2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT1 from North America - Comments

Headlights bounce up and down while driving at night. It is very annoying to see my beams dancing on the road no matter how smooth the roadway is.

Paint finish very cheap for a $30,000 car. "Grand Prix" badge peeling off after two car washes.

Plastic interior trim squeaks in the dash and the rear door panels. Why?

Toe-in alignment out after 3 days of ownership. Again, why?

The only attribute is the engine power and the handling improvements for 2004.

So, from a "Driver's" point of view, the car is "Fuel for the soul" as Pontiac claims in their ads.

For the average person, the seats are not as comfortable as the previous generation, and you will find yourself trying to look over the dash. Raising the seat won't help as you quickly run out of headroom if you are over 5'9". It's really a problem if you have the sunroof, which to me opens too short and ruins the car's lines when open.

The "Drive by wire" is a great idea that does not work well at low speeds. The car has a tendency to jerk. You can't feather the throttle smoothly.

The transmission shifts too frequently, which tells me that trans overhauls will be sooner than expected in a car that for the price should have reliabilty written all over it.

Back in January 2004, I traded in a 1995 Grand Prix GTP with the 3.4 twin cam engine, and bought a used 1998 Grand Prix GT (3.8 old school engine) with 57,000 miles on it for $7,000. The car is loaded with Heads-up, auto climate, overhead console, leather seating areas, trac, realtime info center, high power 9 speaker CD system, etc.

Dealer calls me 4 months later and asks if I want to get a 2004 model. I like the new styling and power, so I get a GT2 for $32,000 which includes taxes, financing, etc. Here is where Pontiac got it wrong:

No auto climate, no overhead console because of the sunroof. The info center is now limited to only warning you about a problem instead of constantly showing you Oil Life, distance to empty, real time MPG, fuel used like my 1998 does. No heads-up display unless you order and pay more. Sure, the GTP comes with these things, but for a higher purchase price, higher insurance premiums, and fuel costs. Sorry, a Pontiac is not worth that much.

Third day of ownership, the front wheels went out of alignment. The dealer "fixed it" and the steering wheel was now off center 1" to the right from being 1" off to the left. After two car washes with the car being pulled through, the steering wheel set itself to center.

I bought a black GT2 that had water spots in the finish. The dealer sent the car out to get detailed, but the finish was never as good as an import in black. It was later determined that the paint was never properly sprayed and the "water spots" were imperfections in the paint. At this point, I was not happy with my car.

The door panels on my car squeaked while driving. Drove me nuts. The plastic dash would squeak sometimes too.

The last straw for me was the headlights dancing up and down while driving and the constant plastic parts in the interior squeaking, along with the realization that I was spending $32K for a car that should be well executed versus spending $7K for a car that was just as smooth, loaded, and has a 3 year extended warranty that I did not pay for the 2004.

I took the 2004 back to the dealer, and got my 1998 with all the toys, lower insurance, lower payments, a more comfortable ride, and peace of mind.

The 2004 GT1 and GT2 are not worth what dealers want for them now. I don't know about the GTP Comp G. Too many imports out there to consider before Grand Prixs. The 3.4 twin cam was a better high performance engine than the 3.8 Gen 2 or maybe the Gen 3. But it had reliability problems that GM could have fixed and kept in the Pontiac line-up.

I have a 04 Black GT1 since March 04.

I have the same problem...

-Headlights bounce up and down while driving at night.

-The rear driver door panels on my car squeaked while driving.

-Steering wheel is off center 1" to the left.

And since I have this car ( 3 months ) the gas price ( 87 octane ) has increase of 30%. This car cost between $10 to $11CDN for each 100Km or 62 miles average 23MPG US.

I own a GT2 and it is loaded with leather, CD changer, heads up display, Xm radio, and a sun roof and I only payed 18,500 on the road. I haven't had any the of the problems that were listed either. I really love my Pontiac it has been a good car.

