FaultScore

Pontiac Sunbird vs Oldsmobile Achieva

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Pontiac Sunbird Oldsmobile Achieva
Complaints on file 254 625
Model years covered 1979–2000 1992–2000
Worst model year 1995
Best model year 1998
Crashes reported 37 48
Fires reported 16 34
Injuries reported 25 31
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Brakes Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 30.7% 18.6%

Pontiac Sunbird by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Brakes 46 18.1%
Engine & Cooling 45 17.7%
Seat Belts 19 7.5%
Steering 16 6.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 16 6.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 15 5.9%
Body & Structure 12 4.7%

Oldsmobile Achieva by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Electrical System 127 20.3%
Engine & Cooling 105 16.8%
Brakes 89 14.2%
Airbags 47 7.5%
Steering 24 3.8%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 22 3.5%