Pontiac Sunfire Complaints (1997)

190 consumer complaints on file.

#10149526February 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE FAILED TO START. TURNED IGNITION OFF REMOVED KEY, CAR STEERING COLUMN BURST INTO FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118824May 2, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 5 MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10116848April 13, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
AS OF 2 DAYS AGO(4-11-05) SOMEONE CAME TO LOOK AT MY CAR,FOR POSSIBLE PURCHASE, AND TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, UPON RETURNING SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T GET THE DRIVERS WINDOW TO ROLL UP. HAVING POWER WINDOWS, I CHECKED THE FUSE, THE PASSENGER WINDOW GOES UP AND DOWN JUST FINE, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE ROLLS UP IN SPURTS, I HIT THE BUTTON, IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING UP JUST FINE, AND JUST STOPS. I TALKED TO ANOTHER OWNER OF A SUNFIRE, AND HE SAID THAT HE KNEW OF A BIG COMPLAINT ABOUT THE POWER WINDOW PULLING TOO MUCH POWER AND BASICALLY WEARING THE MOTOR OUT. THAT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT I HAVE NOTICED. I WENT AHEAD AND CHANGED THE FUSE JUST IN CASE AND CHECKED THE WIRING FOR ANY SURGES, NOTICED NOTHING FURTHER, BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEM W/WINDOW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113564March 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE DAYTIME RUNNING HEAD LIGHT WERE INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CORROSION BUILD UP AROUND THE WIRING HARNESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108351February 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TRIED TO START THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULD'T, WHICH WAS REALLY ODD CONSIDERING MY CAR HASN'T GIVEN ME ANY REAL TROUBLE. I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND IT TRIED TO START WITHOUT THE KEY. I WENT IN THE HOUSE TO CALL A RIDE TO WORK AND HEARD THE RADIO GOING. I LOOKED OUT TO SEE WHO IT WAS AND SAW A FIRE GOING IN MY CAR. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. AFTERWARDS, THEY SAID THAT MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED INTO THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE FIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107755January 23, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. ONLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK ON THE CAR. NOW RECENTLY, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. SO THEN I HAVE NO LIGHTS. I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I TURN THE SWITCH A LITTLE HARDER AND THE LIGHTS COME ON. BUT, ONCE I LET GO. THEY GO BACK TO DRL'S. MY BRIGHTS DO NOT WORK AS WELL. TO HAVE MORE THAN DRL'S. I HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THEM FOR HOLD THE SWITCH BACK TO HAVE REGULAR LIGHTS AND BRIGHTS. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND FAMILY AND TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD IF MY LIGHTS GO OUT AND SOMEONE ENDS UP HITTING ME. ESPECIALLY SINCE MY CAR IS BLACK ALSO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103380December 8, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102187December 5, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT PARK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WILL ONLY PARK CORRECTLY IF THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN RUNNING AT FULL SPEED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST TWO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD SWITH TWICE BECAUSE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON (DAY OR NIGHT) INSTEAD OF THE NIGHT TIME DRIVING LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT PARKING CORRECTLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097139October 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE OIL FILTER HAD A HOLE IN IT WHICH CAUSED THE OIL LEAK. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097336October 18, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RECALL ON PINION BEARING IN 1997 SUNFIRE. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB RECALL# 02V286000
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081248July 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAD HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED COMPLETELY, THEN THE HORN FAILED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS...IT COST ME $1500.00 TO HAVE MY WIRING REDONE AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL DIM. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS COMING ON FOR CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY AND AIRBAG. I TOOK IT TO 2 DEALERS AND NOTHING WITH THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080590July 8, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
HEADLIGHTS ONLY WORK ON HIGH BEAM WITH REDUCED LIGHT, POSSIBLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BRIGHTNESS. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATES THEY ARE WORKING. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE FUSES APPEAR TO BE OKAY. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079806June 23, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONSUMER WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL COLLISIONS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10074207May 25, 2004
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHEN THE A/C WAS ON, THE CONSUMER SMELLED STRONG FUMES COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063258March 16, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053962March 3, 2004
STEERING
VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. INITIALLY THE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURE WANTED THE DEALER TO RECHECK THE VEHICLE AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER CHANGED THEIR MIND AND SAID THAT THE TIE ROD WAS THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS TO GET OUT OF PERFORMING THE RECALL FOR FREE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051926February 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER ,AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058359February 17, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, EQUIPMENT
THE HEAD LIGHT/SIGNAL SWITCH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE HEAD LIGHTS WONT COME ON OR GO OFF WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056448February 3, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, PARKING BRAKE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE VEHICLE ARE SO DIM, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE I AM DRIVING WITH FLASHLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT SUNLAND PONTIAC DEALERSHIP, EL PASO, TX THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOLD THEM THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO DIM ON MY VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM I WANTED NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH BRIGHTER BULBS OR HIGHER WATTAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY NEW HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINED BRIGHTER BULB, OR HIGHER WATTAGE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. I COMPLAINED EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENACE. INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE DATE. THEY WILL HAVE IT ON RECORD. ALSO, I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN. IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN TO START THE CAR. YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT IN A CERTAIN POSITION FOR IT TO START, SOMETIMES IT WILL STAR, AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 1997. I FILLED OUT A FORM AND SENT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GMAC ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING AND THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINTS. I CAN E-MAIL YOU A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FORM I SENT TO THEM. THE MOST DISTURBING DEFECT ABOUT THE CAR IS THAT YOU CAN SEE THE LOOSE WIRING BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL CONNECTED TO THE DASH. THE MECHANIC WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THE 1997 5 SPEED SUNFIRES CAME LIKE THAT FROM THE MANUFACTURE. SO, THEY PUT IN A PIECE OF BLACK FOAM, SO I WOULD NO LONGER SEE THE WIRING. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. IF I HAD KNOW THEN, WHAT I KNOW NOW, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE CAR BACK TO THEM, AND DEMANDED MY $3,000 DOWN PAYMENT BACK. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME TO CORRECT THE DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS CAR. THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057474February 3, 2004
PARKING BRAKE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT MODERATE SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A POLICE CRUISER TO STOP. CONSUMER CALLED 911 FOR HELP. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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