2004 PONTIAC GTO Power Train Problems

I WAS DRIVING MY CLUTCH AND GAS WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY STEERING WHEEL BROKE AND I RAN THROUGH THE WOODS. *TR

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. *TR

Mileage: 91,250

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. SO I TOLD THEM TO REPLACE IT BUT IT TOOK 4 WEEKS UNTIL GM COULD SUPPLY ONE. IT CAME WITH A 3 YEAR, 100K WARRANTY AT A COST OF $4000. THIS PLUS THE $1200 FOR A NEW CLUTCH MADE FOR A VERY EXPENSIVE OUT-OF-WARRANTY REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUSTRALIA, AND THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO SHIP THE 2004 DEFECTIVE MODELS TO THE UNITED STATED. HE IS EXPERIENCING SUSPENSION FAILURE, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE VEERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONTACT MUST USE BOTH HANDS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION AND MOTOR WERE CHANGED. THE MOTOR WAS CHANGED BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND IT WOULD SLIP AND MAKE NOISE. THERE WAS ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING OVER A MINOR BUMP AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD BREAK DOWN. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PISTON SLAP. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, HE COULD HEAR A TICKING NOISE. THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE PISTON STRIKING THE TOP OF THE MOTOR HEAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WITH THESE CONCERNS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN WAS 3,600. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 07/29/08. *JB

Mileage: 100

PURCHASED 2004 GTO WITH 37,500 MILES HAD THE CAR A WEEK,SON WAS DRIVING AND HEARD AND FELT A LOUD CLANGING NOISE. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY FIXED UNDER GM CERTIFICATION. IT WAS MISSING LEFT SIDE AXLE BOLTS AND ALL THE RIGHT SIDE WERE VERY LOOSE. *TR

Mileage: 37,500

MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO OCCASIONALLY POP OUT OF A GEAR WHILE DRIVING. IN ORDER TO PUT TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE I HAVE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO ANOTHER GEAR FIRST, THIS WORKS OVER HALF OF THE TIME, SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PUT IT IN 3RD, 4TH, THEN GO UP TO REVERSE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I FIRST PICKED UP THE CAR. HAD DEALER LOOK AT IT, THEY CLAIMED THERE WERE NO TSB'S OR RECALLS FOR THE 2004 GTO SO THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SENT ME ON MY WAY SAYING "AT LEAST YOU HAVE REPORTED IT, THAT MAY COVER YOU IN THE FUTURE IF IT FAILS." ALSO, DEALER DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM TELLS THEM TO USE THE SAME FLUID THAT GOES INTO FRONT DRIVE AUTOMATICS, THIS COULD CAUSE GTO MANUAL TRANSMISSION TO BURN OUT FASTER.*JB

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT TIRES TWICE DUE TO INSIDE TIRE WEAR/PREMATURE WEAR/STRUT RUB (ALL INSIDE WEAR NEAR STRUT). THE INTERMITTENT WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (ALL THE TIME). GIVE A FALSE ERROR OF OVERHEATING WITHIN MINUTES OF START-UP (HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES). ANALOG SPEEDOMETER WAS VERY ERRATIC, MOVED ALL AROUND FROM 0 TO 200 MPH WHILE CRUISING AT 65 MPH (2 TIMES) AND READ 140 MPH WHILE STOPPED. PAINT ON THE DOOR HANDLES STARTED PEELING OFF WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP (BOUGHT BRAND NEW). DAMPNESS BEHIND THE DRIVES SEAT ON THE FLOOR (OFTEN AFTER DRIVING IN RAIN). RADIO CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, A BUTTON HAS THE FUNCTION OF THE ONE ABOVE IT (OFF & ON ALL THE TIME). GAS CAP REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR, CAUSED ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON (OFTEN, STILL HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE WITH THE NEW CAP). HARD TO SHIFT IN REVERSE AT TIMES, HELPS TO SHIFT IN ANOTHER GEAR FIRST. SHIFTER RATTLES OFTEN DURING ACCELERATION. POPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR (MOSTLY DURING COLD MORNINGS, ALSO HARD TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR ON COLD MORNINGS. LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF WHILE IN AUTO-MODE; WORKED CORRECTLY AT FIRST, BUT NOW THEY ALWAYS STAY ON (ALWAYS OPERATE THEM MANUALLY NOW TO KEEP FROM DRAINING BATTERY). *NM

HAD TROUBLE WITH CLUTCH. POPPING OUT OF GEAR, HARD GOING INTO GEAR, LOSS OF CLUTCH PEDDLE, LOUD ROARING SOUND THAT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN TO PRESSED IN THE CLUTCH BUT WOULD RETURN WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDDLE WAS RELEASED. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH, VEHICLE STILL POPS OUT OF GEAR ON 4 AND 5 GEAR. VEHICLE SHAKES SOME AND STILL HAS A LOUD ROARING SOUND THAT WILL GO AWAY WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED IN BUT STILL COMES BACK WHEN THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED. DEALER STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS OUT OF ROUND. THEY REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, BUT IT DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH CLUTCH, ROARING SOUND. *NM

