Pontiac Sunfire Complaints (2000)

96 consumer complaints on file.

#10116183March 31, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
IIN DECEMBER OF 2004 MY SON WAS IN THE BACKSEAT PUTTING ON HIS SEAT BELT AND AN IT BROKE. SINCE THEN HE HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE MIDDLE. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE SEAT BELT. ON MONDAY THE 21ST OF MARCH I WAS PUTTING MY OTHER SONS CAR SEAT IN THE CAR AND WAS TIGHTNING UP THE BELT AND THAT ONE BROKE TOO. NOW I HAVE NO SEAT BELTS THAT WORK IN MY BACK SEAT. I CANNOT BELEIVE THAT THEY WOULD BREAK THAT EASILY. WHAT IF I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THIS I AM SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BROKE. I HAVE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS TO HAVE THE SEAT BELTS LOOKED AT. I JUST CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY ARE MADE TO BRAKE WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108387February 1, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2000 SUNFIRE AUTOMATIC CAR STOPPED MOVING ON DECEMBER 19, 2004 WITH 64,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP IN VIROQUA, WI ON MON., DEC. 21. THEY TOLD ME ON DEC. 22 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND THE PART WOULD BE IN AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY 2005. I CALLED THEM EVERY WEEK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH. I WAS TOLD "I WAS ON THE TOP OF THE HUNDREDS LIST TO GET THE PART." THEN THE DATE WAS MOVED TO THE END OF JAN. 2005. I CALLED THEM BACK ON FEB. 1, 2005 AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE PART WOULD BE MADE AND THEY HAVE MOVED THE PLACE WHERE THEY MAKE THE PARTS. I HAVE A LOANER CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BUT I WANT MY CAR BACK. IS THERE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN GM VECHILES OR IN THE SUNFIRE CAR DIRECTLY?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106466January 17, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
REPEAT ISSUE ON 12-28-04 - COLD WEATHER, EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS - NO WARNING CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED ON EXPRESSWAY. FINALLY RESTARTED AFTER TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. STALLED AGAIN ON 12-29-04 SAME CONDITIONS - WOULD NOT RESTART - TOWED TO GM DEALERSHIP. FUEL PUMP AND SYSTEM REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106469January 17, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, EQUIPMENT
REPEAT FAILURE: AFTER FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ON 12-29-04, ON 1-14-05 UNDER SAME CONDITIONS - COLD WEATHER - EXPRESSWAY SPEED - THE CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED - WOULD NOT RESTART AND REQUIRED TOW TO DEALERSHIP. ANALYSIS SHOWED THE REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP ALSO BECAME DEFECTIVE. (CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED ON 12-28-04 AND 12-29-04 AND WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WERE THE MODULE WAS REPLACED.) *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103077December 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2000 WILL BE DRIVING THE CARS, IT STALLS OUT, THEN RESTARTS WITHOUT TURNING THE KEY. HAVE TALKED TO THE PONTIAC DEALER. BRINGING IT IN ON 12/20/2004 FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO A COLLAPSED FUEL STRAINER THATWILL CAOST IN THE AREA OF $200 TO REPAIR. ODI ACTION NO. PE02-66 WAS FILED IN 2002, NEEDS TO BE PUSHED FORWARD TO HOLD PONTIAC ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN. SEE (HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_42762.HTML) FOR FURTHER CONFIRMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098036October 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
LAST YEAR I TOOK MY 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE TO THE DEALER DUE TO IT'S LEAKING BREAK FLUID AND LOSS OF BREAKING POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BREAK LINE GOING TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CRACK IN THE LINE WAS DUE TO "OIL'S AND OTHER FLUIDS FROM DRIVING ON THE ROAD CAUSED IT TO CORRODE AND BRAKE. I WAS CHARGED APPROX. $250.00 FOR THEM TO REPLACE IT. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 30,000 MILE WARRANTY. ABOUT A WEEK AGO I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD MY SON WHO IS A MECHANIC, EXAMINE IT SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, (IT NOW HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT.) HE FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE IS NOW BROKEN DUE TO THE WAY THE LINE WAS ROUTED (BY THE FACTORY.) IT IS BROKEN JUST ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT, DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST PART OF THE STRUT MOUNT. IT SEEMS TO MY THAT A CARE WITH SO FEW MILES WHICH HAS BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF PROBLEM TWICE NOW IN ONE YEAR, ON TWO SEPARATE BRAKE LINES. I CHECKED YOUR RECALL LIST AND FOUND NOTHING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND ALL BELIEVE IT TO BE SOME SORT OF FACTORY DEFECT. DUE TO THIS INFORMATION AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, I AM FILING THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH YOU AND THE CA DMV. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS COMPLAINT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION. SINCERELY, INGRID C. TIPTON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091604October 12, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. UPON PARKING NEAR A STOP WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JUMPED ONTO THE SIDEWALK. THE FRONT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WILL COST $4,700. NO POLICE REPORT.*AK *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093379September 30, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMY, I PURCHASED A USED 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN GEORGIA. THE CAR BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS ONLY 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE. LUCKILY, I FORCED THE DEALERSHIP TO PAY FOR A WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE 3 MAJOR REPAIRS WITHIN A 11/2 AFTER THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP, I DISCOVER NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMOBILE, INCLUDING THE RECALL. THIS CAR IS TRULY A LEMON! I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER WITH THIS DEFECTIVE CAR. I OWE OVER 3 TIMES THE VALUE OF THE CAR. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY GOOD CARE AND MAINTENANCE, NO ONE WILL TOUCH THIS CAR BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY OTHER DEFECTS BESIDES THE RECALL (FRONT END SUSPENSION ISSUES, FUEL TANK). I AM A DISABLED VETERAN NOW WITH ONLY A SMALL PENSION TO SUPPORT MYSELF AND TWO CHILDREN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND FIXING THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT GOING TO FIX THIS LEMON. I HAVE PUT OVER $3000 IN REPAIRS ON THIS CAR OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ASIDE FROM THE MONTHLY FINANCED PAYMENTS OF $282 X 3YRS=$10,152 AND I STILL OWE $7800. THE CAR IS ONLY VALUED AT $2150. AND WHEN DEALERS LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS BEHIND THIS CAR, THEY DON'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE ME $2000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095209September 28, 2004
