Used 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Consumer Reviews
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Vehicle performance and reliability
Purchased my 2004 in 2008, from a local auction with 104k. It has 192k on it. I have gotten excellent service. Oil changed every 3k miles at dealer. All maintenance done at dealer, the usual wear. Travel south 3x yearly, without problems. Very reliable vehicle. GM stop making, why. Would or will purchase another and keep current.
Best all-around car I've had! All my friends are jealous of the Pontiac
I bought this car in February of 2014 with 126xxx miles on it. Currently I have over 133xxx. This car is awesome. I love the interior cockpit design; it really makes the driver feel in charge. The heads up display in this car is by far my favorite feature. It's really hard to find those with other cars nowadays. The GM 3.8 is an amazing motor. Going down the highway I get 30 mpg easily, which is amazing given the size of the car. Whenever a friend of mine gets into my car, their immediate reaction is, "wow, this is a solid car". Then again, these are people who drive Volkswagens and Hondas... They're shocked on how safe they feel in an American car.
Love This Car
I wasn't in the market for a Pontiac but it was for my wife and it was her choice. She liked the styling. We bought it in '05 from an off-lease with 18,000 miles on it. The OE Goodyear tires were junk and made bad noise. Replaced them with Michelin and it made a world of difference. This one of the best cars I have ever owned. I have been driving it every day for the last 2 years 80 miles round trip to work. it now has 148,000 on it and it's still a great car. Great power, performance, comfort and reliability. I average 26 MPG. No major problems. This car has renewed my faith in American vehicles. Very sad to see Pontiac go. Anyone who hates this car must have a lemon. Yes, I would buy again
GM retired a powerhouse
Bought the car in 2005 with 6k on it.It's now around 114k and still running splendidly.Never really had any major problems until last year when I accidentally hit a curb. Soon after had to replace tie rods, brakes found leaks in the coolant tank and power steering reservoirs. Got them all replaced at around 5k, now the car runs like smooth as silk. Even now i get a thrill out of an early morning acceleration rush. the a/c brings temperatures to polar regions in the peak Texan summer effortlessly. The car used to sheer through Michigan snows without so much as a sway. Many friends who had Hondas and Infinitis would ride with me because the stability of the Grand Prix in those conditions.
My first love!
My dad bought me the car in 2005 with 16,000 miles on it, I still have it to this day with 110,000 on it. Great car! Very reliable, obviously cars need to have money put into them in the later years, for example I have been leaking coolant and oil for a long time so I finally figured out it was the lower intake gasket, GM created the car with cheap gaskets so I fixed mine and put a metal gasket now it doesn't leak anything , other than that great motor my mechanic told me my car will last another 10 years because I have taken care of it, if you take care of it it will take care of you plain and simple
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Have to keep an eye on
I have had an amazing experience with this car in terms of it's performance, but for you fellow owners, you have to be VERY AWARE of any issues with your power steering unit as well as any minute leakage that may be undetectable from your water pump. Watch your temperature gauge for any increase in heat and monitor your coolant levels. I just experienced the worse case scenario when driving on the freeway and suddenly getting the ping informing me to shut down AC due to engine overheating. 4200.00 later valves had to be replaced and head gaskets machined in addition to much more. Google make,model,year "engine overheating" for more info. Please be diligent about this.
Good Ol' Girl
I bought this car used in Sept 05 with 33,000 miles on it. I am now looking to retire her with 220 plus. Overall she's been very reliable but this car does have some design flaws. Rainstorms are not its friend. Water runs down into the AC system and I had to have the heater box replaced. The blower began sticking on last year, got it fixed and didn't last. The AC system has now burned up in it completely and I'm not getting it fixed. The floors will also get soaked in heavy rain which is really strange. The backseat is too cramped but the trunk is the size of Nebraska. I have loved the power and good looks of this car though.
Love this Car!
I bought my 2004 Pontiac brand new! It has 132,000 miles on it and I still love this car like when I bought it. I have only had minor things go wrong, but nothing ever major! I sadly trading it in for something newer with less miles. Being Pontiac isn't making these anymore I am having to search for a car just as great! If you love POWER you will love the 3.8 motor.
