Pontiac Sunfire Complaints (2001)

66 consumer complaints on file.

#10979465April 20, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AND, AT TIMES, UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10944208January 10, 2017
STEERING, SUSPENSION
IN PART DUE TO CORROSION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, IT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN STRUCTURAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE TO MY VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS WHEN CORNERING AN HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BY A GM DEALERSHIP AND THE SECOND TIME A FEW YEARS LATER THIS OCCURRED AGAIN AND IT WAS WHEN I HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY TO AVOID A CAR RUNNING A RED LIGHT. THIS WAS THE SAME PART THAT FAILED EACH TIME AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVEABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661403December 1, 2014
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCHED OFF INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED A FOUR VEHICLE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652659November 5, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ENGINE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640748October 2, 2014
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND THE TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627127August 21, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CONTACTED A LOCAL AUTO DEALER, CUTTER PONTIAC (WAIPAHU, HAWAII - LEVY, SERVICE AGENT, PH# 808-564-9520) AND INQUIRED ABOUT MY VEHICLES POSTED 3 RECALL ISSUES; IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, & STEERING WHEEL. I EVEN EMAILED AN OFFICIAL LIST OF MY VEHICLE'S RECALL ISSUES I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING, AFTER LEVY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW MY EMAIL,WITH MY RECALL LIST: 1. IGNITION - I WAS TOLD THAT MY CONCERN HAD PAST THE ORIGINAL DATE OF RECALL, 2004 ???, SO DEALER IS UNABLE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE 2. FUEL SYSTEM - I NOTED THAT I SMELLED FUEL BACK A FEW WEEKS PRIOR, I WOULD NEED TO BRING MY VEHICLE DOWN AND THEY WOULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD CHARGE ME FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. 3. STEERING WHEEL - AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NEED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, BUT STILL CHARGE ME. I INFORMED THAT MY VIN, DID NOT SHOW UP ON THEIR COMPUTER LIST I INITIALLY MADE AN A SERVICE APPOINTMENT, BUT CANCELLED ...... AS I WAS NOT PREPARED TO PAY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS TO CONFIRM MY VEHICLE'S RECALL ISSUES. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515617June 7, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY FRONT BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY?! ONLY REAR, EMERGENCY BRAKE AND L FRONT? HAD R FRONT CALIPER COMPLETELY REMOVED AND REPLACED, YET PROBLEM STILL EXISTED?! WAS TOLD SOMETHING COULD BE WRONG WITH GM'S ANTI LOCK BRAKE UNIT INSTALLED INTO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER? COST WAS GOING TO BE AROUND $800.00 TO REPLACE UNIT THAT, ON MY VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458915May 18, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000. UPDATED 06/20/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL INJECTION WAS NOT REPLACED. HER HUSBAND REPLACED THE FUSES. UPDATED 06/22/12 UPDATED 8/20/12 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE USED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL. UPDATED 08/23/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393215March 22, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I TOO HAVE A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SE 2.2 AUTO WITH ABOUT 58,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MARCH OF 2002 WITH ONLY 14,937 MILES ON IT. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR TILL NOVEMBER 2004 AT 44,874 MILES, WHEN AN 8 POINT BUCK RAN INTO THE LEFT SIDE FRONT FENDER AND DAMAGED IT, THE HOOD, WINDSHIELD, DRIVER'S DOOR, ROOF, AND BACK DOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, THEN SAT OUTSIDE FOR ABOUT 4 1/2 YEARS. HAD TO INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP AND BATTERY, THEN I STARTED DRIVING IT AGAIN EVERY DAY IN NOVEMBER 2009. NOW I HAVE NO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS, LIGHTS ARE GOOD. ALSO, WHEN I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FLASH REAL FAST ABOUT 7 OR 8 TIMES, THEN GO OUT, AND THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT IF I TURN ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FIRST, IT IS FINE! SERVICE LIGHT GOES OUT AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, UNTIL PUT BACK INTO GEAR WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OFF! I HAVE REPLACED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS RELAY WITH A NEW ONE, BUT IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING, AND IF I LEAVE THE RELAY OUT, THEN WHEN I TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS, ONE IS NORMAL AND THE OTHER IS REAL DIM!! THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A PROBLEM STEMMING FROM THE DEER DAMAGE AND REPAIRS, BUT I SEE FROM ALL OF THE OTHER COMMENTS ON HERE FROM THE PAST 9 OR 10 YEARS OR SO, THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. WOULD THIS BE THE TURN SIGNAL/DIMMER SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS?? ANY IDEAS?? THANK YOU!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261665March 12, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE RUNNING LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. THEY WILL FLICKER WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO GEAR AND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE SERVICE (WRENCH) LIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE RUNNING LIGHTS FAILING. I BEGAN USING THE HIGHBEAMS ONLY (UNTIL I COULD FIGURE OUT THE RUNNING LIGHT) AND THEY WILL NOT WORK NOW. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL STILL FLASH WHEN THE LOCK BUTTON IS USED ON THE KEY REMOTE. I HAVE GOTTEN PULLED OVER FOR MY HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING BECAUSE MY HIGHBEAMS FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS AND HAVE BEEN READING INTERNET DISCUSSION BOARDS OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. MANY ARE SAYING THAT GM KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO RECALL THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252696December 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WE HAVE A 2001 SUNFIRE THAT HAS HORN PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES THE HORN WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. WE HAVE TAKEN IT BY DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. WE HAD A 1998 SUNFIRE THAT DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF THE HORN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237233August 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY CAR IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236843August 4, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES, SIZE P195/65R15. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND CAUSED THE SIDE SKIRT ON THE VEHICLE TO FALL OFF. THE TIRE FAILURE ALSO DAMAGED THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WELL. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NO PRIOR WARNING. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218935February 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES (3) FOR MULTIPLE FRONT END LIGHTING SYSTEM FAILURES OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS. FAILURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LINKED TO ISSUES WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187713April 12, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE SLIPPED ON ICE GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AN HOUR, HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. EXTREME DAMAGE, DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA ON THE RIGHT SIDE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE COLLAPSING. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
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
#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
#10151319February 27, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGES. THE ABS NORMALLY ENGAGED WHEN GOING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOES, PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE ABS ENGAGING. UPDATED 04/17/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148196January 20, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE NOT CORRECT IN AMOUNT OF FUEL LEFT IN TANK. TWICE IN THE YEAR 2005, CAR STOPPED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE ONLY PROBLEM FOUND WAS THAT IT WAS OUT OF GAS AND THE GAUGE WAS NOT SHOWING THIS. WAS ADVISED BY TECHNICIAN TO NEVER LET THE GAUGE GO BELOW 1/4 FULL. HE SAID HE HAD WITNESSED THIS IN OTHER PONTIAC SUNFIRES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143668November 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR HAS MADE A TICKING NOISE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE, FOR ME NOT TO WORRY. 63,000 MILES LATER, I DO NOT HAVE A CAR ANYMORE, THE ENGINE BLEW UP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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