12 of the 320 complaints about the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire are about the suspension — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 108,995 miles.
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHEEL BEARING SEEMS TO BE GOING BAD. THE MOTOR HAS BEEN JUMPING WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT. I THINK THE MOTOR MOUNTS MIGHT BE BAD. THE CAR IS A 96 AND IT HAS 109,000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10116526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
-THE HORN ON 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE HAS QUIT WORKING AND BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. THE PEOPLE AT THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS GETTING WET APPARENTLY EVERYTIME I WENT THROUGH WATER BECAUSE OF IT BEING POINTED DOWNWARD. -THE MUFFLER HAS BEEN FIXED THREE TIMES -THERE ARE MORE THAT I CAN NOT REMEBER RIGHT OFF HAND -THEIR IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE WHOLE CAR. THE LIGHT ON THE RADIO TIME AND STAION DISPLAY HAS NOT WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT IT, THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON, THE PASSENGER REAR WINDOW LETS DOWN BUT WILL NOT LET UP WHEN NEEDED SINCE RIGHT AFTER I GOT THE CAR, THE LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD GO ON AND OFF WITHOUT EVEN BEING TOUCHED, WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD, THE WIDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST COME ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON AND THEN STOP HALFWAY DOWN IMPAIRING VISION, THE PASSENGER REAR TAIL LIGHT BLOWS ALL OF THE TIME, IT HAS NEVER STAYED WITH A BULB THAT WORKS, ETC. -THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS AND HAS LEAKED SINCE I GOT IT -THE GAS LIGHT WILL NOT TELL YOU WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING LOW ON FUEL -THE RADIO WILL EAT YOUR TAPES SINCE I GOT THE CARTHE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACE ON THE CAR WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT -THE RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO ALONG WITH THE COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM THE POWER STEERING HAS LEAKED FLUID AND WILL STOP TURNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED ON IT SVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF IT AND THE BRAKES. -THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WORKS WHEN IT GETS READY TO IF EVEN THEN AND HAS ALWAYS DONE THAT.
NHTSA complaint #10020716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
STRUT BEARING PLATE: SHOULD NOT BE FAULTY ON A 1996, CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195R6515 )
NHTSA complaint #724797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES CRACKED AND ALMOST FELL OFF, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #859955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
THUMPING NOISE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE--WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. PAN/OIL GASKET REPLACED. CORRODED WIRING FOR GAS GAUGE. REPAIRED REAR CHASSIS. EXHAUST SYSTEM AND SENDER ASSY REPLACED. HEATER PIPE LEAKING. WORN TENSIONER REPLACED. NEW ENGINE. PISTONS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #524100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #843628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND DRIVE AXLES REPLACED TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #540464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE TRAILING ARM BOLT, HOWEVER FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SEPARATE FROM FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #543763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
THUMPING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS.
NHTSA complaint #524100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
OWNER STATES THAT HUB WHICH HOLDS THE WHEELS BROKE, DEALERS STATE THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH PLAY IN BALL JOINTS.
NHTSA complaint #808739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE EXTREME RIGHT, SIX ATTEMPTED FIXES.
NHTSA complaint #979921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE EXTREME RIGHT, SIX ATTEMPTED FIXES.
NHTSA complaint #979921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.