Pontiac Sunfire Complaints

1,141 consumer complaints on file.

#10607304July 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:COLUMN
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE WIRES TO MELT TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604344June 18, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE PLACED IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598342June 15, 2014
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
BOUGHT A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE FROM A DEALERSHIP 5 MONTHS AGO. I TOLD THE OWNER/SALESMAN I WANTED A SAFE 1ST CAR FOR MY KID. MY KID AND SOME FRIENDS WERE DRIVING,IT WAS RAINING AND THE BACK TIRES STARTED TO SLIDE,MY KID REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR BRIEFLY AND SAID AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND THEY ENDED UP IN A SPIN. THE CAR HIT AN OBJECT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE,SPUN AROUND AND HIT ANOTHER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE,THEN BOUNCED OFF THAT AND LANDED ACROSS A DEEP DITCH WHERE IT WAS HIT AGAIN IN THE REAR WHEN STOPPING. NO STEERING. NO BRAKES. THE ENGINE WAS STILL GOING EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS WEDGED INTO THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT AND THE EMBANKMENT OF THE DITCH. BY THE GRACE OF GOD NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY INJURED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME. MY KID SAID THAT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE STEERING WHEEL FELT " WIGGLEY". WE LOOKED AT THAT AREA 1ST. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE. THE PIVOT PIN FOR THE COLUMN WAS GONE. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL IN OCTOBER OF 2008. I CALLED GM TO REQUEST THE RECORDS TO FIND OUT IF THE REPAIR WAS EVER DONE. THE GM REP REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE INFORMATION IN THE DATA BASE. HE SAID I COULD GET IT FROM A "CERTIFIED" GM DEALER! HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE STEERING, BUT THERE WAS OTHERS. I ASKED WHAT THEY WERE AND AGAIN HE SAID HE COULDN'T GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION. I ALSO OWN A PONTIAC G5 THAT'S BEEN WAITING FOR PARTS ON THE IGNITION RECALL. I HAVE BEEN ON A LIST AT MY DEALERSHIP. I AM MAD AS HELL! ALL MY KID HAS NOW IS THE COMFORT OF KNOWING THE FRIENDS WEREN'T HURT OR KILLED. SOME 1ST CAR, HUH? SPENT 5000.00 OF 401K MONEY FOR A DEATH TRAP THAT GM REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE DATABASE HISTORY ON. CAN'T DRIVE IT, CAN'T SELL IT, AND WITH NO HISTORY, CAN'T FIX IT. LIABILITY AND COMP, THAT'S ALL WE COULD AFFORD, INSURANCE IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR YOUNG DRIVERS. THERE IS NO MIDDLE CLASS AND THIS KIND OF THING IS WHY. *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596516June 5, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS START RIGHT AWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593006May 21, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN TRYING TO PUT CAR INTO PARK, SHIFT CABLE BROKE AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO PARK. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP CAR FROM ROLLING. THEN, BECAUSE CAR WASN'T FULLY IN PARK, IGNITION WOULDN'T RESTART. HAD TO REPLACE CABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585529April 29, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ODOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES FLUCTUATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584763April 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR THE EVENING. IN THE MORNING WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WERE TRIED TO START. NEW STARTER INSTALLED AND STILL NO SUCCESS TO START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. AFTER EVALUATION IT WAS FOUND THE TIMING CHAINS HAD BROKEN AND INFRINGED ON THE CYLINDER HEADS. VEHICLE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT ENGINE AS PER MECHANIC. INVESTIGATED OTHER CLAIMS OF THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENING AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE 2.2L ECOTEC ENGINE HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST 5-7 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583834April 20, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DAUGHTER CALLED DURING LATE NIGHT DRIVE FROM UNIVERSITY, TEMP GAUGE HAS GONE TOO HIGH! HAD TO GET OFF FREEWAY AND DRIVE THROUGH BAD PART OF TOWN BACK TO UNIVERSITY DETROIT MERCY. CALL FOR RIDE HOME. MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE TOWED TO SHOP. TEMP GAUGE NOT WORKING AT ALL NOW. SHOP SAYS THAT THE WHOLE GAUGE PANEL NEEDS REPLACEMENT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579162April 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SEIZED IN THE "ON" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578213April 8, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAR ENGINE STOPPED. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS DUE TO RUBBING ON THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577019April 3, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALL GAUGES IN THE VEHICLE HAVE STOPPED WORKING (I.E. SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL, AND TEMP GAUGES). TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH PONTIAC SUNFIRE MODELS FROM YEARS 2003-2005. ALSO, WITH THE CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2003-2005, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME CAR. GM CHANGED SUPPLIERS FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THESE YEARS. INSTRUMENT FAILURE IS CAUSED BY THE INFERIOR PARTS USED BY GM, AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ONE CAN NOT BLAME INSTRUMENT FAILURE ON A LACK OF MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE OWNER. ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE THAT TRAVELS ROUGHLY 5,000 MILES A YEAR. SUCH AN ISSUE IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEIR USE OF SUB-PAR MATERIALS. HAVE CHECKED FUSES, AND HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED (I.E. IT'S NOT A SHORT TO GROUND PROBLEM). THESE ARE NOT THE RESULT OF THE GAUGES FAILING. TOLD THE COST WOULD BE OVER $500 FOR A NEW INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY GM FOR THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576011March 31, 2014
STEERING, ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD CAR SHUT OFF AND EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AND HAD NO POWER. AFRAID IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT FASTER SPEED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566774March 3, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT DID NOT RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566398February 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 60MPH WILL GO UP FROM THAT BUT NOT DOWN. I SEE A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE! CAN GM SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF !! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558362January 3, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENTCLUSTERINOP,SPEEDOMETER,&TEMPERATUREGAUGEFAILING.RPMGAUGEFAILING,RANINTOSPEEDOMETER&EFFECTINGTHESPEEDOFTHECAR.VERYUNSAFE,MULTIPLECOMPLAINTSONDEFECTIVEINSTRUMENTCLUSTER.WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM.$500.00REPAIR,PONTIAC/GMHASNORECALLSONTHEISSUE.MULTIPLEOWNERSOFTHEVEHICEHAVESAMECOMPLAINTSOFTHISSAMEPROBLEM.DONTKNOWTHETEMPERATUREOFTHEVEHICLE,DONTKNOWTHESPEEDI'MDRIVING.SPEEDOMETERISGLITCHING.PROBLEM&DEFECTISAPPARENTLY,PROBLEMWITHSTEPPERMOTERSAREFAILINGINCLUSTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548218October 17, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BECAME FRACTURED AND AS RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544721September 21, 2013
AIR BAGS
DAUGHTER HYDROPLANED, WENT INTO DITCH ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD, TRAVELED ACROSS ROAD INTO LEFT DITCH AND HIT TREE, OPENING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DURING CRASH AND TOTALED VEHICLE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING CRASH.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10525951July 20, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2007 AND THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER NEXT TO DRIVING WHEEL WAS NOT WORKING. CAR WAS IN STORAGE FOR OVER A YEAR AND AROUND MAY 2010 THE DRIVERS WINDOW STOPPED "ROLLING UP" SO WE GOT THE WINDOW MOTOR CHANGED AS THEY SAID IT WAS BURNT. WINDOW WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN IT TURNED OUT TO BE ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAVING TO DO WITH THE SWITCH CONTROLLING THE WINDOWS. AROUND APRIL 2011 A NEW ISSUE, HIGH BEAMS STOPPED WORKING ON AND OFF. THEY EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING AND LEADING TO NO BEAMS AT ALL, NOT SIGNALS AND NO LIGHT IN DASHBOARD. ANOTHER PART HAD TO BE REPLACED. MAY 2013 - STEREO LIGHT IS NOT WORKING, BUT STEREO IS OPERATING. JULY 2013 - TRUNK WILL NOT LOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525328July 17, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ABS AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CANISTER VAMP SOLENOID AND EVAP CANISTER WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519995June 16, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 5:00PM, PERFECT ROAD CONDITIONS. I STARTED CHOKING & SWERVED INTO ANOTHER LANE, OTHER DRIVER BLASTED HIS HORN & SCARED ME. I OVER COMPENSATED & LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR & ENDED UP HITTING THE MEDIAN. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FINE, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DIDN'T DEPLOY CORRECTLY. THE AIR BAG CAME OUT OF THE SIDE & NOT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAG BLEW MY REAR VIEW MIRROR OFF OF THE WIND SHIELD & ENDED UP BREAKING MY RIGHT HAND IN MULTIPLE PLACES. MY SEAT BELT ALSO CAME UNDONE. I AM ONLY 5 FEET TALL & IF THE AIRBAG HAD GONE OFF LIKE IT SHOULD'VE, I KNOW I WOULD HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INJURIES TO MY FACE & CHEST. THE REASON I AM MAKING A COMPLAINT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT HAD I HIT THIS WALL HEAD ON, I MOST LIKELY WOULD'VE BEEN KILLED. AT THIS TIME I DO NOT KNOW THE VIN OR CORRECT MILES, MY CAR AS TOTALED & IT'S STILL WITH THE TOW COMPANY. I BELIEVE THIS, ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELT UNLOCKING ON IT'S OWN AFTER A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, TO BE TREMENDOUSLY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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