<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000040730</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL MOTORS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GM, GMH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181679</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUTZ ROBERT A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 RENAISSANCE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>MC 482 C39 B40</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DETROIT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48265-3000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>General Motors Common Stock, $1-2/3 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30353</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38352</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GM Stock $1-2/3 Par Value, Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30353</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>General Motors Common Stock, $1-2/3 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30353</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>146301</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person also owns Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) for GM $1-2/3 Par Value Common Stock which are issued under the Rule 16b-3 qualified GM Stock Incentive Plan.  Each option is exercisable in three (3) annual installments beginning on the date specified below and expiring one (1) year and one (1) day from the initial grant date as follows:  An option for 200,000 Shares with a Grant Date of 9/4/2001, an Option Price of $54.91, First Exercisable on 9/4/2002, and an Expiration Date of 9/5/2011.  An option for 100,000 Shares with a Grant Date of 1/7/2002, an Option Price of $50.46, First Exercisable on 1/7/2003, and an Expiration Date of 1/8/2012.  An option for 100,000 Shares with a Grant Date of 2/4/2002, an Option Price of $50.82, First Exercisable on 2/4/2003, and an Expiration Date of 2/5/2012.  An option for 200,000 Shares with a Grant Date of 1/21/2003, an Option Price of $40.05, First Exercisable on 1/21/2004, and an Expiration Date of 1/22/2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">30,353 Shares vest on September 1, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 33 Shares owned indirectly held in trust under General Motors Stock Purchase Program as of 12/31/2002.  State Street Bank &amp; Trust Co., Trustee.  Shares owned pursuant to Rule 16b-3 exempt employee savings plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Phantom Stock Units have been accrued under the General Motors Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be settled in cash upon my retirement.  Dividend equivalents are earned on each Phantom Stock Unit.  Units held as of 12/31/02.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert A. Lutz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

