Pontiac Sunfire Complaints

1,141 consumer complaints on file.

#10220539March 10, 2008
AIR BAGS
WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 MPH BARELY BUMPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME,WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER AND DAMAGE TO COMPLETE DASH. *TR TL THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER BARELY BUMPED INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AND BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVERS FINGER WAS INJURED. THE WINDOW SHATTERED AND THE DASHBOARD WAS DESTROYED. SHE NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL, CALLED PONTIAC AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO EXISTING RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ESTIMATE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $2,100. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE CRASH.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219774March 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER FAILURE- ONE DAY, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD ABOUT 35 MPH AND NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING 80 MPH. THIS CAME TO A GREAT SHOCK TO ME. I ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF THE IGNITION TO SEE IF THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD RESET AND IT DIDN'T. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT RETURN TO 0 MPH- IT ONLY DROPPED TO ABOUT 65MPH. I SEARCHED 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SPEEDOMETER AND 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER SPEEDOMETER IN GOOGLE AND HAVE FOUND MANY BLOG POSTINGS ON AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITES ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH AN INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER AND/OR GAUGE CLUSTER MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE ALSO SEEMS TO EXTEND BEYOND THE SUNFIRE/CAVALIER MODELS TO OTHER GM VEHICLES BACK TO 1993. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON IT AND WHILE I HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE WARRANTY BASED ON THE MILEAGE FOR SOME TIME, IF I HAD NOT EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE RESTRICTION, I WOULD HAVE JUST PASSED THE 3 YEAR MARK ON DEC. 12, 2007. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER SUNFIRE/CAVALIER AND GM PRODUCT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE FIRST EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE JUST OUTSIDE OF THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. THERE ARE CURRENTLY LAW SUITS PENDING AGAINST GM TO PAY FOR SPEEDOMETER REPAIRS. ONE POSTER ON THE CAR BLOG SAID THAT WHEN HE SAW HIS SPEEDOMETER READ 65 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET HE QUICKLY HIT HIS BRAKES AND IF ANYONE HAD BEEN BEHIND HIM, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. FOR THIS REASON, I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER ISSUE COULD CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
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
#10216893February 4, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000. UPDATED 07/09/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214150January 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE 2005 SUNFIRE AND ABOUT 37,000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK RIGHT THE FUEL GAGE STOPPED WORKING IF YOUR STOPPED AFTER AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE SPEEDOMETER SAY YOUR DOING 110MPH AND IT STAY THERE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214110January 7, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP CIRCUIT MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A FAILED WIRE AND CORRODED CONNECTION. THEY MADE THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,346. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN THE REAR TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERATIVE AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213815January 5, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING. THE BULBS TESTED FINE, THE FUSE TESTED FINE AND THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH SEEMS TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. I REPLACED THE SWITCH WITH A KNOWN WORKING SWITCH AND THE LOW BEAMS STILL DO NOT WORK. I DRIVE WHEN IT IS DARK OUTSIDE AND AM FORCED TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS TO SEE AND MAKE SURE THAT I AM SEEN BY OTHER DRIVERS. I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WHICH I DID AND THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS STILL DO NOT WORK. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213239December 31, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK AND DESTROYED THE REAR BUMPER OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10212130December 17, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN TO THE RIGHT, BUT NOT TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) DOES NOT APPLY TO HER VIN. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,406 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,402. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211255December 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ALL GAUGES WERE ACCURATE UNTIL ONE MORNING WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK ON 50 WHEN CAR WASH COMPLETELY STOPPED. AS I DROVE FARTHER THE SPEEDOMETER ROSE TO 70 WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE RPM GAUGE IS READING 0 WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION WHICH IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210359November 30, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AS THE CONTACT PLACED HER CHILD IN THE REAR CHILD SEAT. WHEN SHE PUSHED THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210434November 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE AUGUST OF 2002, AND HAVE ONLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER. IT WOULD WORK WHEN IT WANTED TO. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUSE, THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I FIGURED THAT IT WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING, BUT IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO LET A MECHANIC GO PROBING AROUND MY CAR TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. ON 11/28/07 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ONLY A FEW MILES, UPON STARTING THE CAR - SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF MY VENTS AND THE GAS GAUGE (WHICH THE TANK WAS FULL) STARTED DROPPING DOWN TO 'E'. