2004 Pontiac GTO Problems
- Complaints
- 245filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 18,000miles, 190 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 19 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 16 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Pontiac GTO (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2004 Pontiac GTO most often describe front tires rubbing against the struts and wearing through on the inner edge, sometimes to the cords or belt, with complaints peaking early in the car's life. Steering-wheel vibration at highway speed is a common companion symptom, and a smaller group of owners reports ignition lock trouble, manual-transmission shift problems, and a fuel line contacting its cover.
- Suspension
Front tires rubbing on struts / inner-edge wear
- 149 complaints (61%)
- median 18,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (117 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $484 (median of 6 quotes)
- filed 2004–2011
Owners describe the inner sidewall or shoulder of the front tires contacting the strut or strut housing, producing a wear mark on the strut body and rapid wear on the tire's inside edge. Many found the damage during a tire rotation or oil change, sometimes with cords or steel belts showing. Complaints describe dealers attributing the wear to alignment or telling owners there was no remedy, while some owners report spacers being fitted or struts and mounts replaced. Mostly reported between roughly 2,000 and 35,000 miles, often within the first two years of ownership and on the factory-sized front tires.
What to check: Inspect the inner edge of both front tires, and look for a polished or rubbed area and rubber residue on the strut bodies (also check whether wheel spacers were added). Ask whether the front alignment and any strut or mount work has been done, and budget for tires if the inner edges are worn.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I own a 2004 Pontiac GTO and recently took all of the wheels off to paint the brake calipers and I noticed that my tires were rubbing on the struts really bad, and im about to have a few blowouts. I've been reading alot on the internet that this is a huge problem with the GTO's. Is there anything that can be done before I have an accident?”
NHTSA complaint #10267166, filed 2009-04, 71,000 miles“The inside of front tires rubbing on the struts on my 2004 GTO. The tires are wore down to the cords. If I wouldn't have noticed it it would have caused a tire blowout and possibly caused me to crash. I will have to replace the tires and possibly replace the front radius rod bearings, struts and strut mounts,and get an alignment.”
NHTSA complaint #10182704, filed 2007-02, 36,076 miles - Tires
Steering wheel vibration at highway speed
- 37 complaints (15%)
- median 21,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (29 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2004–2014
Owners report a shake or vibration through the steering wheel that appears at roughly 50 mph and above, sometimes after a strut or tire repair. Complaints describe it recurring after new tires or an alignment, and several owners link it to tire and suspension wear found at the same visit. Typically reported from about 13,000 to 40,000 miles, generally at freeway speeds.
What to check: Drive the car at 50-70 mph and note any wheel shake, and have the front tires and wheel balance checked along with the alignment.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The ignition switch has failed on my GTO 2 times now. The first time about 4 or 5 thousand miles ago it would not turn easily, or at all. Now the ignition switch will not turn all the way off. The retained accessories stay on, and the steering column lock is inoperative. My local dealer is repairing my vehicle for me. I am aware of several others that have had this problem. A few requiring 3-4 repairs. …”
NHTSA complaint #10203407, filed 2007-09, 32,000 miles“I purchased my Pontiac GTO used with aprox 17,000 miles on the odometer. I was aware of the strut rub issue before purchasing and noticed the stock setup of tires on, and brand new. Around 10,000 miles later, I took the car in for a rotation after some vibration and noticed extreme wear on the drivers side and worse on the passenger side where the strut had cut clean through the belts on the inside edge. …”
NHTSA complaint #10182637, filed 2007-02, 32,578 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Manual transmission hard to engage or popping out of gear
Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners of the six-speed manual describe difficulty getting into gear, especially second, first and reverse, grinding while shifting, and the car popping out of gear while driving. Some complaints report the dealer first replacing the clutch with no improvement before the transmission itself was addressed, and others were told the issue was not covered. Described from very low mileage (a few hundred miles) up to about 70,000 miles.
What to check: With the car cold, try every gear including reverse and listen for grinding; ask whether the clutch or transmission has been replaced and keep any repair receipts.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10073298, filed 2004-05, 2,800 miles“My problem was with the 6 speed manual transmission which would cause a grinding sound while shifting and popping out of gear while driving. I took it to the dealer who diagnosed the problem as the clutch. They replaced the clutch but the problem not only still existed but it got worse. It became so bad that it was impossible to shift into any gear at any speed. I had the car towed back to the dealer about a week later. Now they told me that it was the transmission. Ok. …”
NHTSA complaint #10320434, filed 2010-03, 72,000 miles - Electrical system
Ignition lock hard to turn or will not shut off
- 9 complaints (4%)
- median 29,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
- filed 2004–2014
Owners describe the ignition key becoming hard to turn or seizing, and in other cases the switch not turning fully off so retained accessories stay powered and the steering column lock does not engage. Complaints also report the engine cutting out and not restarting, with the ignition switch identified as the cause and replaced under warranty. Reported from a few thousand miles up to around 40,000 miles, sometimes recurring within a year.