Sad To See Pontiac Go
I bought the car new in December 2003 and am still driving it in 2013 with 105,000 miles. Got the GTP and it still accelerates like a champ and handles very well. I'm pleased with the interior with easy to use controls, plus it fits me like a glove. This car is big but doesn't feel too big like our Chevy Monte Carlo. Excellent factory stereo, heads up display that should be in every vehicle and a reliable 3.8 engine. The paint still sparkles, the chrome wheels look great and the body style isn't embarrassing for a 10 year old car. The problems I've experienced are a recurring problem with the traction control and body squeaks that drive me crazy. Too much plastic in the interior.
Loved it while I had it
A few years ago I was in a tight spot and had to replace my car ASAP because it had been totaled and I was allowed to have it for three days to "drive within daylight hours in the local area" so that I could replace my car. Enter the orange 2004 Pontiac GTP. I bought it used, with over 130k miles on it. That was the best car I ever had! I loved it until I had to part with it recently (traded it in for a Kia Soul - don't judge me! I didn't want to do it but I had to!) To start, it was lovely all around. Smooth, sleek, sexy - my friends found it to be an attractive car even if it was something "older" than what they had. I even had a friend that asked if I were to sell it that I come to him first. Unfortunately I had to part with it after three years, with over 167k miles on it. Let me tell you a little something about the Pontiac I had. For the first two years, it held together great. But this past year it started falling apart. I replaced the cad. converter, the throttle body, the blower motor, replaced the master window switch and had my muffler fixed (technically that was last year). I bought this car for around $5k, and just barely got a $1000 for it. Here's my bottom line to anyone looking to purchase an older Pontiac; be prepared to drop some serious cash into it if it's a GTP. One of the reasons why I had to part with my beloved car was because on my way to class I broke down on the highway. A call to a trust worthy mechanic and towman later I found out the computer in the car was going. Ah-ha~ I thought to myself, so this is they the horn was starting to be picky about when it would sound! I almost got into an accident because my tires were worn (I didn't know at the time) and when I hydroplaned I nearly caused an accident - had it not been for the squealing tires the other driver would not have been aware of what was going on... because not matter how many times I hit the horn it wouldn't work! (but later it worked in the parking lot) Over all what I loved about it - it was affordable before it started falling apart. Comfortable. The heated seats and sun roof were a plus. Beautiful color - I haven't seen too many cars pull off the orange exterior as well as the Pontiac. Looked fantastic with tinted windows. Great trunk size, V6 engine was great, and it was fun even if it didn't have all of todays bells and whistles (blue tooth, navigation, etc) I once had to tote around an old man in a wheelchair and what we liked was the seat was leveled with his wheelchair. Pop a sliding board on the seat and he could just scoot over comfortably. The back seat might be a tight fit for some people, but I was able to transport a friend (riding shot gun) her two kids (one in a car seat, the other in a booster) plus my basset hound pound puppy. Downside? If you're in the snowbelt this was not an ideal car. I crashed twice into a curb in one year because of snowbuild up on the tires. I managed to bust up a strut and my swaybar. Some of the parts I needed my mechanic had to go to a junk yard for - which makes me wonder if the first converter that was replaced was a junk yard part. The backseats are not ideal for tall people. You'll feel squished and I don't know about others, but I always felt that I was being folded in half sitting back there. And if you have a GTP, be prepared to shell out some serious $$$ for repairs. Some of the simplest jobs cost extra for me because of how everything under the hood was arrange. Oh... and don't ask me why but GM put the power steering fluid down, almost behind the engine! It was very irritating when I had to pop the hood and locate the cap. All in all, this may make a great summer car for people who want less features and more car.
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Dependable, sporty, but a little ho-hum too
I bought my GP GT2 used with about 32,000 miles on it and now have 115,000. I have not had to have any major service done on it, ever. I have had to replace normal wear and tear items like brake pads or rotors, and have oddball issues that occur still. The fuel pump seal is bad so when the car sits for a bit the fuel drains down the line. Turn the key to ON a couple of times before going to START and you're fine. Exhaust sound is outstanding, handling is great, and power is nice but a little lacking by today's standards. Fit and finish is OK but kind of bland and cheap looking. Overall though, an excellent purchase. Well worth the money.
Bad Transmission
I have a 2004 Pontiac grand prix It was a great car till the transmission went out on I 90.. I had it towed home took the trans pan off and found chips in the pan. cleaned it and changed the filter but it would not move it was shot. I never drove it hard but I bought the car with 27,000 miles on it every now and then it would hesitate before it went into gear but always ran fine once you got going, could not believe it went out so soon.I was hoping to get at least 100,000 miles out of it.It always ran fine as far as the motor goes but the transmission has serious issues. I am going to try and replace the trans and see what happens because I like the way the car handles in the snow.Thanks
Fun To Drive
I have owned a lot of cars in my life but when i test drove the Grand Prix it showed that Pontiac had the driver in mind.Not only does the Grand Prix have style but it is fast,and comfortable and safe.The Grand Prix has a smooth ride and beside's the front airbags the side curtain gives me comfort when i am driving my grandsons in the back.With all of the safety features I feel very comfortable behind the wheel of this car.
I loved this car sad to see it go
Picked it up from older couple in 2011 with 110k drove it until trans went out @ 240k in 2017. My gp was gt2 had all gtp options no super charger no heads up display. Heated seats great for winter. I was the 3rd owner. Mpg was low as 16mpg in summer with a/c max in bumper to bumper traffic and as high as 34 I think. I averaged 20-28. Little head room for someone 6’1 it’s designed for shorter people 5-6 feet tall. My sunroof never leaked or broke. Never had to rebuild motor or transmission as far as I know it was all original. Heater core went out was expensive even for my friend to fix cause you have to take the entire dash apart. I replaced elbows with good metals ones was stuck at the store almost overheated had to tow it. Car drove straight had Michelin defender tires cost 700 tread was at half or so when I sold it. Sold car for 700 even with no trans. Ownership cost was way lower then my 98 blazer.
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Best car I've ever owned! Runs forever!
I loved this car! I bought it used in 2008 and had 43k on it. I've owned it for 10 years and when I sold it the car had 257k on it. This car had o e of GM's best engines in it which is the 3800. This engine got great gas mileage and is known to last a lot of miles. The car drove very smooth and had great performance for when you wanted to get up and go. The only reason I sold it was because my work required us to have a car under 10 years old. Otherwise I would still be driving it. I sold the car to a friend and he now has over 280k on it. To this day the grand prix still looks very modern when driving next to newer 2018 models. If you are looking at purchasing a 2004 to 2008 grand prix I highly recommend it. Just do regular maintenance on them and they'll last forever!
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Pontiac has Sold Me!
Test drove one on the 24-hour test drive and ended up buying a black 2004 GTP COMP-G. I have owned other Pontiacs but I always wanted a Grand Prix and this car has not disappointed. Performance was unrivaled having tested other cars of similar size and price. Exhaust note and exterior looks make this more like a sports car than a four door sedan. If you load the car up with all the bells and whistles, you will find it to be one of the best deals around. Great job GM. As far as negatives go, this car has been spotless in the mechanical reliability department but I did have pin hole leak in the trunk and one interior rattle. Both issues were fixed without question by a great service departmen
Lucky number 3
This is my 3rd grand prix I had a 95 which I was not impressed with but decided to give it another shot with an 03 which I loved and then decided to trade in on an 04 for the more adult design. I would recommend this car to anyone. I have taken it in many road trips I bought it at 74k miles and it now has 107k less than 2 years later. No problems! My friends love it, my parents love it, and I still look forward to driving it everyday. My favorite car that I have owned.
Perfect car in every way
Had this car for 5 years & I still look forward to driving it.For something with such good exceleraton that gets 30.5mpg/24 city who would what a 4 cyl thats not half as fun to drive. I can leave my SUV at home and still haul 8' 2x4's with the folding pass. & rear seats. The only problem in 5 years were a water leak @ On-Star antenna & front seat cover tear.Car is tight,no rattles or wind noise just sorry to see Pontiac going away.
ughhhhhh
The car is a good car looks wise, comfort and design. But i have had qet a few problems like a transmission, throttle body, and traction control, and anti-lock brakes. it don't seem as to how many are out there that they could all have problems but i just got a lemon.
