Pontiac Sunfire Complaints (2002)

82 consumer complaints on file.

#10249575November 22, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON NOVEMBER 12, 2008 I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THAT I HAD PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 28, 2008. AS THE CAR AHEAD OF ME BEGAN TO BRAKE I BEGAN TO BRAKE AS WELL. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGHT THE BRAKES "GRABBED" CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE A BROKEN FOOT CAUSED FROM PUSHING ON THE BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10248389November 10, 2008
VISIBILITY
PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR WORKING SLOWLY. UPON REPLACING THE BAD MOTOR I NOTICED THERE WAS NO ASSIST SPRING ON THE WINDOW LIFTING ASSEMBLY ON EITHER DOOR. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SPOT FOR ONE ON BOTH ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES THAT I HAD WORKED ON IN THE PAST INCLUDED THESE SPRINGS. I HAD THOUGHT THAT THE ASSIST SPRINGS WERE THERE TO HELP THE MOTOR IN LIFTING THE WINDOW. ESPECIALLY IN A TWO DOOR WITH LARGER WINDOWS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245759October 17, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
MY WINDOW MOTORS STARTED GOING OUT OR LOSING POWER THE SHOP COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM THE FINALLY STOPPED WORKING IN OCT OF 2007 A FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND HER DID THE SAME THING AFTER REPLACING THE MOTORS IN THE WINDOWS 8 MONTHS LATER ONE OF THE MOTORS STARTED ACTING THE SAME WAY AGAIN MY FRIEND HAD TO REPLACE HER S ALSO IS THERE A DEFECT WITH THE MOTORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239499August 24, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 270-STATE ROUTE 3, AND WAS DRIVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC! WENT TO CHANGE LANES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT! STARTED MERGING INTO MY CHANGING LANE WHEN I NOTICED A CAR SPEEDING INTO MY CHANGING LANE! I PULLED BACK INTO MY PREVIOUS LANE QUICKLY SO AS NOT TOO BE HIT. SOON AFTER MY CAR STARTED TOO SPIN. DID A 360 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WENT INTO THE DIVIDING CEMENT WALL, HIT THAT AND DID ANOTHER 360 ON TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FREEWAY! AFTER CHECKING OUT MY TIRES I NOTICED A FLAT TIRE ON MY FRONT LEFT! LATER IN THE NIGHT NOTICED A ROUND INDENT IN THE SIDEWAY OF THE TIRE BUT LOOKED LIKE A BRAND NEW TIRE! I'VE HAD THESE TIRES A LITTLE MORE THEN A MONTH AND THEY WERE BALANCED AND HAD BEEN PUT ON STRAIGHT FROM THE TIRE DISCOUNT S STORE! THESE ARE YOKOHAMA, YK520 TIRES!! ONLY PUT A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES, NEVER DAMAGED THE TIRES AND NEVER TOUCHED THEM!! NOW MY CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND SOME DAMAGE TOO THE ENGINE! I VERY UN-HAPPY AND WILL BE TAKING THIS TO COURT WITH MY LAWYER!!! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10232102June 23, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
PURCHASED 4 TIRES ON 1/24/2007 FROM SEARS ROEBUCK ON CONCORD PIKE WILMINGTON DELAWARE AND HAD 4 VALVE STEMS REPLACED AT THAT TIME, ON JUNE 11TH 2008 AFTER GOING ONLY 8,000 MILES ON THE TIRES WE HAD THE TIRE GO FLAT FROM A DEFECTIVE VALVE STEM. TODAY WE HAD ANOTHER FLAT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY FROM ANOTHER DEFECTIVE VALVE STEM. IN CHECKING THE REMAINING TWO TIRES THEY ALSO HAVE A SERIOUS CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION. I FEEL THIS IS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT TO HAVE ALL 4 VALVE STEMS GO BAD AFTER 1 YEAR AND IN THE SAME LOCATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225211April 21, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. OCCASIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL NOT RELEASE ONCE IT IS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE INITIALLY OCCURRED EVERY THREE WEEKS, BUT NOW OCCURS ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,221 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225180April 20, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WENT TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY GREASED THE THROTTLE CABLE NO BINDS ANYWHERE. THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKS. IT'S A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF YOU PUSH THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN AND STOMP ON THE THROTTLE PEDAL IT RELEASE IT AND GOES BACK TO NORMAL. IT IS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213239December 31, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK AND DESTROYED THE REAR BUMPER OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10210359November 30, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AS THE CONTACT PLACED HER CHILD IN THE REAR CHILD SEAT. WHEN SHE PUSHED THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210434November 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE AUGUST OF 2002, AND HAVE ONLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER. IT WOULD WORK WHEN IT WANTED TO. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUSE, THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I FIGURED THAT IT WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING, BUT IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO LET A MECHANIC GO PROBING AROUND MY CAR TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. ON 11/28/07 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ONLY A FEW MILES, UPON STARTING THE CAR - SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF MY VENTS AND THE GAS GAUGE (WHICH THE TANK WAS FULL) STARTED DROPPING DOWN TO 'E'. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THAT THE TWO THINGS ARE UNRELATED. EXACT QUOTE FROM INVOICE ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE "BURNT SMELL ELECTRICAL, FOUND HARNESS TO REAR DEFOGGER ON LEFT LOWER KICK PANEL MELTED REPLACED CONNECTOR WITH BUTT CONNECTORS". I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE GAS GAUGE AND THAT IT HAPPENED AT THE EXACT SAME TIME THAT THE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENT, AND THE INVOICE ABOUT THAT SAYS "NEEDS SENDING UNIT IN TANK ORDERED PARTS 200 PARTS 240 LABOR". MAKING THE PRICE COME TO AROUND 440.00 TO FIX THE GAS GAUGE! I CALLED AROUND AND FOUND A MECHANIC THAT CHARGED ME $300.00, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE SENDING UNIT WASN'T DEFECTIVE! WHEN THE HARNESS TO THE REAR DEFOGGER MELTED - IT MELTED OUT THE CLUSTER FOR THE FUEL GAUGE. I SPENT $300.00 FOR NOTHING, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207075October 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE BRAND NEW IN 2001 THINKING I COULD SAVE MONEY ON GAS..AT AROUND 20,000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND MESSED UP THE WHOLE ENGINE. THE ENGINE IS A NO TOLERANCE ENGINE AND WHEN ONE THING BREAKS IT MESSES UP EVERYTHING. SERVICE FIXED THE TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I RETURNED REGULARLY TO THE DEALERSHIP STATING I COULD HEAR A NOISE, AND BEING A WOMAN WAS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I EVEN SENT THE VEHICLE HOME WITH THE SERVICE REP FOR THE WEEK-END AND WAS TOLD HE COULDN'T HEAR A THING. AS IT TURNS OUT AT THIS TIME 62,000 MILES THE ENGINE BLEW AT 55 MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF A US HWY ON THE WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP MY GRANDSON. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN AT MY HOME AND IS NOW DEAD...NOT RUNNING...BROKEN..GUESS I KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AFTER ALL..EVEN IF I AM FEMALE. THANKS GM FOR MAKING SUCH QUALITY PRODUCTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197088July 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND I CONSTANTLY HAVE TROUBLE STARTING IT AND THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY. AFTER I PLAY WITH THE WIRING FOR A BIT IT EVENTUALLY STARTS YET WHEN I'M DRIVING IT IT STALLS OUT AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY CAR HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS BECAUSE IT JOLTS AS I SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN. AND SOMETIMES IT JOLTS WHEN I'M NOT ACCELERATING NOR DECREASING SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MID 2006. AND AFTER RESEARCHING IT I FOUND THAT THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR VARIOUS REASONS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196786July 19, 2007
AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND I WAS IN A CAR/COW ACCIDENT IN MAY 0F 06 I WAS GOING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH WE HIT HEAD ON AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOW WHAT'S UP WITH THAT??? THANK GOD NOW ONE WAS HURT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187412April 9, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
CHECKED OUT THIS SITE BEFORE I DECIDED TO POST THIS AND SAW SOMEONE ELSE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, AND FRANKLY, I REALLY THOUGHT I WOULD FIND MORE PEOPLE WITH THE COMPLAINT. I BOUGHT THE 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH 22000 MILES ON IT. UPON PURCHASE I NOTICED THAT OUT OF THE 5 SETTINGS FOR THE BLOWERS THE FIRST ONE DIDN'T WORK. HONESTLY, I DIDN'T CARE THAT MUCH AT THAT POINT- ALL THE OTHERS WORKED, SO NO BIGGIE. THROUGH OUT THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SLOWLY ONE BY ONE ALL THE OTHERS STOPPED WORKING TOO, EXCEPT THE HIGHEST BLOWER. BASICALLY, I WAS EITHER ON HIGH OR NOT ONE AT ALL. STILL, AT THIS POINT, I COULD NOT COMPLAIN THAT MUCH. BUT WHEN I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO BOTH MY MOTHER AND A FRIEND THEY BOTH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY MOM'S CAR, A GRAND AM, WAS DOWN TO 3 SETTINGS, AND MY FRIENDS VEHICLE, A PONTIAC, WAS ON THE LAST SETTING TOO. WHEN THIS WINTER BEGAN I FIGURED I SHOULD BREAK DOWN AND GET IT LOOKED AT. THE NICE MAN AT THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME IT WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD CHUNK OF CHANGE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THOUGH HE OPTED AGAINST TELLING ME WHAT EXACALLY THE PROBLEM IS, AND I NEGLECTED TO ASK. BUT AFTER HEARING OTHER COMPLAINS I STARTED TO WONDER IF IT WAS A PONTIAC THING. AND THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED A 'SAFTY' ISSUE, IF NOT FIXED IT PROBABLY COULD BECOME ONE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
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
#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
#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
#10153888March 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THERE IS A FLUTTERING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THE NOISE CEASES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ROTATED THE TIRES, ALIGNED THE FRONT END, CHANGED THE OIL, FLUSHED THE ENGINE, AND REPAIRED THE REAR ROTORS IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE NOISE. HOWEVER, THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THESE REPAIRS HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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