45 of the 254 complaints filed about the Pontiac Sunbird are about the engine — 18% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1993.
45
Complaints
18%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HER 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND SHE HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED THREE TIMES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK UPDATED 2/16/2007 -
NHTSA complaint #10179350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INDICATION LIGHTS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONSULTED WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BY TELEPHONE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10148015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO START THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10089214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WATER LEAKS INSIDE CAR, RADIATOR LEAK, HEATER CORE, HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, FREEZE OUT PLUGS, ENGINE WET WITH OIL, A/C CUTTING IN AND OUT, RUNS ROUGH WHEN A/C IS ON, SLOW PICK UP, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK, WINDOW WASHERS STOP BEFORE CYCLE IS DONE, BREAKS AND BREAK LINE BAD, WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR CRACKS TWICE NOW, OVER ALL REPAIRS TOTAL ABOUT $1600.00, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET NEXT SO PLSU THIS AMOUNT, I HAVE BILLS KEPT OF ALL EXACT PAYMENTS OF PARTS AND LABOR
NHTSA complaint #10070865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT 25MPH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SAID THAT SINCE SHE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE TIRE KINGDOM, TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD, SO SHE HAD THEM FIXED AND SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE WORKED THE SAME SINCE. ALSO THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING (FOR THE PAST 2YRS)/FEELS CAR IS NOT SAFE.*SCC
NHTSA complaint #8013229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
AT 25MPH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SAID THAT SINCE SHE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE TIRE KINGDOM, TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD, SO SHE HAD THEM FIXED AND SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE WORKED THE SAME SINCE. ALSO THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING (FOR THE PAST 2YRS)/FEELS CAR IS NOT SAFE.*SCC
NHTSA complaint #8013229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
FAN BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #784585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I WAS PROMICED ALL THESE THINGS BUT HE IGNORED ME AND I HAVE BEEN ENDED UP WITH A PIECE OF JUNK THAT I PAID $800 AND HAVE PUT OVER $500 INTO IT I WANT TO KEEP THE CAR BUT THERE ARE MAJOR THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED AND I EVEN HAVE A WRITTEN CONTRACT I CALLED MY LOCAL DMV AND EVEN WENT DOWN THERE BUT THEY HAVE HAD TOO MANY COMPAINTS ON THIS GUY AND THEY CANT HANDLE MY CASE AT THIS TIME I WOULD JUST LIKE HIM TOO EITHER SEND ME TOO A PLACE OR SEND ME THE MONEY AFTER I GET QOUTES ON THE PROBLEMS I THINK THE COST WOULD BE A TOTAL OF AROUND $1000 OR JUST GIVE ME WHAT I PUT INTO THE CAR PLUS WHAT I PAYED FOR IT AND I WOULD BE HAPPY THAT WOULD BE AROUND $1500. *NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #724184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A WARRANTY, AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY CAR IS OVERHEATING, AND THERE ARE NO LEAKS. IT HAS A NEW THERMOSTAT, AND THE WATER PUMP IS FINE EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OK, BUT FOR SOME REASON IT IS STILL OVERHEATING
NHTSA complaint #718659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
PROBLEMS OF HEATING/COOLING DEVELOPED, LEADING TO EXTENSIVE SERVICE TO CORRECT. GASKET FAILURE RECOGNIZED BY MECHANIC AFTER REPLACING HEATER CORE AND RADIATOR FAILED TO CORRECT PROBLEMS. (SISTER'S 1991 PONT SUNBIRD W/ SAME ENGINE FALED 6/99 WHILE ON HIGHWAY)
NHTSA complaint #711998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN BELT SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #846652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND AFTER BEING PARKED FOR AWHILE.
NHTSA complaint #841307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM,CAUSING THE VEHCILE TO SHUTDOWN WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES, AND ALMOST THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING.
NHTSA complaint #836532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATES, AND THERE IS SOME GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SHOCKS. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTAINER WHERE THE WINDSHIELD FLUID GOES BECAUSE THE FLUID KEPT LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STATES THAT VEHICLE IS HOT. VEHICLE IS HOT, AND THEIR IS A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE DEFOGGER.
NHTSA complaint #836434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ALTERNATOR BELT CONTINUALLY BECOMES LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #544397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #513228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT FAILED/REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #781957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING THE OIL AND THE COOLANT TO MIX TOGETHER AND LEAK, MAY HAVE CAUSED FIRE OR ENGINE DAMAGES. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.
NHTSA complaint #834661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHEN MY COOLING SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND WHEN THEY REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR THEY PURPOSLY PUT AN EXTRA WASHER ON ONE SIDE CAUSING THE FAN TO HIT THE RADIATOR WHICH THEN CAUSED MY HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM!! I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO A SHOP IN MILLAX AND HAD A DIFFERENT USED ENGINE PLACED IN IT NOW, THIS ENGINE HAS NO ACCELERATION DUE TO A BAD CAM SHAFT, SO I AGAIN HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #700722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.