
| TiresTread/belt; Sidewall | 66 | 17,004 mi |
| Power trainManual transmission; Axle assembly › Axle shaft | 17 | 4,346 mi |
| Electrical systemIgnition › Switch; Instrument cluster/panel | 16 | 28,500 mi |
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 6 | 34,250 mi |
| StructureBody; Body › Hood | 6 | 3,650 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Cooling system | 6 | 13,150 mi |
| SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly | 6 | 30,500 mi |
| Air bagsFrontal | 5 | 19,654 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor | 4 | 32,754 mi |
| Wheels | 4 | — |
| VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior; Windshield wiper/washer | 3 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Unknown or other
Evap code for gas tank cap leaking
- Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAN USED FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEATER THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE REMAINED ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF OR ON. THERE WAS ALSO CONDENSATION ON THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE ABNORMAL CONDENSATION ORIGINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
- Seats
AFTER OWNING THE CAR LESS THAN 3 YEARS, THE SEAT BACK LATCHES STARTED STICKING SO ANYONE WHO WAS IN THE BACK SEAT HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OUT OR GETTING IN FOR THAT MATTER! AFTER A TIME THE LATCHES STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER SO IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE BACK SEAT IF THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IN. THE POWER SEATS HAD TO BE MOVED ALL THE WAY FORWARD, JUST TO GIVE A SMALL SPACE FOR PASSENGERS TO SQUEEZE OUT. IN A CRASH, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET SOMEONE OUT OF THE BACK SEAT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH COULD RESULT IN HARM. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY SO IT STILL REMAINS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR AS THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. ALL THIS OCCURRED WHILE…
- Air bagsCrash1 injury
WAS DRIVING CAR ON THE FREEWAY AT APROX 75 MPH HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND LOST CONTROL SPUN OUT IN CIRCLES, HITTING THE GUARD RAIL CAUSING IT TO ROLL 3 TIMES CAR ENDED UPSIDE DOWN I HIT STEERING WHEEL AND SERIOUSLY HURT MY BACK NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GTO. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
- Fuel system, gasoline
WHILE DOING A SPRINGTIME CHECK OF MY GTO, NOTICED COIL COVER RUBBING ON FUEL RAIL FEED LINE. ABRASION WAS ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE LINE. HAD TO REPLACE WITH STEEL BRAIDED LINE FROM RUSSELS. COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY. *TR
- Seat belts
THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR FIRST FAILED IN AUGUST OF 2013. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER 04 GTO OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FIXED THE PART THAT COMMONLY SLIPS OUT OF PLACE CAUSING THE ISSUE AND THE SEATBELT ONCE AGAIN WORKED CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, NOW ON JULY 2ND 2014 AT ONLY 39,500 MILES THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR AGAIN FAILED LEAVING THE BELT FULLY EXTENDED. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND NOT DRIVABLE AS THE BELT WILL PROVIDE NO RESTRAINT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. IT IS MY OPINION WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE THAT THIS IS A POOR AND UNSAFE DESIGN TO BEGIN WITH. FORTUNATELY FOR ME I DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE BOTH TIMES WHEN PARKED AND…
- Electrical system
WE HAVE OWNED 2 2004 GTO'S AND THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH VEHICLES AND THE VIN NUMBER LISTED ABOVE IT HAS NOW HAPPENED TWICE. THE KEY WILL NOT WORK AND UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN THEREFORE THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK... THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AND HAS LEFT US STRANDED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHEN I CONTACTED PONTIAC (GM) ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEY INITIALLY SEEMED CONCERNED BUT NOW AFTER COUNTLESS CALLS AND EMAILS THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING. THEY HAVE EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE REQUEST: 71-1312795897 NUMBER WHICH APPARENTLY DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE TO VERIFY THAT THIS ISSUE ISN'T A DEFAULT IN THE CAR. AS I AM AWARE THAT THIS ISSUE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- FRONT STRUT TO TIRE INTERFERENCEClosed
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 NEGATIVE CAMBER COULD BE CAUSED BY IMPROPER CAMBER SETTINGS FROM THE FACTORY OR BENDING OF THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO SHARP ROAD IMPACT (I.E., SEVERE POT HOLES).TO IMPROVE CAMBER SETTINGS FROM THE FACTORY, GM STATED THAT FROM FEBRUARY OF 2005 THROUGH MAY OF 2006 SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE CAMBER SETTING FIXTURE.GM ALSO NOTED THAT EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE CAMBER COULD RESULT IN FRONT TIRE TO STRUT CONTACT, WHICH COULD ALSO BE CAUSED BY USE OF NON-ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT…