1997 Pontiac Sunfire brake problems

PARKING BRAKE

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE VEHICLE ARE SO DIM, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE I AM DRIVING WITH FLASHLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT SUNLAND PONTIAC DEALERSHIP, EL PASO, TX THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOLD THEM THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO DIM ON MY VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM I WANTED NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH BRIGHTER BULBS OR HIGHER WATTAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY NEW HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINED BRIGHTER BULB, OR HIGHER WATTAGE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. I COMPLAINED EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENACE. INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE DATE. THEY WILL HAVE IT ON RECORD. ALSO, I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN. IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN TO START THE CAR. YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT IN A CERTAIN POSITION FOR IT TO START, SOMETIMES IT WILL STAR, AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 1997. I FILLED OUT A FORM AND SENT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GMAC ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING AND THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINTS. I CAN E-MAIL YOU A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FORM I SENT TO THEM. THE MOST DISTURBING DEFECT ABOUT THE CAR IS THAT YOU CAN SEE THE LOOSE WIRING BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL CONNECTED TO THE DASH. THE MECHANIC WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THE 1997 5 SPEED SUNFIRES CAME LIKE THAT FROM THE MANUFACTURE. SO, THEY PUT IN A PIECE OF BLACK FOAM, SO I WOULD NO LONGER SEE THE WIRING. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. IF I HAD KNOW THEN, WHAT I KNOW NOW, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE CAR BACK TO THEM, AND DEMANDED MY $3,000 DOWN PAYMENT BACK. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME TO CORRECT THE DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS CAR. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10056448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

NHTSA complaint #10009069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #8010259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNDER NOMAL STOPPING CONDITIONS PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK REPAIR SHOP STATED THE BRAKES WERE WORN, CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #895881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, AND THE BRAKES COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO CONTROL VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #890959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

FRONT AND REAR STRUTS & MOUNTS FAILED &RATTLED PROBLEM STARTED IMMEIATELY, NOT PROPERLY IDENTIFIED UNTIL 60000, HAD TO PAY $700 TO FIX. FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. SEAT BELT SLIPS OUT OF ANCHOR AND IS PAINFUL TO REACH (SHORT DRIVER, SEAT MOVED UP). WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED STOPPING IN THE UP INSTEAD OF DOWN POSITION, BLOCK VISION.

NHTSA complaint #718942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THIS CAR HAS BEEN MORE TROUBLE THAN IT IS WORTH. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE ALREADY AND NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN ALREADY. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I HAVE ANOTHER CRAKED HEAD GASKET, I REPLACED ONE TWO YEARS AGO JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED!

NHTSA complaint #715187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THIS CAR HAS BEEN MORE TROUBLE THAN IT IS WORTH. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE ALREADY AND NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN ALREADY. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I HAVE ANOTHER CRAKED HEAD GASKET, I REPLACED ONE TWO YEARS AGO JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED!

NHTSA complaint #715187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN, THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHELL, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE'S, THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN THE BRAKES. ALSO, PANELS IN THE REAR ON BOTH SIDES KEEP COMING OFF.

NHTSA complaint #848440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY CAUSING THEM TO ENGAGE ALMOST EVERYTIME VEHICLE STOPS OR SLOWS DOWN. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND KICKED IN BUT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO SLIDE INTO AN INTERSECTION. NLM

NHTSA complaint #547688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TIRES COMPLETEY EXPLODED AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE RIMS, AND SINCE THE THIRD TIME I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. I HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF BRAKES PUT ON, WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR. I AM NOW HAVING TO FACE PAYING OVER $1000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, THE HEADLIGHTS HAD PROBLEMS NOT EVEN A MONTH AFTER I GOT THE CAR. THE RADIATOR HAD A WHOLE IN IT FROM A SCREW THAT CAME LOOSE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT WAS SHOT BACK UP INTO THE RADIATOR, THEY GOODWILLED THIS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA complaint #707363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS

BRAKE PADS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #535617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER HAS ABS BRAKES. WHILE SLOWING DOWN, BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. ALSO CAUSING STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERS. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #827180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

COMING TO A STOP ,APPLYING BRAKES LIGHTLY,THE BRAKES WILL SQUEAL AND LOCK UP. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #833746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #538343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

ROTORS WEAR EXCESSIVELY.

NHTSA complaint #530775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED THREE TIMES IN TEN MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #525763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE BRAKES WILL GRAB AND SQUEAK. THEN WHEN PUTTING FOOT ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE AND THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP.

NHTSA complaint #816894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE; ALSO NOISY ABS BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #518690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

ROTORS NEED TO BE RESURFACED.

NHTSA complaint #518293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #515809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.