FaultScore

1997 Pontiac Sunfire window and wiper problems

13 of the 257 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,300 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Windshield Wiper/Washer 10 76.9%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 1 7.7%
Windshield 1 7.7%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 1 7.7%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Pontiac Sunfire year

1996 13 36.1%
1997 13 36.1%
2002 10 27.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 90,600 miles Berne, IN

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

AS OF 2 DAYS AGO(4-11-05) SOMEONE CAME TO LOOK AT MY CAR,FOR POSSIBLE PURCHASE, AND TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, UPON RETURNING SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T GET THE DRIVERS WINDOW TO ROLL UP. HAVING POWER WINDOWS, I CHECKED THE FUSE, THE PASSENGER WINDOW GOES UP AND DOWN JUST FINE, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE ROLLS UP IN SPURTS, I HIT THE BUTTON, IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING UP JUST FINE, AND JUST STOPS. I TALKED TO ANOTHER OWNER OF A SUNFIRE, AND HE SAID THAT HE KNEW OF A BIG COMPLAINT ABOUT THE POWER WINDOW PULLING TOO MUCH POWER AND BASICALLY WEARING THE MOTOR OUT. THAT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT I HAVE NOTICED. I WENT AHEAD AND CHANGED THE FUSE JUST IN CASE AND CHECKED THE WIRING FOR ANY SURGES, NOTICED NOTHING FURTHER, BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEM W/WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #10116848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Whitehall, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT PARK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WILL ONLY PARK CORRECTLY IF THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN RUNNING AT FULL SPEED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST TWO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD SWITH TWICE BECAUSE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON (DAY OR NIGHT) INSTEAD OF THE NIGHT TIME DRIVING LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT PARKING CORRECTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10102187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Friendswood, TX

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT PARK PROPERLY. IMPAIR VISION WHEN IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA complaint #10041633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mitchellville, IA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

CONSUMER STATE AFTER TURNING WINDSHIELD WIPER OFF WIPERS WOULD NOT LIE DOWN IN THE OFF POSITION. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #8022181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oxford, MI

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP OPERATING IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD WHILE RAINNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8006059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sicklerville, NJ

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL NOT PARK. IT IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #757731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dupo, IL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REST IN A VERTICAL POISITION WHEN SHUT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #750206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dupo, IL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REST IN A VERTICAL POISITION WHEN SHUT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #750206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anderson, IN

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW AND STAY THERE. THE WIPERS WOULD NOT PARK. I HAVE NOTICED 5 OTHER PONTIAC SUNFIRES ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEM LIKE I KEEP HAVING TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I REALLY THINK IT IS ODD THAT I SEE SO MANY OTHER SUNFIRES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #728282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Haven, CT

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS REMAINS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #861174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ypsilanti, MI

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

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.

South Amboy, NJ

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 40MP SUNROOF SHATTERED. NOTHING HAD HIT IT. HAD HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE SUNROOF WAS NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. MANUFACTURER SENT OWNER TO AUTOMOBILE SUNROOF TO HAVE ONE INSTALLED (SKYMATE #H035765).

NHTSA complaint #836803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ringgold, GA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

FRONT WINDSHIELD IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH A NIGHT, SMEARS BADLY.

NHTSA complaint #533924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Pontiac Sunfire problems

← Full 1997 Pontiac Sunfire report