Perfect Car
This is my second Grand Prix. It was definitely worth the upgrade from the 2001 model. This car has very good power and pickup. Very comfortable interior and exterior styling. I've had it a year and a half and just now had my first problem--which was minor. GM may just have finally figured out their brake problems. This is my first GM that I haven't had to put brakes on within the first year. Interior could be built with better quality materials, things tend to wear out easily. Other than that I would recommend this vehicle to anyone!
Pontiac #1 in reliability and performance!!!
The best trouble-free ride ever made!
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A racey familly vehicle.
Be prepared for exciting rides. Breaking is above excellent. When you need to break hard, there is no doubt in your mind that you will stop in time.
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5 Year Follow-up
This is a follow-up review. I wrote one after initial purchase. Bottom line, GM's got to do better. The exterior design and discounted price sold us this car and I wish it hadn't. I now understand what professional car reviewers look for. The interior design is poor and cheap. The finish on the steering wheel is peeling and the low glovebox is nearly inaccessible. The seat side bolsters have worn through and the cheap interior plastic is impossible to clean. Horrible side/rear visibility. The engine has been reliable but the transmission now shifts harshly from 1st. Steering has been repaired twice. Airbag system acts up. Neither of our 150K+ mile Fords have had any problems.
My first year in my Pontiac Grand Prix
This is a beautiful car, I love the Sedona Beige Metallic paint! Since I bought it many people have commented on the style and color.....it's so sleek! The interior colors are light, but nothing sticks to the fabric, it wipes up without any spotting at all. It is absolute luxury at an affordable price.....so what's not to like??
vehicle disappointing
I have had my grand prix for more then 2 years now and i have had a constant problem with it. When i bought the car, they took another carfax from another grand prix on the lot and didn't tell me it was a rental car. I have had stalling problems for over a year and now I'm having transmissions problems. Every time I take it to the dealership they can't duplicate the problem! And they charge me more to not diagnose it then it would be to fix it. Now I'm taking my car to Aamco tomorrow to see what they say. It has 80,000 miles on it. The transmission should not be shot yet. But since it was a rental car it just might be. WE all know how we treat rental cars. The transmission is slipping a lot!!!!
2004 Grand Prix GT2
I have noticed that my doors tend to sound odd when opening or closing. Worse in the cold. It's a creaking noise. Also, I know it's pretty standard now a days but the white film that's all over the windows from running air or defrost. It's almost impossible to get off.
Pontiac Grand Prix's Rock!!!
This is my 5th Pontiac Grand Prix and I think its the best of the bunch. Great ride with extremely responsive handling. Love the styling and the new graystone metallic colour looks amazing.
Just bought GP1
I just purchased a new GP1 and was pleasently surprised. List was $23,490 and with rebates the purchase price was $17,700. The car rides great! 04 looks and rides better then previous models.
One cool car
Its been a fun and nice car to have. But at only 21,000 miles i'm already having problems with belts and rotors. It would be better i think to have it as a awd drive car with 305hp. Other than that i love all the features.
OK CAR
I SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR MORE REBATES FOR THIS CAR.DOOR HANDLE PIECE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING HOME. JUST FOUND A LEAK OF SOME SORT YESTERDAY.MY '92 GRAND AM HAS MORE POWER THIS CAR.FUEL ECONOMY HAS BEEN WORSE THAN I THOUGHT.GETTING IN AND OUT IS WORSE THAN MY OL' GRAND AM TOO. BUT I DOO LIKE THE LOOKS OF THIS CAR, IT JUST ISN'T WORTH WHAT I PAID FOR IT.
My 4th GP
This is my fourth Grand Prix, so I may be a little biased, but the quality for the price can't be beat. I have a heavy right foot, and this car has done nothing but perform. Its a large bulky car, however, the advertisement at the time was "Wider is Better" and I couldn't agree more. The bold styling turns heads. The interior is made for the driver by drivers, with a cockpit style design. Its the most luxury and power you can get for the price.