I bought a 2004 GT2 in June, 04. I have 1,500 miles on it, and have had no problems. I didn't get the HUD nor XM radio, but got everything else. I love the way it rides and handles. Wife loves it, too. My only complaint is the blind spots when backing. Otherwise, it's great. Still own my 1995 Bonneville SSE, 85,000 miles, so thought the GT2 would be a good buy, as well. Got it for $21,500.

To the Original Poster - So if I understand your post correctly you took back your 2004 Grand Prix and got back your 1998 Grand Prix.

Did you have to pay lots of money to the dealer to unwind the deal?? Did it cost you through the nose to get out of that deal??

I just purchased a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. I find that it is a very reliable car. My only complaint is the lack of space in the back seat, but I don't ride back there so it's not much of a problem for me. Out of about 5 stars, I'd give it a 4 1/2.

I bought a 2004 GTP Comp G -- love the car, and have had no real problems except the passenger seat squeaks (from the seat track).

Every once in a while I get a charging failure message with the defrost on full, the heated seats and the rear defroster on. I also get a weird whine from the tranny when I first back it out of the driveway.

The car has 120 000 kms -- paid 12 000 with a 3 year extended powertrain warranty -- but I do love smoking Mustangs and Camaros in the Stoplight Wars!!

I have owned my 04 Grand Prix GT since November 2004. After reading the few comments on this page, I have to say this car is the biggest piece of junk I have ever purchased. The only reason I have kept this car is because it is nearly paid off and in this economy, I cannot bear another cycle of car payments.

Since I have owned this car I have had the oddest things occur, from the gauges not working properly and "faking you out" by informing me your tires or oil is low when no such thing is occurring, to suddenly being out of gas when the gas gauge just registed 1/8 tank.

There is a strange banging and popping noise in the suspension that no one can figure out - it sounds like the wheels are going to pop off when turning.

The car doesn't behave like it's fuel injected and will take several times to start if it ever will unless you give it gas.

The passenger side leaks from where we don't know, the floor but not the seat is always wet if not garaged during a rain.

The car runs very hot and I am today having to have the water pump replaced, hoping and praying it solves the problem. There is presently a class action lawsuit for 1995 - 2004 GM vehicles due to the Dex Cool system in these cars that seem to cause endless problems.

At one point my battery was running down so we replaced it. After putting in the new battery, the same problems existed. Took it to a mechanic who informed us that it was something to do with the charging system and the car did not like in town driving at speeds of under 40 mph and to take it out on the highway and run it for a while to charge the battery back up. (shaking my head)

Bottom line is the 2004 Grand Prix is NOT a reliable car by any means and I will never buy another GM product because of this car specifically. Do a little Internet research before purchasing a Grand Prix, and you'll see many complaints just like mine that seem to never be resolved.

I have a 2004 gt2 with 67k and I have no problems with the car it drives great, handles well nothing squeaks or makes noise I wish the car came with real time mpg and how many miles to empty but oh well I can live with out it and no climate control is a negative, but once I'm done with this car I think I will buy a grand prix gxp.

I have owned my 04 grand prix since sept. of 04. I have had few problems with it. In fact, the only one I have had is that the heater motor had to be replaced this summer to run the a/c...cost around 500 buckeroos.

The car is beautiful to look at, comfortable to drive, and mileage wise it isn't bad... I get around 25 around town and more on the highway.

There are no peripheral noises, and as far as the back seat goes, it's not the roomiest, but the seat does fold down and it becomes sort of a wagon for carrying stuff... my dog loves this feature.

I have owned 1 bonneville and 3 grandprix's. I like a sporty looking car and but for the grandkids would get a solstice as my next car... I may just wait for the volt but the dilemma will be the price!!!

I am a GM retiree...lady...and I generally know value... I think my grand prix has provided value.

I've had 3 Grand Prixs. A 1997, 2001 and 2002 GTP's and have loved all of them!

