Pontiac Sunfire Complaints

1,141 consumer complaints on file.

#10060316March 3, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CD PLAYER FAILED AT 9,000MI. FOG LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED AT 10,00MI TRUNK LATCH FAILED AT 8,500MI. *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
#10059712February 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON A BUMPY SURFACE BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058462February 19, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE CONVERTIBLE, HINGES HAVE CREATED HOLES IN THE INSIDE TOP, REAR OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058527February 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
REAR BRAKE LIGHT IGNITED DUE TO FAULTY SOCKET INSTALLATION WHILE DRIVING CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
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
#10058231February 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
THIS CONCERNS THE FUEL SYSTEM ON '98 (AND SIMILAR YEAR) PONTIAC SUNFIRES. ON DECEMBER 29, 2003 THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE IN-LINE FUEL FILTER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOSING ACCELERATION AND HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO A PONTIAC DEALER FOR THE SERVICE. THE FILTER IS CONNECTED TO THE FUEL LINE WITH A 'SNAP' FITTING. UPON TRYING TO SERVICE THE FILTER, EITHER THE DEALER BROKE THE SNAP FITTING OR THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD DAMAGED IT (VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT, AND THERE WERE NO LEAKS SO I SUSPECT THAT IT WASN'T DAMAGED). ALSO, THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON AND IN THE FITTING. IN THE END, THE FILTER COULD NOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT CORRECTING THE 'SNAP' FITTING. TO MY SURPRISE THE FUEL LINE COULD NOT BE REPLACED AS A SEPARATE PIECE, YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. THIS COST (WITH THE TECHNICIAN TIME) WAS $ 425 VS. $50 FOR A FILTER REPLACEMENT. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT SINCE THE FILTER IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE SYSTEM (A CLOGGED FILTER COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE STALLS AND/OR NO STARTS, EMISSION ISSUES ETC.) THAT IT SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF REASONABLE WAY TO REPLACE IT WITHOUT PAYING FOR AN ENTIRE MODULE THAT WAS NOT NEEDED. THE FILTER IS A RECOMMENDED SERVICE ITEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058181February 15, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING COLUMN. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, IT MAKES A BUMPING NOISE. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS KNOCKING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057889February 6, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
VEHICLE HAS CUT-OFF OR COULDN'T BE STARTED 7 TIMES. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED 4 TIMES DUE TO ITS STALLING PROBLEMS. *LA PONTIAC HAD BEEN GIVEN 4-5 CHANCES TO FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE MAY 2003. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE POWER TRAIN MODULE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE PCM ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE CD PLAYER DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT START. THE MECHANIC(S) FOUND THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED. *SC *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
#10055160January 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID, WHEELS
REAR SEAT IS BROKEN RUNK LATCH IS BROKEN. WARRANTY WAS NOT HONORED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055010January 27, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
OCT. 2003 2003 PONITAC SUNFIRE REFUSED TO START. HAD TOWED TO MECHANIC CAUSE 400 MILES OVER WARRANTY, REPLACED FUEL FILTER BUT MECHANIC SAID NEEDED FUEL PUMP REPLACED. JAN. 2004, SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT HAD FAMILY MEMBER REPLACE FUEL FILTER AS CHEAP FIX, BUT DIDN'T WORK. TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENED WITHOUT HAVING TO BUY FUEL PUMP FROM GM AT COST, TOO MUCH MONEY. ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH GM VEHICLES AND NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT, YET ALL ARE THE SAME. PLEASE HELP FIX PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050011January 23, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DETERIORATION. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO BEEN LOSING COOLANT FOR THE PAST YEAR AND EXHIBITED A COOLANT SMELL. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055237January 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071299January 15, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE GAS GAGE ON THE PONTIAC SUNFIRE IS NOT STABLE. IT WILL MOVE UP AND DOWN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND STILL RUNNING. I HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN THE GAS GAGE WAS SET AT 1/4 OF A TANK LEFT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS THING TO BE HAPPENING, IT COULD HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE NIGHT. SANDRA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070372January 15, 2004
STEERING, AIR BAGS
MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS WEDDING, WAS NOT DRUNK ACCORDING TO THE CORONER. THE POLICE REPORT SAID HE MUST HAVE WENT OFF THE ROAD, OVERCORRECTED AND BEGAN SPINNING AND ROLLING.THE CAR WENT 469 FEET BEFORE IT CAME TO REST ON TOP OF HIM, THE REPORT SAYS HE MUST HAVE BEEN EJECTED THROUGH THE SUNROOF. MY SON WAS 34 VERY MUSCULAR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT UNLESS THERE WAS SOMETHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE CAR THAR HE COULD NOT HAVE CONTROLLED IT. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR. ALSO THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THAT ALONE MIGHT HAVE SAVED MY SONS LIFE. THERE WERE TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR, BOTH HURT SERIOUSLY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO. I STILL HAVE THE CAR EXACTLY AS IT WAS, IN STORAGE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10070415January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS
I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR, SO I DON'T KNOW SPECIFIC MILEAGE, OR VIN NUMBER. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON IT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 5, 2002. IT WAS A FAIRLY LOW SPEED CRASH, MYE ESTIMATE IS WE WERE GOING ABOUT 30 MPH AT IMPACT. WE STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY FACE. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND WAS NOT SITTING PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO THE AIRBAG. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT FROM THE AIR BAG, BROKE MY NOSE AND RESULTED IN PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY EYES. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10070445January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 8TH AND IT WENT IN THE FIRST TIME ON MARCH 24TH FOR A WATER LEAK COMING FROM THE SUNROOF HOUSING. THE SUPPOSEDLY RESEALED THE SUNROOF HOUSING AND IT WENT BACK IN FOR THE SECOND TIME ON JUNE 23RD. SAME WATER LEAK IN THE EXACT PLACE AGAIN. NOW THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS IS WARPED AND THAT'S WHY THE SEAL ISN'T HOLDING. 2 TIMES IN SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 3 MONTHS WITHIN 6000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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