Finally Paid Off
I bought my 2004 with 24,000 miles on it. A factory exhaust system was installed. Good car until the 40,000 mile mark. Took it in for my routine oil change, and was told that there were particles of metal in transmission fluid. I did a trans flush and added Lucas Trans Lube to it. It took 2 full flushes to get all of the metal out of the system. Now at 88,000 miles, I was told, again, by a new mechanic that my trans fluid needs to be changed. The manual calls for 1 trans change at 100,000 miles. This would now make it 3 flushes in 88,000 miles. Check gas cap and check eng light came on at 65,000 miles. Computer says there's a leak in the exhaust manifold. Trading in before I dump money in it.
pure junk!
this car is junk, there's no other way to say it... I'm now on my 4th transmission and I'm very easy on cars as well as had to replace the "O" ring twice on the power steering reservoir, etc.... if you want a good car, look elsewhere!.
LORD HAVE MERCY
I was a 18 year old college student when I bought this car. I bought it and the same week found out it had bad wheel bearings. throughout the year I've had problems with it here and there. it started leaking anti freeze causing my heat not to work. then my motor blew up in it. I had to get a motor from another Pontiac and replace it with mine. not even a month later I was taking a right turn on Main Street and my car wouldn't move. my transmission was falling out of my car!! I did not have these gears; R,D,N,3. that was when (after having the car for 7 months) I gave up. I ended up selling my car for parts because I kept the outside and inside very clean. I ended up getting $400 out of it. but I will never ever get a Pontiac car again. every time I see the same car I had I want to go spit on it
Horrible and terrible vehicle
This was the most awful car that was ever purchased by me. From the time I purchased the vehicle to the time I got rid of it, which was 2 months, the car spent more time in the shop than on the road. Lucky for me the dealer attempted to fix all the problems but this car as far as I'm concerned was beyond repairs. First the rear suspension went out, then the air conditioner and finally the car leaked inside from a heavy rainstorm. Pontiac should have went out of business instead of Oldsmobile. Car was traded for a 2005 Chevy Impala which was 10 times better. No Pontiac ever for me!
One Of The Best All Around Sedans Ever!
The 2004 Grand Prix GTP is one of the best all around cars I have ever owned! It has the power of a V8, the gas mileage of a 4-6 cyl, handles curves and looks great. I am a Pontiac enthusiest who loves to drive my cars, I not only drive this car to work everyday (28 miles round trip) and get 23 MPG and 28 MPG highway, but I drive on twisty roads and even around Road Atlanta. I purchased this car new and just turned over 45,000 miles and have had 3 small problems since new (intermiate shaft greased, a couple of rear defrost lines out and water leak above reading lights). It has been a great car and I can't say enough about it, very fast, handles, great looks, cool interior and options.
Great Value
This vehicle attained excellent gas mileage - consistently 30 mpg, not in the low 20's as I was led to believe, and it gave me great satisfaction during the months of $4 per gallon fuel prices. Comfy seats, nice large trunk space and flip-down seats, good control and easy to drive. No major repairs were needed. The negatives: shortage of cupholders, some road noise, red dashboard lighting. Overall, an excellent vehicle for the average driver.
I hate to see it go
I have had this car 4.5 years and have loved every minute of it. I have two kids so the 90 degree back doors are great! The performance, acceleration, and interior are wonderful. I would like a higher roof line though. My husband is 6'3" and hates sitting in the front seat. But it is my car!
Descent little car
I traded my '06 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Hemi for this car. Overall, the car is okay. I miss having a truck though. The car had 51k miles when I got it. Its got 61k miles and there's been some problems with it. The stability track module went bad, the moonroof doesn't function properly, window motors went bad. Thankfully, the car has a maxcare warranty from CarMax that's good for 100k miles. The previous owner kept detailed maintenance rec'ds. I can't wait to trade this car in for something bigger and more powerful.
Highly Recommend
Awesome car, handles very well, gas milage is good, very comfortable seating, huge truck and great sound system.
