Pontiac Sunfire Complaints

1,141 consumer complaints on file.

#10140362October 20, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED THEN IT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE ONLY VEHICLE IN MOTION WAS THREE CARS BACK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE IMPOUND LOT BY THE POLICE. NO ONE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN THE MOUTH AND CHEST AND SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION, FACIAL BRUISING, CHEST PAINS, HEADACHE, AND DIZZINESS. *AK (12/08/05) THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *SC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10138782October 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ODOMETER DISPLAY IS VISIBLE WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR. AS SOON AS YOU BEGIN TO DRIVE, THE ODOMETER READING BEGINS TO FLICKER. DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE GIVING AN ACCURATE READING EITHER. SHOP STATED THAT NEW DASH ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT ISSUE SINCE ACCESS TO WIRING WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133509August 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR PUMP (A/C PUMP) COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE (1999) OEM LOWER RADIATOR HOSE (HOSE), DENTING THE HOSE AND WEARING A HOLE IN THE HOSE OVER TIME. THIS CONDITION IS WORSE WHEN FRONT STRUTS AND/OR ENGINE MOUNTS BECOME WORN. INITIAL LEAK OF COOLENT IS ONLY DETECTABLE BY LOW FLUID LEVEL OVER EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (APPORXIMATELY 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR): NO WETNESS ON THE HOSE OR POOLING OF COOLENT FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE IS DETECTABLE PRIOR TO A LARGER HOLE BEING WORN INTO THE HOSE. PRIOR TO LARGER HOLE BEING WORN INTO HOSE, COOLENT LOSS IS IN VAPOR FORM, BUT NOT IN A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT TO BE SEEN. ONCE THE HOLE IN THE HOSE BECOMES LARGE ENOUGH TO BE DETECTED BY FLUID POOLING UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE COOLENT FLUID WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND CAUSE FAILURE OF THE PCM. THE PCM CONTROLS MAJOR ENGINE AND BRAKING FUNCTIONS. A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PCM WILL CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL (VIA ABS) AND SHUT DOWN OF ENGINE (CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL). THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING A ELECTRIC SHORT IN THE 12 VOLT CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A FIRE. PLEASE NOTE THAT "AFTER MARKET" MANUFACTURERS REPLACEMENT HOSE IS REDESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN A/C PUMP AND THE HOSE. AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE OEM HOSE HAS BEEN REDESIGN TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE A/C PUMP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129872August 19, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DT: THE DOORS OPENED BY THEMSELVES WHEN GOING AROUND THE CORNER. THREE OUT OF FOUR OF THE DOORS DO THIS. IF THE CONSUMER SLAMMED THE DOORS THEY WOULD LATCH PROPERLY. IT'S THE DOOR HANDLE ITSELF. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS THE SPRING. *JB *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133204August 17, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
DT: THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THE HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM, ONLY A DIM BULB. HAS BEEN TO A DEALER AND TRIED OTHER HEADLAMPS, BUT THESE WERE NOT ANY BETTER WITH THE VISIBILITY. CONTACTED GM, AND GM STATED THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED, AND THEY WOULD NOT REDESIGN THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS STILL A PROBLEM, NO CORRECTIONS DONE. GM SUGGESTED TO PUT IN A BRIGHTER BULB, BUT GM SAID THIS WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133099August 16, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY CAR IS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, AND TWICE WITHIN 12 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS QUIT WORKING , THE 1ST TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BAD WIRE AND REPLACED IT, WITHIN ONE YEAR IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PART WAS ONLY WARRANTED FOR 1YR OR 12,000 MILES OF WHICH THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER THE 12,000 MILES,THEREFORE I AM HAVING TO PAY AGAIN (TWICE IN ONE YEAR ) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132798August 14, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
I SMELLED GAS AND LOSS OF FUEL. GAS LEAKING OUT FROM INJECTOR ONTO HOT ENGINE COULD CAUSE FIRE. HAD PART REPLACED- FUEL INJECTORS #2 AND 3. NOW ANOTHER IS LEAKING. HAVE TO TAKE IT IN, BUT MONEY IS AN OBJECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133415August 12, 2005
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