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THAT THE TWO THINGS ARE UNRELATED. EXACT QUOTE FROM INVOICE ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE "BURNT SMELL ELECTRICAL, FOUND HARNESS TO REAR DEFOGGER ON LEFT LOWER KICK PANEL MELTED REPLACED CONNECTOR WITH BUTT CONNECTORS". I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE GAS GAUGE AND THAT IT HAPPENED AT THE EXACT SAME TIME THAT THE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENT, AND THE INVOICE ABOUT THAT SAYS "NEEDS SENDING UNIT IN TANK ORDERED PARTS 200 PARTS 240 LABOR". MAKING THE PRICE COME TO AROUND 440.00 TO FIX THE GAS GAUGE! I CALLED AROUND AND FOUND A MECHANIC THAT CHARGED ME $300.00, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE SENDING UNIT WASN'T DEFECTIVE! WHEN THE HARNESS TO THE REAR DEFOGGER MELTED - IT MELTED OUT THE CLUSTER FOR THE FUEL GAUGE. I SPENT $300.00 FOR NOTHING, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209589November 20, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT OR BRAKE LIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. FUSES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. ONCE REPLACED BULBS DEFECT WITHIN AN HOUR OR SO. DOME LIGHT OR OVER HEAD LIGHT REPEATS SAME PROCESS. VEHICLE'S BATTERY AND TERMINALS REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE. $$$ *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209132November 16, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH 27,000 MILES. REAR BRAKE RETAINING SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING. BROKEN PARTS FELL INTO THE DRUM CAUSING NOISE AND EXCESSIVE HEATING OF THE DRUM. HAD TO PAY FOR THE PART AND FIX IT AFTER WAITING THREE DAYS TO GET THE PART FROM THE DEALER. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207075October 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE BRAND NEW IN 2001 THINKING I COULD SAVE MONEY ON GAS..AT AROUND 20,000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND MESSED UP THE WHOLE ENGINE. THE ENGINE IS A NO TOLERANCE ENGINE AND WHEN ONE THING BREAKS IT MESSES UP EVERYTHING. SERVICE FIXED THE TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I RETURNED REGULARLY TO THE DEALERSHIP STATING I COULD HEAR A NOISE, AND BEING A WOMAN WAS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I EVEN SENT THE VEHICLE HOME WITH THE SERVICE REP FOR THE WEEK-END AND WAS TOLD HE COULDN'T HEAR A THING. AS IT TURNS OUT AT THIS TIME 62,000 MILES THE ENGINE BLEW AT 55 MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF A US HWY ON THE WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP MY GRANDSON. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN AT MY HOME AND IS NOW DEAD...NOT RUNNING...BROKEN..GUESS I KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AFTER ALL..EVEN IF I AM FEMALE. THANKS GM FOR MAKING SUCH QUALITY PRODUCTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205618October 14, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN TURNING OFF A ROAD ONTO A HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. I CAREFULLY DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. NOW THE CAR WON'T ENGAGE ON REVERSE, DRIVE, 2ND & 1ST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204414September 28, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2003 AND THE CAR WAS GREAT. IN MARCH 2006 I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE THE CAR WHEN ATTEMPTED TO START WOULD TAKE A FEW SECONDS EXTRA AND THEN START, THEN 6 MONTHS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE CAR JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR RESTARTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER. THEN IN NOVEMBER THIS STARTED HAPPENING MORE AN MORE FREQUENTLY. ONE NIGHT IN DECEMBER THE CAR CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OF THE ROAD. I WAITED AN HOUR AND STILL THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP SO I REPLACED THAT AND THE CAR WORKED FOR 2 DAYS AND THEN THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. HE THEN TESTED THE CAR AND SAW THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD HIM DO A TEMPORARY FIX AND RUN A LINE FROM THE BATTERY TO THE FUEL PUMP SO THE CAR WOULD STILL START. THEN EVERYTHING ELSE SLOWLY STARTED TO FAIL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW STAYS ON. ONE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN THE OTHER FOLLOWED BY MY HIGH BEAM TOTALLY. MY FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL WENT THEN THE REAR RIGHT FOLLOWED BY THE FRONT RIGHT. MY HORN NO LONGER WORKS. I DON'T KNOW IF MY AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203383September 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED 6 TIMES FOR WHAT I FEEL IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! MY ENGINE STALLS WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP OR AFTER BEING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT IDLES ROUGH. I HAVE HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR, FUEL SENSOR REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, COIL, WIRE TO THE IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. MY CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, WHEN IDLING IN TRAFFIC, AND WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 IN REPAIRS AND TOW FEES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199290August 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING, WE HAVE REPLACED BULBS AND CHECKED FUSES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199030August 9, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
THIS IS MY MOTHER'S CAR, NOT MINE, SHE'S 54 YEARS OLD AND SHE DOES NOT DRIVE CRAZY. LAST WEEK HER FRONT SPRING SUSPENSION BROKE FOR NO REASON. I'M A MECHANIC, AND I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT KIND OF FAILURE, IT HAD TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. WHEN SHE WENT AT THE DEALER (WHICH WASN'T WHERE SHE BOUGHT THE CAR) THEY SAID THAT HER CAR WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY, SO IT WOULD COST A $120 PLUS LABOR TO REPAIR THE CAR. SO SHE BOUGHT A USED PART AND HAD IT REPLACED. PERSONALLY, I THINK THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER, THAT THEY NEVER SEEN THAT TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE AND THEY SHOULD INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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