2004 Pontiac Grand Prix: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Engine · 125,000 miles · TX

This happen several times driving on freeway 60-70 MPH an engine loss power warning light vehicle. Vehicle started to hesitate will not accelerate over 10-20 MPH. Stalled on the emergency lane. After sitting around 10 mins vehicle started again back and warning light turned off. Arrived at dealership no codes. I cannot afford another vehicle can somebody assist me before I get into an accident with my kids...updated 06/09/14 *bf updated 06/10/2014 *js

Filed Feb 23, 2009 · Transmission · 74,000 miles · IL

I started my 2004 pontiac grand prix gtp one very cold morning and noticed a whining noise from under the hood. I purchased this vehicle used in 2005 with about 16,000 miles on it. Once the car warmed up, the whining noise went away until I drove it. I heard the noise again when the transmission shifted from first gear. At that time, the mileage was about 74,800. About one 3 days later, I took it to a local lube shop to have the transmission fluid changed. After the fluid was changed, I did not hear the whining sound again until about 2 days later on my way home for a lunch break. The next morning, I heard the whining when I started the car to warm it up. After the car warmed for a while, it hesitated to move when I put it into reverse to go to work. It also hesitated to move when I put it into drive. The mileage, at that point, was about 75,000 miles. I brought it back home and called a local repair shop who ended up looking at it and said the trans was shot. I then called gm about to express my dissatisfaction and to ask for some type of assistance. They referred me to a dealer for a diagnosis. I took it to sullivan pontiac and was told that it was a possible problem with the valve seal. The estimated cost to repair would be 2,600. Considering I do not drive my car under heavy conditions and the recommended trans service is due at 100k for those driving conditions, I do not think this problem should be occurring at this mileage.

Filed Sep 6, 2006 · Engine · 15,900 miles · MD

The vehicle stalled while driving 40 MPH. Engine hesitation at various speeds also experienced as if the car does not react to gas pedal and is not in gear. Hesitation also experienced right before engine stalled (lighting continued to work). Dealer unable to replicate issue and says the computer has not recorded the issue.

Filed Jun 26, 2006 · Electrical · 8,000 miles · MI · 2 injuries

I bought the car in march of 04. In december of 04 it started having electrical problems. Whenever the lights and the heat and the rear defroster were on, the car would start stalling and tell you "charging system failure". There was one incident where I was merging on the freeway during rush hour and the car actually stalled out and I had no control whatsoever. It has been in the shop at least seven times for the same problem. The car stalls out whenever you put it into reverse, drive backwards, stop and then shift into drive. It hesitates, chimes and displays "charging system failure". At one occasion, my fiance turned on the fan, and the went into a nose dive due to the engine cutting out. Both of us ended up having bad seat-belts burns and bruises from being thrown forward so suddenly.

Filed Feb 23, 2006 · Engine · 31,938 miles · FL

Dt*: the contact stated at any speed the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights, but the vehicle would hesitate prior to stalling. The vehicle restarted after 10 minutes. The vehicle has been to the dealership five times but the repairs have not corrected the problem. The sensor manifold absolute pressure has been corrected twice, the ignition switch has been replaced and the PCM reflash was corrected. The fifth time, the dealership was unable to determine the problem.

Filed Feb 9, 2006 · Electrical · 2,750 miles · NJ

Vehicle has stalled a total of five times and has had trouble idling and hesitation since it was new. Once on a busy highway where I had to run across a busy lane of traffic to safety and police needed to dispatch an emergency tow truck. The last time within a busy intersection. Nearly causing a crash. Since the last incident I have not driven the car and is in the process of having gm take the vehicle back. They are reluctant to take it back. Review other similar complaints.

Filed Jun 27, 2005 · Electrical · 20,000 miles · NJ

I bought a 2004 grand prix with an electrical problem that started around 20,000 miles where the car would hesitate on acceleration to the point of no reaction. The problem progressed to two incidents of the car completely shutting off in the passing lane of a major highway. The car hesitated and then completely shut off with in seconds and without warning. This problem has happened regardless of the amount of gas in the tank or the weather outside. I have brought the car to the dealership at least 5 times and they have not corrected the problem. The first action theytried was to reprogramed the powertrain control module, then I had a recording device attached after the problem happened to the technician. The problem actually erased the computer recorded so they replace the entire control module. The car has been test driven for hundreds of miles and now it still has the problem bad enough to stall out on the highway with everything in the car shutting off. This problem is very dangerous as it is completely unpredictable but likely at the worst possible time, passing on the highway.

Filed Apr 8, 2005 · Transmission · MD

Sporadically the car hesitates when started and put into gear. Typically, I start the car and then reverse out of a parking space. When shifting to drive and then accelerating, the car hesitates. There have been 3-4 instances when it simply shut off. I have taken it in to the dealership, but they found nothing wrong.

Filed Feb 23, 2005 · Electrical, Fuel system · 8,250 miles · GA

My 2004 grand prix gt has had an acceleration hesitation or stall (engine shuts down) since purchase (august /04). Two different sensors have been replaced, but it has failed again. Recently when leaving work; engine relatively cold, had to accelerate to enter highway traffic and engine stalled and died. Dealerships have been unable to duplicate since it is extremely intermittent.

Filed Dec 19, 2004 · Steering · 5,054 miles · MD

1) after turning off a major road into a residential complex, the car first hesitated, then I lost power steering while navigating a sharp left curve; after turning the car on and off twice, was able to regain steering; service department was unable to repeat the problem nor determine cause; 2) on 2 occasions prior, I experienced severe hesitation on acceleration--severity of hesitation seemed to be directly related to rate of acceleration (hesitation most severe at hard acceleration); the hesitation continued every time I depressed the accelerator until the car was turned off; when the car was re-started, the problem was gone; these 2 occurrences happened about 45 days apart and again about 30 days later, prior to loss of power steering described in #1; service department has not been able to repeat the problem nor determine possible cause; 3) nuisance problem--recurring squeaking, at times squealing, in the steering column when turning at low speeds; on one occurrence there was also a rattling in the steering column; dealer has lubricated, re-lubricated, re-installed coil, replaced intermediate shaft.

Filed Aug 15, 2004 · Fuel system · NC

Upon cold startup vehicle will stall, hesitate or surge upon the first press of the accelerator pedal. Computer has been replaced and reprogrammed on prior attempts along with new throttle bodies and stalling no longer present, but hesitation and surging are still present. Service engine soon lamp has started illuminating. Code is p0452 for the fuel tank pressure sensor. According to a gm administrative message to dealers on 4/2/04, "dealers are advised to order fuel tank pressure sensor p/n 16238399 instead of p/n 09377680. Fuel tank pressure sensor p/n 09377680 has proved to be unreliable and it is likely to fail again shortly after installation. Production change to use p/n 16238399 is scheduled for mid-april." dealer will be replacing sensor on subsequent visit.

Filed Jul 29, 2004 · Transmission · 800 miles · MI

My car stalled 5 days after I received it. It was about 40 f outside and I reversed slowly and put the vehicle in drive. It shuddered and stalled. This happened once more the next day. Any time the temperature is below 60 f the vehicle shudders when put into drive. I've taken it in to the dealership 4 times for this same issue but they seem unable to fix it. I've had the PCM re-flashed, injectors cleaned, and spark plugs replaced. I have had continued shuddering at low temperatures but no more stalling since the first incidents. There is also a jerking when accelerating quickly. When pressing the gas the car hesitates and then jumps into gear.