Pontiac Sunfire Complaints

1,141 consumer complaints on file.

#10182273February 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TURNED THE CAR OFF , WENT IN THE STORE, CAME OUT AND THE CAR WAS FULL OFF BLACK SMOKE. THE WIRE HARNESS MELTED FROM THE FUSE PANEL BACK TO THE TAIL LIGHTS. DEALER SAID IT STARTED FROM A FAULTY DIODE NEAR THE FUSE PANEL, BUT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THANK GOD THE KIDS WEREN'T WAITING IN THE CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182664February 7, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH A SAFETY RECALL PROBLEM**CC THE VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR EITHER REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10181562February 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS FLICKER SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOME KIND OF HEADLIGHT SHORT AND I SEE ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM I HAVE IT ON MY 2002 SUNFIRE AND THERE ARE HUNDRED OF FORUMS ON THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181477February 3, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL HAS GONE INSANE ONE DAY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CRUISE CONTROL DECIDED IT NEEDED TO SWITCH ON AND THAT I SHOULD BE GOING 50+ IN A 35 MPH ZONE. THIS IS ON A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH, THE ENGINE OF COURSE RACED AS HARD AS IT COULD. APPLYING THE BRAKES FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL; MANUALLY SWITCHING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF FAILED TO DISENGAGE; EVEN TURNING THE ENGINE OFF (BY TURNING OFF THE KEY) FAILED TO DISENGAGE IT! LUCKILY, I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AND KEPT A COOL HEAD, SO WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE BACK UP, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ENGAGED, FOR IT WAS RACING AS HARD AS IT COULD. I TURNED IT BACK OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A BIT, HOPING THAT ONCE IT SAT FOR A BIT, ALL WOULD BE WELL. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES I TURNED THE KEY AND IT WAS FINE, EXCEPT THAT ONCE I GOT BACK ON THE ROAD, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT COME ON WHEN I TRIED TO SWITCH IT ON. EVER SINCE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT COME ON WHEN I TRY TO USE IT AND OCCASIONALLY. RANDOMLY COMES ON BY ITSELF WHEN I AM NOT TRYING TO USE IT. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS COME ON BY ITSELF AT LEAST A HALF DOZEN TIMES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181000January 29, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, OR TURNING THE CAR LOSES COMPLETE POWER. NO DASH SIGNS ARE SHOWN DURING THIS PROCESS. STARTS UP IMMEDIATELY IF HEAT/DEFROST IS NOT TURNED ON OR IS TURNED OFF, LET THE CAR SIT FOR A MINUTE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DEFROST OR HEAT IS USED OR NOT USED ONLY HAPPENS IN THE WINTER WHEN TEMP. FALLS BELOW 40 DEGREES. EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE CAR. IN THE SUMMER AND SPRING IF IT RAINS THE CAR LOSES POWER WHEN THERE IS ANY AMOUNT OF WATER ON THE ROAD, DOES NOT HAVE TO BE STANDING WATER ON THE ROAD NEW FUEL PUMP, STEERING CYLINDER,CLUTCH HAS BEEN CLEANED SEVERAL TIMES, BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOOKED UP TO ALL ELECTRICAL MACHINES AT SEVERAL DEALERS AND NOTHING SHOWS A DEFECT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 2 YEARS AFTER THE CAR HIT 60,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179424January 22, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BY A CERTIFIED GM DEALER. IT SHOULD NOT OF FAILED THE FIRST TIME AND THEN THE NEW ONE ONLY LASTED ABOUT A 2 1/2 - 3 YEARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177874January 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED THREE TIMES SINCE 2003 CAUSING FAILURE OF THE LOW AND HIGH BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS THE TURN SIGNALS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS BEING CAUSED BY EARLY CORROSION. THERE IS NO WARNING OF THE IMPENDING FAILURE. THE LIGHTS IMMEDIATELY GO OUT WITH NO RECOURSE UNTIL SERVICED. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177956January 5, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THIS IS ABOUT A RECALL THAT THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX ON MY 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. YOU LIST THE PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING IN YOUR RECALLS. IT TAKE ALL THE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND CAN TURN TO THE RIGHT WITH ONE FINGER. 02V-286000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177064December 27, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN
TILT STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK INTO PLACE ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY UP AND TO THE LEFT. DANGEROUS FOR STEERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND IN PARTICULAR IF EVASIVE SAFETY MANEUVERS ARE NEEDED. FIXED AT REPAIR SHOP BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE PIVOT UNIT MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A VERY HIGH COST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175169December 5, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VEHICLE: 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK; WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR, THE LIGHTS "FLICKER" AS THE RELAY FIRES, BUT THE LIGHTS DO NOT REMAIN ON, THEN THE "SERVICE" LIGHT COMES ON. ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON, AND IF THEY DO, THE BRIGHT LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. YOU CAN "OVER-RIDE" THE SYSTEM BY PULLING THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK PARTIALLY, WHICH THEN ALLOWS THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLAMP BULBS, AND THE DRL RELAY, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. AS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS, I SAW A WEBSITE CALLED "CARSURVEY.ORG" WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON SUNFIRES AND CAVALIERS (1998 - 2002). MANY OF THESE COMMENTS SAY THAT ACCORDING TO GM DEALERSHIPS, THIS IS A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM, AND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN CORRECTING IT. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS: DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE YOU WILL GET INVOLVED? I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS, BUT I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE. PLEASE HELP!!!!!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174605November 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING CHAIN GUIDES WENT OUT AFTER ONLY 50,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS IS THE THIRD ONE HE'S DONE LIKE THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174404November 27, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEAD LIGHT HIGH BEAM WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172140October 30, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2001. THE '97 SUNFIRE WAS PRETTY RELIABLE VEHICLE, I HAD GOT REPAIRS OCCASIONALLY FOR THIS AND THAT. HOWEVER, I NEVER KNEW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS PAST JUNE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED AND CONSULTING A MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP THE IGNITION WIRES AND IT WOULD COST ME 5-6 HUNDRED TO REPAIR. I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROBLEM AND IF THE RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170068October 6, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS ODI ID NUMBER : 1016866, WHERE AT ANYTIME, ANY SPEED, STOPPED OR MOVING, MY CAR'S ENGINE WILL DROP BELOW THE NORMAL IDLING SPEED AND STALL OUT. IT WILL JUST STOP! THE CAR IS MOVING, BUT THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED! THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES! I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM A COUPLE OF TIMES IN A HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC AREA. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR WRECK, BECAUSE WHEN THE ENGINE IS STOPPED, YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING! THIS CAR IS NOT AN EASY CAR TO MANEUVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I CRANKED THE KEY, THE CAR WOULD START RIGHT UP, BUT AS SOON AS THE CLUTCH HITS THE FLOOR AND GIVES THE ENGINE TIME TO WIND DOWN, IT STALLS AGAIN. THIS ISSUE IS VERY SPORADIC, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PUT A FINGER ON WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL THAT WAY. I DID EMAIL PONTIAC'S CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND HAVE RECEIVED NO REGARD TO MY EMAIL. NO QUESTIONS, NO CONFIRMATION OTHER THAN THE AUTOMATIC REPLY, NO CALLS, NOTHING. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GETTING SHAFTED ON THIS ISSUE AND I DON'T THINK PONTIAC IS TAKING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY! I DON'T THINK THEY REALIZE THE POTENTIAL DANGER THIS ISSUE PROPOSES! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169639September 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. UNDER DASH WIRE HARNESS NEEDS REPLACEMENT. SPEEDOMETER, TACH AND ALL OTHER GAUGES FAILED. ALL SAFETY AND DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS COME ON ... REPUTABLE ELECTRONICS REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND COST TO REPAIR IN EXCESS $2,000. CAR NOT DRIVABLE, NOT ABLE TO SELL, NOT ABLE TO BE REGISTER IN NY STATE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168870September 21, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS AGO, WHEN TURNING LEFT, A POP WAS HEARD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SINCE THAT TIME, THE STEERING HAS BEEN HARDER TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168661September 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE STOPPED AT AN IDLE, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE WAS EASILY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY, AIR FLOW SENSOR, ALTITUDE SENSOR, AND THE FUEL FILTER FITTING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE REPLACEMENTS WERE MADE, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167830September 11, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE DOOR LATCH WAS INOPERATIVE. AFTER THE INITIAL DOOR LATCH REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 01/17/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165266August 11, 2006
SUSPENSION
CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT AND REAR OF CAR WHEN BRAKING DURING TURNING AND ON UNEVEN OR ROUGH ROADS. HAD TO SHOP 4 DAYS AND NO RESULTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162175July 11, 2006
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INDICATOR LIGHT BULB IN THE DASH BOARD MODULE CANNOT BE REPLACED AFTER BURNING OUT. THIS RENDERS THE ODOMETER INOPERATIVE AND UNREADABLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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