Faults:

Front brakes replaced at 190k.

Fuel pump quit at 220k.

Ignition key cylinder replaced 4 times already. This is common for these cars.

Overall very reliable.

General Comments:

I love driving this car. It is not sports car by any means, but when you floor the gas, it has a decent power. This is not a little car, weighing in at 3500lbs, so it does not handle the greatest. Fuel mileage is OK for a big car (8.5-12.0 L/100km).

You can fit your stuff in the big trunk, and carry 4 of your friends with you. I never mind letting my friends drive when I have been drinking, because the back seat is not that bad!

This car is a good all around car that you can do most things with. I love commuting and going on long trips. Best A/C ever!!

Also, a great car in the snow! Great for Canada!!

Faults:

Window clips went bad on 3 windows. Clips are cheap plastic.

It also eats too much gas.

General Comments:

This car is great!! I had this car for a year, bought it at 86000 miles, and never had a problem with it. It has great horsepower.

Faults:

The power-steering pump went bad.

The water pump leaked.

A strut mount bearing had to be replaced.

The A/C compressor makes some knocking noise.

The fuel pump check valve leaks.

A bearing inside the transmission makes some clicking noise during acceleration, but the transmission still works fine.

Replaced muffler and resonator assembly.

Replaced battery.

General Comments:

I was hoping that this car would be reliable when I bought it, but I've had numerous problems with it. Several parts went bad, so I've had to replace them.

I still have to replace the A/C compressor in the future, because it makes some knocking noise.

A bearing inside the transmission makes some clicking noise during acceleration, so I would have to get that checked out.

The 3.4L pushrod engine is somewhat noisy.

I think GM needs to focus more on quality, because this car has not been reliable. I will not be recommending this car to other people.

Faults:

The clips on the power windows are made of plastic, and continue to break. The plastic is just not durable enough. The clips should be made of metal, and be mechanically attached with screws to the bottom of the window.

General Comments:

I feel that General Motors should have a recall on this, and fix this problem immediately.

Faults:

Issues with the security light.

The car wasn't getting fuel, so the dealer thought it was the fuel pump. After hours and hours of investigation, it was the fuel pump fuse; it had burnt. Still haven't found the cause of why it burnt.

Back speakers went out at 145,000 miles.

Face plate for stock stereo system cracked at 180,000 miles. Unknown cause.

At 191,000 miles I had to replace the battery.

Also costs of typical maintenance (oil changes, tires, brakes.. etc)

General Comments:

This car is my favorite car I've ever owned.

Poor seating ergonomics for my husband (He's 6 ft 5/250 lbs), but I had no problems.

It's roomy enough for a family plus car seats, yet sporty enough for a new teenage driver. Great car!

The way you drive this car has a huge impact on its reliability. I base this on the huge number of problems people have had with the Grand Am. I like to take it easy, and hardly ever have to go over 2500RPM.

I bought it this year, and have put 86,000 miles on it. I was expecting it to fall apart like my old car (Ford Probe), but it didn't. This car has been such a great ride!

In summary, I find the 2004 Grand Am to be a fun and practical choice in vehicle. It has great styling, it has very reasonable power, and nice ergonomics. It is a very easy car to live with. It does what you ask of it readily, and with enthusiasm.