PONTIAC SUNFIRE DEVELOPED A START UP PROBLEM.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A DEVICE BELIEVED TO BE INSTALLED DURING THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM RECALL. THEY SAID IT'S A POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE RECALL WORK AND A WIRE LEFT LOOSELY ATTACHED TO THE DEVICE, THAT WHEN CONTACT IS BROKEN, PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE PART REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE VEHICLE WARRANTY CLAIMING THAT THE DEVICE WAS A NON-PONTIAC PART. THE CONSUMER IS ADAMANT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NO ADJUSTMENTS OTHER THAN REGULAR MAINTENANCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132127August 9, 2005
AIR BAGS
I WAS ON ROUTE 65 IN NORTH SEWICKELY IN PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS STOPPED DUE TO ANOTHER DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. A CAR CAME FROM BEHIND HITTING ME AND I WAS PROPELLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHICH HIT THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FROM THE HEAD ON COLLISION. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE BRUISES AND SPRAINED NECK AND SHOULDER. I HAVE PAIN TO MY ABDOMEN DUE TO THE SEAT BELT, I HAD ON. NOTHING, MY CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. I HAVE A CALL INTO GM BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR WHICH THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER ONE WAS A FEW MONTHS OF BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2000. WHEN A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF ME ON INTERSTATE 19. SMASHING THE FRONT END THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THEN EITHER. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN THE DEER HIT ME. I HAD ON MY SAFETY BELT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10131370August 3, 2005
AIR BAGS
2001 PONTIAC - AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSES TOTAL WRECK JUNE 28, 2005, CA. 1130 - ON A RIGHT-ANGLE TURN AT LESS THAN 5 MPH INTO A NARROW LANE IN A PARKING AREA AT CONROE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER , CONROE, TX, AT ABOUT 1130 JUNE 28, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL OF MY 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WENT UP ONTO A 3-TO-4-INCH-HIGH CONCRETE MEDIAN. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STEER OFF THE MEDIAN, THE RESULTING SLIGHT DROP CAUSED MY AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THIS DEPLOYMENT CAUSED BRUISES ON BOTH FOREARMS, BRUISED MY LOWER RIGHT RIBCAGE AND FORCED BOTH HANDS BACK OFF THE WHEEL, PREVENTING ME FROM STEERING THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, THE DEPLOYMENT FORCED MY LEGS AWAY FROM THE FOOT CONTROLS. THE DEPLOYING AIRBAG KNOCKED MY SPECTACLES UP ONTO MY FOREHEAD, THE LEFT TEMPLE CAUSING A SMALL CUT AND BENDING THE SPECTACLES SO THEY COULD NOT BE WORN AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED LATER. AS A RESULT OF THIS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT I WAS TOTALLY UNABLE TO CONTROL DIRECTION OR SPEED. THE CAR LUNGED AT ABOUT A 30-DEGREE ANGLE TO THE RIGHT FOR A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 12 FEET AND SMASHED INTO A PILLAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUSTAIN SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, SMASHING THE BUMPER AND THE RADIATOR AND CRACKING THE RIGHT PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. PERSONNEL FROM THE HOSPITAL, THE CONROE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE LOCAL EMS WERE ON THE SCENE IMMEDIATELY. THE CONROE POLICE ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER 05064218 TO THE ACCIDENT. I AM APPALLED TO THINK THAT THIS SAME ACCIDENT WHICH DESTROYED MY VEHICLE AND HURT ME WITHIN A FEW FEET AT EXTREMELY LOW SPEED MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED AT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAD THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYED THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE PROPERLY. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VERY COSTLY IN TERMS OF VEHICLE REPLACEMENT AND PERSONAL PAIN. OBVIOUSLY, MORE THOUGHT HAS TO BE GIVEN TO THE SUBJECT OF AIRBAGS AND SAFETY. A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL MENTALITY DOES NOT WORK. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10129653July 22, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE FAILURE IS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. .. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK FINE, BUT AT NIGHT, WHEN I TWIST THE LEVER TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON, ONLY MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY HEADLIGHTS REMAIN AT ABOUT 1/2 BRIGHTNESS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR STAYS ON. (IN OTHERWORDS, NO CHANGE IN THE BEAMS...) BUT THEN WHEN I EVER SO SLIGHTLY PULL THE LEVER BACK TO GO TO FLASH MY HEADLIGHTS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR DISAPPEARS AND MY HEADLIGHTS BRIGHTEN TO "NORMAL, NIGHTTIME BRIGHTNESS, THEN IF I PULL LEVER BACK TOWARDS ME EVEN FARTHER, THE HIGHBEAMS COME ON)... BUT THE PROBLEM IS... THE LEVER WON'T STAY ON EITHER NIGHTTIME OR HIGH BEAM MODES AT ALL. ONCE I LET GO OF THE LEVER IT RETURNS TO DAYTIME RUNNINGLIGHTS, EVEN WITH THE LEVER TWISTED ALL THE WAY TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON.... I STILL ONLY GET THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL)... . ON OCCASION THE HEADLIGHTS WORK OK TO BEGIN WITH, BUT AS I AM DRIVING THE "NORMAL" LIGHTS CLICK BACK OFF AND ITS ONLY THE DRL THAT ARE ON. ITS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE NIGHTIME TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT ON WHEN THE DRL ARE ONLY ON. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 97 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER DRL/ AND HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE NOT YET CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, AND I HAVE RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET AND OTHERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126734July 15, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LOCKS AND HAS TO BE UNBUCKELED- RECOILED- AND RELATCHED, THUS LEAVING THE PASSENGER UNPROTECTED. THE DEALER STATES THE BELT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. I FEEL THIS IS AN USATISFACTORY AND DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEATBELT MECHANISM AND FURNISHED THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER, HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT STILL LOCKS AND HAS TO BE REMOVED AND REBUCKELED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LEAVING THE PASSENGER UNPROTECTED. *TT *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128693July 14, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHICH CAUSED ME TO HIT A POLE. MY SEATBELTS UNLACHED DURING IMPACT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128659July 13, 2005
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO STRIKE A UTILITY POLE. THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED, IT UNLATCHED DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10106898July 8, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN
A CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TWICE, AND RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE GREASED, OTHERWISE THE CONSUMER COULD LOSE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE NOISE WAS THE SOUND OF METAL ON METAL. GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126029June 21, 2005
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
DT: THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FELL APART, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE .TRIED TO GET IT TO STRAIGTEN OUT., IT WAS LIKE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T DO WHAT CONSUMER, WANTED IT TO DO AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE,. BUT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE WINDSHIELD BUSTED, HIT A MAILBOX ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER DOOR. COULD SEE BLACK MARK LIKE IT WAS CLIPPED, AND NOT DENTED. FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, IT JUST BUCKLED. SMELLED SOMETHING THAT SEEMED LIKE SMOKE, BUT DIDN'T SEE IT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10127927June 20, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DEC 19, 2001 THE RACK AND PINION IN THE CONSUMER'S 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE FAILED. *NM THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A RECALL IN THE MAIL AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT WHICH WAS APPROVED. IN MARCH THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILED AGAIN TO THE POINT THE GEAR WAS STRIPPED AND THE HOUSING WAS CRACKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125451June 16, 2005
AIR BAGS
CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR/DEER ACCIDENT. SPEED WAS APROX. 40 MPH. HIT ON RIGHT FRONT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124992June 11, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS BOTH DASH AND EXTERIOR WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, NO LUCK. WAITED FOR 30 MINUTES AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT STARTED UP, BUT WHEN I GOT UP TO 40MPH, IT REPEATED WHAT IT DID BEFORE, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED ANOTHER 15 MINUTES AND IT STARTED AGAIN, AND IT DID IT AGAIN. AGAIN I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED, THEN IT STARTED, AND I FINALLY GOT IT TO AN EXIT OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD ONLY RUN AT 25MPH, ANYTHING ABOVE THAT IT WOULD REPEAT THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS ABOVE. THE NEXT DAY AFTER LEAVING THE CAR SIT OVERNIGHT, IT STARTED JUST FINE, RAN JUST FINE, EXCEPT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY RESET THE COMPUTER, THE CODE READ THAT IT WAS RUNNING TO LEAN, THEY CHECKED, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE CAR WILL NOT RUN ABOVE 70MPH, THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE ONLY REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE, WERE THE RECALLS ALREADY ON FILE FOR THIS VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124442June 7, 2005
EQUIPMENT
THE ACCELERATOR STICKS OR "FLUTTERS".
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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