Pontiac Sunfire Complaints (1998)

120 consumer complaints on file.

#10030814August 5, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I'VE BEEN HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT. LAST MONTH I HAD A FUEL INJECTOR AND WATER HOSE GO BAD AND NEED REPLACED. THE SUCTION HOSE PUMP FOR THE AC WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD, THE COMPRESSOR STARTED LEAKING. I'VE HAD 2 DIFFERENT COMPRESSORS PUT IN, AND BOTH HAVE LEAKED STILL. THE 3RD COMPRESSOR IS BEING INSTALLED TODAY, SO WE'LL SEE WHETHER IT LEAKS TOO. A COMPRESSOR SHOULD REALLY LAST LONGER THAN 5 YEARS, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE 3 COMPRESSORS IN A WEEK TRYING TO FIND ONE THAT DOESN'T LEAK. THERE'S ALSO A CRACK IN THE WELDING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED OR IT WILL START LEAKING. ONE OF THE FAN PARTS WENT BAD, SO NOW LEVEL 1 ON THE FAN ADJUSTMENT DOESN'T WORK. THIS SEEMS LIKE ALOT OF PROBLEMS IN A SHORT TIMEFRAME, ESPECIALLY WITH 3 PROBLEMS BEING FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING. I'VE CONTACTED THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT PROBLEMS SHOULD BE EXPECTED AFTER 5 YEARS. GUESS I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BUILD A BETTER CAR. SO FAR, I'M OUT $1900 AND HAVEN'T HAD THE FAN OR THE WELDING CRACK FIXED YET. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT COULD BE OFFERED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032100August 5, 2003
STEERING
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS STEERING AS STATED IN RECALL 02 V 286 000. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031628July 30, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL MELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031271July 28, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020534May 26, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. SHE REPORTED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR AT ALL. WE HAVE ALSO REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THAT THE GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK. THIS MAY HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE COLLISION. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016442April 24, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MARCH 24, 2003 DEAR SIRS, I RECENTLY HAD A WATER PUMP FAILURE ON MY 1998 SUNFIRE CONVERTIBLE. THE CAR HAS HAD A NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT A YEAR, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ALTERNATOR BEARING. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN A GM DEALER TWICE IN THAT TIME FOR OIL CHANGES AND OF ALL THE THINGS THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO SELL ME THEY NEVER SAID ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE WATER PUMP. ON THE NIGHT OF FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH THE CAR BEGAN LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND THE NOISE INCREASED. I LIVE IN SOUTH LYON, MI AND THE CLOSEST PONTIAC DEALER IS WALDECKER IN BRIGHTON. I ATTEMPTED TO TELEPHONE WALDECKER SEVERAL TIMES ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH, BUT DID NOT CONNECT, BECAUSE OF A DEAD PHONE LINE AT WALDECKER. I THOUGHT WALDECKER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, SINCE IT IS AN OLDSMOBILE DEALER ALSO. I LATER FOUND, FROM THE WALDECKER SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX]) AND THE RECEPTIONIST, THAT THEY WERE IN FACT HAVING PHONE PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WITH NO OTHER PONTIAC DEALERS IN THE AREA, I REFILLED THE RADIATOR AND TOOK THE CAR TO WALKERS GARAGE, THE CLOSEST AUTO REPAIR. THE BILL CAME TO $700 PARTS AND LABOR, I ASKED WALDECKER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAIR PRICE. HAVING TO TAKE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OFF, ACCESS THROUGH THE FRONT COVER OF THE ENGINE, GEAR DRIVE OFF THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE LOCATION ABOVE THE CV JOINT IS A POOR DESIGN FOR A SERVICEABLE PART. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION, 1998 SUNFIRE CONVERTIBLE, CURRENTLY: 42,000 MILES VIN# [XXX], 2.4 LITER DOHC ENGINE. I CALLED THE PONTIAC 1-800 NUMBER AND A REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THE WARRANTY WAS 3 YEARS / 36,000 MILES AND THE WORK WAS NOT PERFORMED BY A PONTIAC DEALER, SO I HAD NO RECOURSE. I EXPLAIN TO NO AVAIL WHY THE WORK WAS NOT DONE AT A PONTIAC DEALER. I AM HOPING YOU WILL RECONSIDER THIS. ENCLOSED IS THE BILL. PLEASE CONTACT ME EVEN IF THIS CLAIM IS REJECTED. I EXPECT BETTER FROM THE NUMBER 1 AUTOMATE COMPANY IN THE WORLD. SINCERELY, [XXX] , [XXX] PHONE: [XXX] *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014345April 14, 2003
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
ON 9/5/02 MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH TOTALLY DESTROYED IT. ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED WHEN I WAS SLOWLY MAKING A LEFT TURN, SUDDENLY I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER MAKING IT VERY HARD TO MANEUVER CAR DUE TO HIGH RESISTANCE. I WAS GOING SOUTH, AND WHEN I STARTED TO MAKE LEFT TURN, NORTH BOUND WAS FREE AND CLEAR, BUT BECAUSE THE LENGTH OF TIME I SPENT TRYING TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE, ANOTHER CAR GOING NORTH APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION WHERE I WAS AND COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR CAUSING THE CRASH. I SPENT MY ENTIRE SAVINGS TO PURCHASE THIS CAR FROM A PONTIAC DEALER, AND THIS ACCIDENT THAT LEFT ME WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION, CAUSED THE LOST OF MY JOB AND MANY OTHER HARDSHIPS. THEN ON JANUARY 2003, PONTIAC DECIDES TO SEND ME A RECALL LETTER, WHICH WAS TOO LATE FOR ME. MY QUESTION IS WHAT TOOK PONTIAC SUCH A LONG TIME TO ISSUE THE RECALL NOTICE? IF THEY HAD DONE IT EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASE THIS USED VEHICLE IN 2002. FOUR YEARS IS A LONG TIME AND I AM SURE THERE MUST HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS, HOPE THEY WERE AS LUCKY AS ME WHO IS ALIVE TO TELL THE STORY. NOW FOR MY RIGHTS..... WHAT ARE THEY IN THIS SITUATION? AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS "MINOR MISTAKE OF GM" LEFT ME WITHOUT CAR, WITHOUT SAVINGS AND WITHOUT A JOB. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD COMPENSATE ME WITH AN EQUAL CAR OR THE EQUIVALENT FOR ME TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR, IT IS ONLY FAIR. IF THE PROBLEM WAS MADE PUBLIC IN 1999 OR 2000 I WOULD NOT BE IN THIS PREDICAMENT. PLEASE PRESENT MY COMPLAINT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND ADVISE ME ON HOW TO PROCEED IN ORDER TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGES THIS "MINOR DEFECT" HAD CAUSED ME. I DESPERATELY NEED A CAR TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A JOB. PLEASE HELP ME! THANK YOU. (BY THE WAY, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND YOU) (DON'T KNOW WHAT EOM MEANS, I CHECKED NO, BUT DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER). *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011116March 7, 2003
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RECALL #02-V-286-000 THE RECALL REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION FAILED, AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005710February 11, 2003
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR SEAT BELTS WHEN CAR IS COLD WILL NOT COME OUT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE, WITH SMALL CHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE SEATBELTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006264February 3, 2003
WHEELS
THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL LOCK UP CAUSING A ACCIDENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001269December 19, 2002
SEATS
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SEAT BACK COLLAPSE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND SEAT BACKS WERE THROWN FORWARD THEN COLLAPSED INTO RECLINE POSITION. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *TT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#8023384November 26, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL TWO LANE ROAD. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WAS HIT BROADSIDE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN A FATALITY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#769916November 20, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALLS AT ANY SPEED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SERVICED 3 TIMES AND STILL NOT FIXED. DEALER STATES THEY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE. NO ERROR CODES FROM MODULES. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769541November 10, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS CAR HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITANTLY. IT HAS HAPPENED ON MOST OCASSIONS WHEN MAKING A SLOW TURN (LIKE FROM A STAND STILL AND TURNING AT A LIGHT). IT HAS HAD A TUNE UP AND STILL CONTINUES TO DO THIS. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG OR RECREATE THE PROBLEM. IN MY SEARCH ON THE NET I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS 1998 SUNFIRE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS THE POWER STEARING IS AFFECTED AND THE CAR IS DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER HAS THIS CAR IN GA WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE AND HAS HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS. I HOPE THIS CAN BE RESOLIVED SOON. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022194November 5, 2002
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE TURN SIGNALS LIGHTS AND THE HEAD LAMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH FOUR TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS REOCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768450October 14, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PROBLEMS HAVE RANGED FROM ETS BUTTOM LIGHT ON, PASSANGER WINDOW FAILURE TO CLOSE (3TIMES), TRANSMISSION (4 TIMES), WATER LEAKAGE INTO THE INTERIOR DUE CONVERTIBLE TOP, ACCELERATION AND\OR DECCELERATION DRIVING DOW HILL, THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS BEFORE THE VEHICLE REACHED THE 30,000 MILES. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020162October 3, 2002
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEELS STUDS ARE SO FLIMSY,THAT THEY BREAK VERY EASILY WHEN BEING TIGHTEN. HAD 6 STUDS REPLACED. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767706September 25, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
I WAS USING THE CINCHING LATCH PLATE TO KEEP MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT TIGHTENED. FORTUNATELY, THE DAY IT BROKE WE WERE LOOKING AT CARS. WE TRADED IN OUR SUNFIRE THAT DAY. I AM TERRIFIED TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT! I HAD RE-INSTALLED THE CAR SEAT, TIGHTENED IT, AND WIGGLED THE SEAT ONCE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SECURE. I HEARD A POP AND THE SEAT MOVED A FOOT. MY FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT WASN'T AS BIG OF A DEAL TO ME--IT WASN'T HOLDING A CAR SEAT SECURE! NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018763September 16, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE NEW MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH, BUT IT IS EXPIRIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT RECALL STATES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#568395September 5, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE RETAINER BROKE APART AND SEPARATED FROM THE BUCKLE. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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