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 62000 MILES. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS DENIED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091503September 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ON ITS ON. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATE. THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED. *JB THERE WAS LEAKING BOILING UNDER THE DASH ON BOTH SIDES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092611September 17, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASHING INTO A TREE, IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED 15 MINUTE AFTERWARD. CONSUMER WAS AIR CARRIES TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH MAJOR INJURIES. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10087555August 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 60 MPH VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. T WHEN DRIVING 30 MILES OR LESS VEHICLE WAS FINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY PUT IT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086280August 5, 2004
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR SO SHE PULLED AND JERKED THE WHEEL. IN DOING SO WHEN THE STEERING UNFROZE HER CAR ROLLED OVER TWICE. CAR WAS TOTALED. WE ADVISED GM, WHO TOLD US THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE. AT THIS TIME THEY ARE ADMITING TO FINDING NO PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10075044June 9, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I OWN A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE - PURCHASED NEW. I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 2003 WHEN MY CAR WOULD DECCELERATE FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, HESITATE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, OR, AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, SIMPLY WOULD NOT ALLOW ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO GO THROUGH BUSY INTERSECTIONS. VERY SCARY. ONE DAY IN 2003 THE CAR WOULD NOT START, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM. HE REPLACED MY FUEL PUMP BUT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I PAID FOR THIS REPAIR ALONG WITH THE TOW. IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR AGAIN. WHAT IS GOING ON? I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND, IF THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AGAIN SO SOON. SECOND ISSUE - EARLY IN 2004 I NOTICED THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF WITH NO CONSISTENCY. I CHECKED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND IT WAS LOW. I ADDED THE PROPER COOLANT MIXTURE BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE LIGHT TO COME ON AND OFF AGAIN - WITH NO CONSISTENCY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO RESET SOMETHING RELATING TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. NOW, IT IS ALWAYS ON. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON. I OWE ONE MORE YEAR ON THIS VEHICLE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE HESITATION AND STALLING OF THE CAR AT ANYTIME. THERE IS NO WARNING - IT JUST HAPPENS. THIS IS A DISASTER WAITING TO OCCUR. MY CHILDREN RIDE IN AND DRIVE THIS CAR. I DON'T NEED THIS WORRY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. ONE MORE THING, ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED TO THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. IT ONLY WORKS IF YOU HAVE THE FAN ON THE 3RD OR 4TH MARK. IF YOU PUT IT ON THE 1ST OR 2ND MARK, IT WILL WORK (BUT NOT TO CAPACITY) ONLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. IF YOU STOP, IT STOPS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075833June 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE BROKE DOWN, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. *MR THE ENGINE MELTED HOSES AND OTHER PARTS DUE TO THE GASKET BLOWING OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DASHBOARD FAILED TO SIGNAL THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073941May 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
PROBLEMS WITH 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE ENGINE. *MR THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK SOMETIMES BUT NOT START. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO CRANK AND STALLED IN THE PROCESS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE STARTER HAD GONE OUT, MAYBE THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, OR THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDER RING WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A BURNT COOLANT SMELL AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET RUPTURED LEAKING OIL. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071984May 3, 2004
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO TURN LEFT/RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043852October 29, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT
CAR STOPS ACCELERATING WHILE DRIVING THEN DIES. BEEN GOING ON SINCE AUGUST AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. GENERATING NUMEROUS COMMUNICATION ERRORS. HAD THE COMPUTER REPLACED THOUGHT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS 8/5/03 AND IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK WITH NO RESOLUTION. IT RAN FOR A COUPLE MORE DAYS THEN DID IT AGAIN THE FOLLOWING WEEK AROUND 8/11/03. THIS WENT ON THROUGH AUGUST IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP AT WHICH TIME I RENTED A CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE AND BEING BROKEN DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WAS GETTING TO BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED ON 10/22/03 AND IT DIED WHEN I DROVE OFF. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES DUE TO NOT STARTING RIGHT BACK UP AND BEING STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK AS OF TODAY 10/29/03 AND DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT IT IS THE OXYGEN SENSORS BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE THE WORK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039590September 26, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE EXPERIENCING FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONS AT VEHICLE AGE OF 3.5 YRS. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO MULIPLE MECHANICS, ALL OF WHOM SUGGEST PUMP MALFUNCTION AND RECCOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND RELAY VALVE. MANUFACTURER WARRANTY OF 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES HAS EXPIRED FOR THIS VEHICLE. CAR INITIALLY TAKEN INTO PONTIAC DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION. ENGINE WOULD TURN BUT NOT FIRE RESULTING IN NO IGNITION. CAR OWNER PAID FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND RELAY VALVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038403September 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE DRIVER LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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