What to check: Turn the key through all positions and check that accessories shut off and the column locks; ask whether the ignition switch or lock cylinder has ever been replaced.
An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“(1)driving on I-95 april 9th 2005 at a speed of 70mph in middle lane - went to pass a truck in front of me - so went to go into left lane (2) engine died and had to coast over 3 lanes to the right to pull off the road - very dangerous situation - car would not restart.problem found - igniation switch open - no power to injectors or ignition module (3) called GM roadside assitance who sent a tow truck - it was replaced after 4 days this was a very dangerous situation to be in!!!! …”
NHTSA complaint #10121835, filed 2005-05, 2,556 miles
Buying note. Check the front tires' inner edges and the struts first, since tire rub is by far the most common complaint, then drive it at highway speed for vibration and work through every gear on the manual. Service records showing alignment, strut or ignition switch work are worth asking for.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 245 consumer complaints for the 2004 Pontiac GTO. 190 of the complaints include a mileage, and 93% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 18,000 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 10 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 362 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Suspension169 69%
- Tires65 27%
- Transmission and drivetrain17 6.9%
- Electrical system14 5.7%
- Fuel system8 3.3%
- Engine cooling6 2.5%
- Steering6 2.5%
- Body and structure6 2.5%
- Air bags5 2.0%
- Brakes4 1.6%
Also reported: Wheels (4), Seats (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Other or unknown (2), Seat belts (2), Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1).
Example complaints
Suspension: “I got new tires put on yesterday. They are the stock sized tires. Shortly after I heard a loud sound coming from the back right side. I noticed the tire was rubbing on the fender. The car sags more and more each day. Then yesterday, I was just driving normally from stop light to stop light, and my car would wouldn't go into 3rd or 4th gear. So I checked fluids and it was ok on that. I had to drive 30mph back home.”
NHTSA complaint #10505238, filed 2013-04, 91,250 milesTires: “2004 Pontiac GTO tire blow out we purchased our 2004 Pontiac GTO new, and have had issues with rubbing sounds and vibrations since it was new. The car currently has 45,000 miles and we had a blow out. Apparently the tires on 2004 GTO's rub the spring pocket of the strut causing the inner side wall of the tires to fail prematurely. It is impossible to see the wear unless the tire is removed from the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10336689, filed 2010-06, 44,985 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “I had been waiting for traffic to clear to turn right on red at a traffic light. It appeared that cross traffic was begining to slow down to stop. I pulled out only to realize I had made a grave error in judgement and that the cross traffic was still coming. In a moment of panic I hit the accelerator only to get little response at wide open throttle. The car did not down shift nor accelerate properly creating a very dangerous situation.”
NHTSA complaint #10120167, filed 2005-05, 885 milesElectrical 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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10598473, filed 2014-06, 70,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
93% of the 190 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,000 and 30,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2004 Pontiac GTO version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTO RWD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | 16 | 26 | 19 | $4,350 |
| GTO RWD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 20 | 17 | $4,850 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2004 Pontiac GTO in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
- PE07010Front strut to tire interferenceClosed · Feb 16, 2007
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 362 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11020816Jul 18, 2025Other or unknown. This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- 11007208Sep 6, 2024Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires…
- 11006621Aug 26, 2024Electrical system. Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need…
- 11004557Jun 17, 2024Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.
- 11002312Jun 6, 2024Electrical system. This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492…
- 11000576May 7, 2024Other or unknown. This Warranty Administration bulletin provides retail and wholesale service personnel with the policies/procedures and the warranty transaction submission procedures that support the Personal…
- 10252735Mar 28, 2024Electrical system. This bulletin provides information for electrical ground repairs using new General Motors replacement fasteners with conductive finish.
- 10251890Mar 13, 2024Engine cooling. This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with…
- 10250775Feb 22, 2024Engine cooling. This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has…
- 10249579Jan 12, 2024Engine cooling, Transmission and drivetrain. This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
Other model years of the Pontiac GTO
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 216 | 1,000 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 154 | 18,050 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 245 | 18,000 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Pontiac GTO model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Pontiac GTO?
Owners of the 2004 Pontiac GTO most often describe front tires rubbing against the struts and wearing through on the inner edge, sometimes to the cords or belt, with complaints peaking early in the car's life. The issues reported most often: Front tires rubbing on struts / inner-edge wear; Steering wheel vibration at highway speed; Manual transmission hard to engage or popping out of gear.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Pontiac GTO have?
NHTSA recorded 245 consumer complaints for the 2004 Pontiac GTO as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2004 Pontiac GTO is reported most often?
Suspension is named most often, in 169 complaints (69% of the total), followed by tires with 65.
Has the 2004 Pontiac GTO been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Pontiac GTO get?
The EPA rates the 2004 Pontiac GTO (GTO, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Pontiac GTO reported?
Among the 190 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 18,000 miles and the middle half falls between 8,000 and 30,000 miles; 93% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.