Great Car
This is my second Grand Prix. Traded in 95 with over 200K (transmission started failing). Bought my 2004 with 33K in 2005. Now has 180K and engine still runs as smooth as when i purchased it. Transmission tends to slip when HOT. This car has had NO REPAIRS since purchased. I call my car THE ONE. She will never leave me stranded :) One down fall i will admit is the back seat. With a tall toddler and being tall myself i have to adjust my seat forward for him to have room. Great mileage since day one. I take great car of my car as well and hope to see 250K before i turn her in. Or maybe i'll keep her and buy a 2008 with low mile's. Love my Grand Prix :) wish they would make MORE!!!
Rock of Gibraltar
I bought this car at 6k miles and now its at 64k, I absolutely love it, the engine is a monster and the a/c still causes a polar experience. The sound system is pathetic and a few speakers are torn. In terms of drive quality, this thing really gives me power when I want and offers a majestic cruise experience. Honda and Toyota would have set me back a few more thousand dollars, but I dont see where I lost out with this. One major issue I have is with the seating in the back, its extremely cramped and most ppl have complained of nausea because of the claustrophobic rear styling. Ill keep this one till it dies, my last American car got me 268k, miles to go before she sleeps!
NOTHIN'S THE SAME -- ONLY THE NAME
I absolutely was blown away with the interior..updated HUD, XM, OnStar, new steering wheel controls and a sound system that performs...not bad for the money. The horsepower is no joke..and the TapShift scares away all the teenie boppers trying to race me from stoplight to stoplight. The dealership was great with the 24- hr test drive program -- it got me hooked. I was a fan, but now I am fully a fanatic.
Too New To Rate But Liking So Far!!
I am not a GM fan but bought this car for my wife who absolutley loves her new GT2 with leather and sunroof. Fit an finish is excellent. New styling is well done. Re-do from previous model hits the mark. Avoid the cloth interior. Seats are very firm and take some adjusting to get used to but lateral support is excellent. The 90 degree openings rear doors and forward folding front passenger seat are well engineeered and practical. Ample interior room and spacious trunk. Tight and quiet - firm handling.
The Grandest of Them All
This has been the grandest of all my vehicles. I absolutely love this vehicle. I actually get 27-28 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. Outstanding vehicle, power in the engine is great. I love the hauling space with the fold down back seats AND the extra fold back front passenger seat. This was my first vehicle with traction control and what a difference that made this past winter when I was on black ice and didn't even know it. This car is definitely a keeper. I was so to hear that Pontiac Grand Prix was thrown to the wolves.
2004 GTP Competition Group
This car is outstanding!! The performance, handling and comfort is exceptional. The styling is great and I regularly get comments from people such as "nice, nice". Best automobile purchase that I have ever made!
the fastest and best looking sedan
if you are over 5 feet tall you and you want the fastest sedan available for under 31000 then get the GTP. otherwise you will end up with less.
Fun car to drive without sacrificing MPG
My wife bought this car in October of 2004 and we have enjoyed it every day since. The handling is excellent, acceleration is good and the fold-down rear seats allow for vasts amounts of cargo space when needed. I also get great MPG (28 average). Edmunds rates that the engine is noisy, but I disagree. You can hear the growl without having to shout over it which is exactly how I think it should sound! I agree with all of the Pro's listed by Edmunds. I wish our car had the HUD as that is the only option that our GP does not have. Mechanically, our I-shaft experienced 'stick-slip', but it was covered under warranty and was taken care of by the dealer without issue. No other issues since
It ain't the 99
I had a 99 and loved it every day I had it. On a whim, I traded it for this 'adult' version with leather and sunroof. Almost immediately I was unhappy. The sunroof hesitated for the first 3 years then fixed itself. The front end has been repaired at least 6 times. It ate a set of tires in 8 month. Tie rods, bushing alignment issues. The interior stinks: My 6 foot husband can't get into it, period with out moving the steering wheel and seat. "leather' is all cracking, wheel is peeling, plastic is impossible to clean. I miss my 99 in myriad ways. It was huge, got better mileage. I HATE leather, especially this leather. And the AM radio is affected by sunspots or something 2x a year. weird
New GP Rocks
Great Car. Looks great, Handles great. Very good power. Impressive Braking. HUD (Heads-up display is sweet). Very informative information center.