27 of the
257 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire are about the
airbag system — 11% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
60,000 miles.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. AFTER IT RAINED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 DAYS, THE CONTACT NOTICED STANDING WATER IN THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO DRY OUT, EVERY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT, DIMMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN $350. THE CONTACT NO LONGER DRIVES THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE FEARS FOR HER LIFE DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/16/08
NHTSA complaint #10231846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,500 milesMilledgeville, GA2 injured
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT OF ANY KIND, OR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10150667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,000 milesMilledgeville, GA1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 5 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10118824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Bloomfield, MI1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONSUMER WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL COLLISIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10079806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pisgah, AL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10050327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beth Page, NY
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN CONSUMER SAYS MAY HAVE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE, AND BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA complaint #8021141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beth Page, NY
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, VEHICLE MAY HAVE HIT A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, SUDDENLY BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA complaint #8021146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malone, NYCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AS A RESULT OF HITTING A DEER AT 55 MPH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED.AK
NHTSA complaint #8019175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melbourne, FL
AIR BAGS
I AM LOOKING TO SEE IF THESE RECALLS HAD BEEN FIXED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. NO SFETY DEFEC TLISTED.
NHTSA complaint #757285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aura, COCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN A VERY BAD SNOW STORM AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 40MPH AND COMING DOWN AN INCLINE. TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CAR WAS TOTALLED. SEAT BELT WAS BEING WORN AT THE TIME. CONSUMER SUFFERED CHEST INJURIES. NO RESPONSE FROM PONTIAC, THEY WERE COLLECTING INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #879509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, KYCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING FRONT END COLLISON, INJURY FROM INCIDENT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tacoma, WACrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 40MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. CONSUMER HIT OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #860010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockwell, TXCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH SHE HIT A GUARDRAIL AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #856435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bronx, NYCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
DAPHNE FERGUSON, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY TO RIGHT (DOMINANT) HAND WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING ACCIDENT
NHTSA complaint #704426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lansdale, PACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ON ICE ABOUT 40-45 MPH, BRAKES APPLIED, HITTING A PATCH OF ICE. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT A METAL MEDIUM HEAD-ON. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN ACCIDENT. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #834688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FLCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT 5 MPH BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BUSTED WINDSHIELD, AND IT HIT DRIVER'S FACE AND CHEST.
NHTSA complaint #820286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vieques, PR
AIR BAGS
DIFFICULTY IN RECEIVING RECALL WORK ON THE AIR BAG, DUE TO DEALER LOCATION/PROXIMITY.
NHTSA complaint #541434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mulberry, FL
AIR BAGS
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V146000), AIR BAG. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC REFUSED TO DO WORK ACCORDING TO RECALL. NO EXPLANATION GIVEN.
NHTSA complaint #828129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flage Staff, AZ1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT INDICATIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #827229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carol Stream, IL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 98V146000. MADE AN APPOINTMENT, TOOK THE VEHICLE IN ON SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT, AND THE DEALER, STATES NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. DEALER HAS NO INFORMATION ON RECALL . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #827052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nashville, TNCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS REARENDED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #825709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Moreno Valley, CACrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR AT 3 MPH, CAUSING BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE FORCE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYING CAUSED DRIVER TO STRIKE REAR OF VEHICLE TWICE. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #824301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
\Naples, NY
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #823065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cypress, TX
AIR BAGS
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG, NO ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #533055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prarie Grove, ILCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
EA98-007; WHILE AT A RED LIGHT FOR 2 MINUTES, PUT THE VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT "AIRBAG SENSOR AND THE ACCIDENT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. "
NHTSA complaint #821649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, PACrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DURING IMPACT AT 5 TO 10 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING DRIVER TO SUSTAIN BURNS TO THE SKIN, AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN ARM.
NHTSA complaint #820327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, KYCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER HAD HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT FULLY INFLATE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH CHEST.
NHTSA complaint #807940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.