Mileage: 31,425

I HAVE 29,222 MILES ON MY 04 PONTIAC GTO WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME. OVER TIME ALL 6 BOLTS THAT HOLD MY HALF SHAFT TO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HAD BACKED OUT IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION RIGHT WHEN I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY. I5 AND 17TH ST. WITH NO BOLTS HOLDING THE HALF-SHAFT IN IT WAS FREE TO SPIN FREELY AND HIT OTHER PARTS UNDERNEATH MY CAR, DAMAGING THE AXLE, AND RIPPING THE BOOT. I RESEARCHED, AND FOUND OUT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EARLY PRODUCTION 04 MODELS. I TOLD THE DEALER THIS AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TRIED BLAMING ME BECAUSE I HAD INSTALLED DIFFERENT REAR SPRINGS, AND SAID I HAD REMOVED AND RE-INSTALLED THESE BOLTS FOR THE SPRING INSTALL. THESE BOLTS DID NOT NEED TO BE TOUCHED DURING THE SPRING INSTALL, I'VE TRIED EXPLAINING THE INSTALL TO THEM, BUT THEY WONT LISTEN... HORRIBLE SERVICE... *NM

Mileage: 29,222

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR ACCIDENT. FOR NO KNOWN REASON THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. UPON REMOVAL OF THE DAMAGED FRONT FENDER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE WERE BALD ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THIS DAMAGE TO THE TIRES IT WAS ULTIMATELY CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THIS DEFECT IS WHAT IS KNOW AS STRUT RUB AND IS CAUSED BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PARTICULAR VEHICLE. PONTIAC 2004, GTO IN ADDITION TO THIS ISSUE MY VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMBER ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTER. IT HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER 6 TO 7 TIMES AND SHIFTER WAS REPLACED ONCE. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SHIFTER STARTS RATTLING AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFINITELY A LEMON AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. GM REFUSES TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION ON THIS VEHICLE. ALSO, EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAS INSTRUCTED US TO DRIVE IT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES DOCUMENTED ON VARIOUS WEB SITES, SUCH AS GTO FORUM. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PRINT OUT THIS INFORMATION FOR YOUR REVIEW!!! *JB

Mileage: 2,000

MY 2004 PONTIAC GTO REPEATEDLY COMES OUT OF OR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN GOING INTO 2ND BUT ALSO IN 1ST AND REVERSE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 GM DEALERS AND NONE OF THEM HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE SINCE I CANNOT GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL IF I CANNOT GET IT INTO GEAR. I ALSO CANNOT ACCELERATE IF THE VEHICLE COMES OUT OF GEAR. MANY TIMES THIS HAS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE ARIZONA GM REPRESENTATIVE CONFIRMED AND WITNESSED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT TOLD US TO SUE GM BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT REPURCHASE THE CAR OR FIX THE CAR. GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FOUND SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON YOUR WEBSITE. YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Mileage: 600

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.

Mileage: 885

WHILE DRIVING MY NEW PONTIAC GTO THE BOLTS THAT HOLD DRIVERS SIDE HALF SHAFT IN FELL OUT CAUSING THE HALF SHAFT TO FALL OUT IF I WOULD OF BEEN GOING FASTER THEN 20 MPH IT COULD OF CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE AND OR INJURY. WHEN I SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND THAT'S WHEN IT FELL OUT. IT IS AT DEALER CURRENTLY WILL CALL TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. DO NOT KNOW WHY THEY WERE NOT TIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE AS I WAS ON WWW.LS1GTO.COM AND FOUND PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS I DO BELIEVE SIX OF THEM ALL HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE INNER HALF SHAFT BOLTS FALL OUT! *NM

Mileage: 5,550

DRIVING IN 2ND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION), 25MPH, I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THE CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATED. GOT OUT AND FOUND 6 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE DRIVERS SIDE HALF SHAFT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL WERE LYING IN THE ROAD. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ULTIMATE PONTIAC,FREDERICKSBURG, VA. IT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE AUGUST 9TH WITH PARTS ON BACK ORDER.*AK

Mileage: 4,392

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

Mileage: 4,300

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 REPLACING THE INNER CV JOINT, OUTPUT HUB AND INSTALLING NEW BOLTS AND RETAINERS. SINCE MY MISHAP, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 3 OTHER CARS. BOTH DEALERSHIPS ARE INCOMPETENT AND DO NOT KNOW THE CAR, THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE. *JB

Mileage: 3,100

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

Mileage: 2,800