Pontiac Sunfire Complaints
1,141 consumer complaints on file.
- #10384013February 22, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2.2L. REAR RIGHT BRAKE LOCKS. CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUDDER AND DIFFICULT TO STOP. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. POSSIBLE FAILURE TO STOP IS THE GREATEST CONCERN. THIS MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10381732February 13, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD HAVE COMPLETELY GONE BAD. I CANNOT EVEN ACQUIRE A PROPER SPEED READING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10375350January 10, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN IT IS VERY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL OF THE NEEDLES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL STICK AT CERTAIN POINTS OR STOP WORKING COMPLETELY, THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY AND I CAN NOT SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS WAS PART OF A GM CLASS SETTLEMENT BUT MY VEHICLE MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED FOR A FREE REPAIR OR A RECALL OF THIS PART. I DO NOT PLAN TO GET IT FIXED AT A DEALER BECAUSE OF THE COST BUT I PLAN TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OFF AND GET THE STEPPER MOTORS IN IT REPAIRED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10374825January 5, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR A LOCAL MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ONGOING FOR THREE MONTHS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373531December 30, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOST TWO ENGINES DUE TO HIS ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT NOT ILLUMINATING AND WARNING HIM THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10372380December 25, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRE HAZARD, REAR LIGHT SOCKETS MELTING AND SMOKING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10371850December 20, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE FAILED AND ARE MISREADING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER, BUT WHEN SHE CALLED THEM THEY INFORMED HER THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10371176December 18, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION AND FAILURE PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2005. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10369853December 10, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT STEADY DURING ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION THEN IT JUST STOPPED AT 55 TO 60 MPH. NEXT TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT WORK AT ALL UNTIL THE CAR GOT WARM AND ALL OF MY OTHER GAUGES STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. MY FUEL GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND AND JUST STOPPED AND MY RPM DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND SAID THAT IT JUST NEEDS TO BE RESET AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, AFTER I GOT THAT FIXED I TOOK IT HOME AND 2 DAYS LATER IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT MIGHT BE A GAUGE CLUSTER THEY WERE NOT SURE AND THAT IT WOULD BE $500. I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AT THE TIME SO I DECIDED NOT TO GET IT FIXED SINCE THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE ME THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. MY SPEEDOMETER DOES WORK AS LONG AS IT IS WARM OUTSIDE. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR ANY INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL OR YEAR THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NOW A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM FOR THE ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10369139December 3, 2010STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. THE CONTACT VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT HAD TO REVERSE AND REPOSITION THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN A DAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10368659December 2, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE COUPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED INTO THE RED ZONE. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, ALL GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COULD BE REPLACED BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE YET THEY ALSO COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 03/16/11
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10368095November 29, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED DOWN A HILL DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES LOCKED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE DUST WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DUST WAS REMOVED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367985November 27, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PURCHASE A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN 2006. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A PROGRAM CAR. THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING DURING THE WINTER TIMES WHEN IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. AFTER THE CAR HAD WARMED UP THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD ,AGAIN, FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THIS MONTH, NOVEMBER 2010, THE VEHICLE'S FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER HAVE ALL MALFUNCTIONED AND ARE NOT CORRECTING AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS. THE FAILURES HAVE NOT CORRECTED AND ARE STILL MALFUNCTIONING TODAY, NOVEMBER 27,2010. GMC HAS CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT QUALIFIES CERTAIN OWNERS FOR A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT (SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT 07187A) TO THEIR STANDARD WARRANTY FOR ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETERS. THE COMMON CAUSE FOR ALL THESE ISSUES IS A FAULTY STEPPER MOTOR (XC5.168). THE MOTOR WAS USED THROUGHOUT GENERAL MOTOR'S ENTIRE PRODUCTION LINE FROM 2003 TO 2007. FOR THOSE WITH A TECHNICAL BENT, THIS INCLUDES THE GMT800, K20, GM360, AND GMX380 PLATFORMS. MODELS EFFECTED INCLUDE : * BUICK LESABRE * BUICK RENDEZVOUS * CHEVY AVALANCHE * CHEVY SILVERADO * CHEVY SUBURBAN * CHEVY TAHOE * CHEVY IMPALA * CHEVY TRAILBLAZER * CHEVY MONTE CARLO * GMC YUKON * GMC YUKON XL * GMC SIERRA * GMC ENVOY * GMC DENALI * CADILLAC ESCALADE * CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV * CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT * HUMMER H2 * PONTIAC SUNFIRE ON NOVEMBER 7, 2008, THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN SEATTLE GRANTED FINAL APPROVAL OF A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT FOR OWNERS AND LESSEES OF CERTAIN 2003 TO 2005 GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETERS. THOSE CERTAIN VEHICLES DID NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHY NOT! THOSE INCLUDED INCLUDE: CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, CHEVROLET SILVERADO ,CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, CHEVROLET TAHOE, GMC YUKON, GMC YUKON XL, GMC SIERRA, CADILLAC ESCALADE, CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV,CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT . SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367410November 17, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN 2006. IT HAD 13,000 MILES AT THAT TIME AND HAD BEEN A REALLY RELIABLE CAR. MY HUSBAND HAS CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE AS WELL AS THE AIR FILTER. IT STILL GETS 33 MPG ON THE FREEWAY AND THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 68,000 WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO GO BAD. IF THE GAUGES HADN'T STARTED TO MALFUNCTION ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO I WOULD HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED CLIMBING OFF THE CHARTS ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE ABOUT FORTY MILES FROM HOME. WE WE DRIVING 65 MPH. ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT STARTED. WE PULLED OFF AS SOON AS WE COULD TO CHECK THE MOTOR AND FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT OVERHEATED AT ALL AND WE HAD NO LEAKS IN SIGHT. I FEEL VERY BLESSES THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. WITH IN A MONTH THE GAUGE EVENTUALLY SPUN ALL THE WAY AROUND AND STARTED EFFECTING THE TACHOMETER. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE TACHOMETER. IF THE CLUSTER HAD BEEN DESIGNED WITH A BUMPER PIN TO STOP THE GAUGES FROM MAKING A COMPLETE 360 ROTATION, IT MIGHT HAVE NOT BURNED OUT SO SOON. OUR TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS MADE ABOUT 3 OR 4 REVOLUTIONS SO FAR MAKING THE OTHER GAUGES EVEN MORE INACCURATE. THE TACHOMETER IS ON IT'S SECOND TRIP AROUND THE GAUGE SO WE KNOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT FAR BEHIND. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH OUR CHOICE AT THIS TIME AND ARE CONSIDERING A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURE FOR OUR NEXT VEHICLE. MY FATHER WAS A DIESEL MECHANIC FOR FIFTY YEARS AND HE ALWAYS INSTILLED ON ME TO BUY AMERICAN WHEN IT CAME TO MY CARS. I ALWAYS HAVE AND DON'T PLAN TO CHANGE THAT BUT, I WILL DO MORE RESEARCH NEXT TIME. THIS PROBLEM WAS POSTED ON EVERY WEB SIGHT I FOUND AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. IT'S TIME TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10363527November 1, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2 DOOR COUPE; SERIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE...ALL DASH COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK AND SHOPS THAT WE TAKE CAR TO TRY TO FIX PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, TACH, AND TEMP GAUGES...NOT FIXED; THEN AC GOES OFF AND ON SOMETIMES WORKS/SOMETIMES DOES NOT. HAVE SPENT OVER 2K IN REPAIRS, STILL NOT FIXED AND NOW THE TRUNK LATCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. CAR DIES IN EXTREME HEAT. SHOPS SAY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS A LOT ON THIS MODEL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10360305October 13, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING 35 - 40 MPH SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD. SHE STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERATURE, GAS GAUGE ALL STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. SHE STATED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE USED IN 2009. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,334.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10359400October 6, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED; WHEN SHE TURNED THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY STUCK. AFTER REPEATED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME DISLODGED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10350456August 18, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REAR PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET IT IS GETTING VERY HOT AND IS MELTING BULBS AND SOCKET. HAVE REPLACED BULBS VARIOUS TIMES WITH AND WITHOUT PROPER GREASE AND NO CHANGE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10349143August 13, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE..INSTRUMENT GAUGES ERRATIC....TEMP GAUGE PEGS ALL THE WAY TO RPM GAUGE AND SOMETIMES RPM GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10348013August 8, 2010STEERING
2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE STEERING WHEEL. OUTER COVER AND FOAM SEPARATED FROM INNER STEEL FRAME. IN AN EMERGENCY MANEUVER WITH RAPID STEERING (OR IF POWER STEERING FAILS) OUTER COVER AND FOAM CAN TEAR CAUSING LOSS OF ABILITY TO STEER CAR. FIRST FAILURE ON THIS CAR WAS IN AUGUST 13, 2004, CAR HAD 32,437 MI. AND DEALER REPLACED STEERING WHEEL UNDER WARRANTY. TECH WHO INSPECTED CAR SAID "SAFETY ISSUE". SECOND FAILURE WAS IN JULY 2010 AT 83,000 MI. DEALER AND GM WOULD NOT ADMIT TO THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $450. GM WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0