1997 Pontiac Sunfire engine problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOST TWO ENGINES DUE TO HIS ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT NOT ILLUMINATING AND WARNING HIM THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10373531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED 6 TIMES FOR WHAT I FEEL IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! MY ENGINE STALLS WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP OR AFTER BEING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT IDLES ROUGH. I HAVE HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR, FUEL SENSOR REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, COIL, WIRE TO THE IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. MY CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, WHEN IDLING IN TRAFFIC, AND WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 IN REPAIRS AND TOW FEES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10203383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE OIL FILTER HAD A HOLE IN IT WHICH CAUSED THE OIL LEAK. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10097139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY BROTHER OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE SEIZED (NEEDING ENGINE REPLACED ESTIMATED COST $3,500). I UNDERSTAND THE CAR IS ABOUT 6 YEARS OLD BUT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MINIMAL MILES. GM DEALERSHIP DID A DIAGNOSIS COSTING US $289 AND CONCLUDED PER THE INVOICE: PERFORM TEAR DOWN ON ENGINE - REMOVE VALVE COVER AND FOUND VALVE SPRING ON #2 CYLINDER BROKEN - REMOVE CYLINDER HEAD AND FOUND HEAD OF VALVE HAD GONE THROUGH TOP OF PISTON AND SCORED CYLINDER WALL. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED US COST OF THE FOLLOWING: $3,250 FOR A BRAND NEW ONE WITH A 3 YEAR/75,000 MILE WARRANTY OR $1,400 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 88,000 MILES ON IT (NO WARRANTY) OR $1,600 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT (NO WARRANTY). NOW, I SCRATCH MY HEAD AND WONDER HOW GM JUSTIFIES US PAYING ALMOST $1,500 OF A USED ENGINE WITH MORE MILES ON THE ENGINE THAN THE ENGINE WE ALREADY HAVE AT 47,000 MILES THAT DOES NOT WORK. AFTER THREE WEEKS WE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED A REPUTABLE AUTO SERVICE FOR $1,089. THE AUTO SERVICE SUGGESTED TAKING PHOTOS OF A PART IN THE ENGINE NOTED ABOVE TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE AUTO SERVICE SAID THIS PART SHOULD NEVER HAVE BROKEN ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES. WE INFORMED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PICTURES BUT GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I THOUGHT GM MIGHT LOOK FURTHER INTO INVESTIGATION OF THE DEFECTIVE PART BUT NO. I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. IS THIS A REALISTIC EXPECTATION TO HAVE THIS COSTLY REPAIR AT 47,000 MILES? CAN WE DO ANYTHING ELSE?

NHTSA complaint #10052893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER ,AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10051926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHICH PREVENTED THE CONSUMER FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. *NLM PH

NHTSA complaint #10017225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

A TICKING SOUND IN THE FRONT WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN COVER IS.I HAVE CHANGED THE CHAIN-SPROCKETS-TENSIONER- 3 TIMES-THE FIRST WHEN THE TENSIONER BROKE.I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST TIME I CHANGED IT.

NHTSA complaint #10008101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS. MY CAR WILL RUN GREAT 2-3 DAYS BUT WITHOUT NOTICE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING. I DOES THIS QUITE OFTEN AND THE MECHANICS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, THEY CANNOT DETERMINE IF IT IS SPARK RELATED OR FUEL RELATED DUE THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE. I DO ALOT OF HIGHWAY MILES ON MY COMMUTE AND I CONSIDER THIS VERY UNSAFE. (I HAVE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY NUMEROUS TIMES.)

NHTSA complaint #10003455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT ONLY 70000 MILES, GARAGE OPINION IS THAT IT IS DUE TO FAULTY COMPONENTS AND COOLANTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE. GM CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL FOR 1996 IN A SPECIAL POLICY.

NHTSA complaint #759806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #8000992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON, AND INSIDE CAB THERE IS A SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. ALSO, AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK. CONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #897398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET HAS EXTERNAL WATER LEAK AT DRIVER SIDE, FRONT AREA. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #742860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE SEIZES AT LOW SPEEDS ABOUT 40-45MPH, AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING AND ENTERING SLOWING OR STOPPED TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #782854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE THREW A ROD.TALKED TO OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.EVEN ON MULTIPLE ENGINES.

NHTSA complaint #738521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. FAILS TO START WHEN COLD AND ALSO AFTER DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE IN FOUR DAYS. FUEL PUMP WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT TO BE THE PROBLEM. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES IN 7 DAYS AFTER THE $700 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. ALTHOUGH TECHNICIANS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP ME, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION, THE NHTSA SHOULD CONSIDER ANY VEHICLE THAT STOPS ON THE FREEWAY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU, IN ADVANCE, FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE..

NHTSA complaint #737759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE SEIZES AT LOW SPEEDS ABOUT 40-45MPH, AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING AND ENTERING SLOWING OR STOPPED TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #782854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED TWICE IN TWO MONTHS. NLM

NHTSA complaint #782814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE HEAD PISTON BOLT BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN THE DAMAGE OF THE ENGINE PISTON. ALL MECHANICS I SPOKE TO SAID THAT IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN IF I WAS GOING AT SPEEDS OF EXCESS OF OVER 100 M.P.H. WHICH I WASN'T BECAUSE I STOPPED THE CAR QUICKLY ENOUGH TO STOP FURTHER PISTON DAMAGE. IF I DIDN'T, THE MECHANICS TOLD ME I MIGHT HAVE HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE OR SO THEY TOLD ME. PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THE ENGINE PISTON BOLT BREAKING IS A VERY, VERY RARE OCCURENCE AND THAT IT COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT SO I CAN BE ABSOLUTELY SURE IF IT WAS THE COMPANY'S FAULT OR MINE IN HAVING TO PAY $800.00 FOR SOMETHING I SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE PAID. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #729751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL THERE WAS A LOUD RAMBLING NOISE. SHE LOOKED IN HER REARVIEW MIRRIOR AND SAW WHITE SMOKE THOUGH THE WINDOW. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF CAR AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. SHE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD. CAR WAS TURN OFF. SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AND LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED A BIG GIANT WHOLE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A PIPE WAS BUSTED, AND OIL WAS LEAK OUT FROM THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #865244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE INTAKE VALVE SPRING IN THE 3RD CYLINDER SNAPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #549669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS.

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

LEASED 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE NEW IN DECEMBER 1996. HAVE HAD CONSISTENT LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT/OVERHEATING (EVEN IN -40C WEATHER), STRONG STENCH OF COOLANT IN CAR, CAUSING HEADACHES AND NAUSEA, SINCE CAR WAS FIRST PURCHASED. REPEATED VISITS TO DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR. NOW DEALER SAYS HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE. MAY NOT BE COVERED BY GM WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #703027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

LEASED 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE NEW IN DECEMBER 1996. HAVE HAD CONSISTENT LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT/OVERHEATING (EVEN IN -40C WEATHER), STRONG STENCH OF COOLANT IN CAR, CAUSING HEADACHES AND NAUSEA, SINCE CAR WAS FIRST PURCHASED. REPEATED VISITS TO DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR. NOW DEALER SAYS HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE. MAY NOT BE COVERED BY GM WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #703027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #539908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE SURGES INTERMITTENTLY, NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND DURING REPAIR DATES.

NHTSA complaint #542961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STOP FOR NO REASON. THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING. ENGINE WOULD NOT START UP RIGHT AWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA complaint #831721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.