The 01' was sadly rear-ended and totaled so I bought the 02'. I have about 140k on the 02' with original engine and trans and still runs like new. I have had stupid, typical GM problems like knobs breaking and had to replace the blower motor resistor, etc. I did have the problem with my 97' with water leaking on the floor. But it was the weather strip piece came off the cowl so water wasn't channeling into the drain. But everything else I have had done was normal, routine maintenance.

As to the people who have had all the problems, I don't know what to say. I use to work for GM as a technician and I think some people think they bought a Lexus or Mercedes when they bought a Pontiac. Sure the foreign cars may not have as many stupid, little issues. But when it comes time to repairing foreign cars, you're gonna pay out!

Overall I think the Grand Prix is a good car. I have worked for both domestic and foreign dealers and I have owned nothing but GM cars. My parents had a 99' Bonneville with 212,000 on it!!! Original engine and trans! No leaks! No burning oil! They would still be driving it if that was totaled in an accident.

Overall if you take good care of your car, your car will take care of you. Sure there are some things you can't prevent from breaking. But if you do what is recommended per owners manual and your local mechanic, your car should give you a good, long trouble free life.

I bought my 2004 Grand Prix GT1 in March 2007. I love my car dearly, and it is a dream to drive.

I bought it used with 72k miles on it with a 3 year extended warranty, but the warranty paid for itself. After I bought the car, the rear defrost stopped working, the dealer had said that the motor that runs it had broken somehow. But since then, I noticed that the passenger side floor gets wet when the car sits in the rain. One day I found a puddle that was 2 inches deep, but there was no sign of the water coming in from anywhere, I even pulled up the carpet, but no clue where. I noticed someone else has been experiencing the same problem.

Due to that problem, I took the car into the dealership, and they said that it wasn't covered under my warranty, so needless to say, I just keep the car parked in the garage.

The interior of the car is all made of plastic, which of course squeaks, but you assume that will happen.

Gas mileage is great, sporty look, wonderful, speed speed speed, very fast.

I love the interior lights.

The car is not good in the snow on the Michigan roads. My model has traction control, but it doesn't seem to help at all. I get stuck on my street every time we get more than 3 inches of snow, and have to turn the traction control off, and "floor it" just to get out of the subdivision.

I was recently in a small accident, and the car handled the impact quite well, as opposed to my previous cars. The last car I owned was a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, which was totaled in a drunk driving incident, but the car handled better in the snow even though it was lighter, but the car did give me a few problems, so the Grand Prix is a serious step up. I have always driven GM cars, and I love them dearly. As much as I love my Grand Prix, I would probably buy an SUV with 4x4 capabilities for the Michigan winters, but if you want a roomy car, that's comfortable with lots of speed, then the Grand Prix is right for you.

85,000 miles on my '04 Grand Prix GTP Comp G. Awesome car. Yes, the headlights bounced for some and GM fixed that issue for free under warranty. I haven't had any other problem in the 5 years I've driven the car. As for the rest of the review, the writer obviously doesn't know much about cars. He paid $32,000 for a GT2??? Holy cow! Do some homework before buying a car man!

I have a 04 GTP comp g. Really fast car, burning everybody on the light.

Only two problems; the engine heat gauge goes up and down, and upon cold start there's a squeal in the serpentine belt area, but after 5 minutes it goes away. Other than that it's a sweet car... turns heads.

04 Grand Prix GTP Comp G owner with 120,000 miles on the car.

The GP has the bouncing head lights, noise in the front suspension, and overheating issue if the cooling system is a drop low on antifreeze.

It is blast to drive, but does it eat tires up, and the brakes and rotors get changed every year.

The climate control shorted out and the XM radio never worked properly from the day I bought it.

The only way the car can be driven in snow and ice is with dedicated winter tires, otherwise it is like trying to run on a sheet of ice.

Other than that, the car has a great sound system, good exhaust tones, great power, gas mileage is 28 on the highway running 75mph, but only 19 around town. Not bad for a 3.6L supercharged engine.