12 of the
169 complaints about the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire are about the
lighting — 7% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
100,000 miles.
"TAKATA RECALL" WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A COUNTY ROAD AND SWITCHING FROM LOW BEAMS TO HIGH BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY DARK AND DID NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL SWITCHING BACK TO LOW BEAMS. AFTER INSPECTION, NOTICED THE DAY RUNNERS ALSO WERE NOT WORKING. ALL FUSES WERE PLUGGED IN AND GOOD. REPLACING THE RELAY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED HEREIN.
NHTSA complaint #11001900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 164,283 milesAlliance, NE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT INVOLVED A SIMILAR FAILURE (GMC RECALL NUMBER: 03043); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,283.
NHTSA complaint #10959175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grass Lake, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET IT IS GETTING VERY HOT AND IS MELTING BULBS AND SOCKET. HAVE REPLACED BULBS VARIOUS TIMES WITH AND WITHOUT PROPER GREASE AND NO CHANGE.
NHTSA complaint #10350456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami Beach, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT OR BRAKE LIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. FUSES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. ONCE REPLACED BULBS DEFECT WITHIN AN HOUR OR SO. DOME LIGHT OR OVER HEAD LIGHT REPEATS SAME PROCESS. VEHICLE'S BATTERY AND TERMINALS REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE. $$$
NHTSA complaint #10209589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 98,000 milesSouth Whitley, IN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VEHICLE: 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK; WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR, THE LIGHTS "FLICKER" AS THE RELAY FIRES, BUT THE LIGHTS DO NOT REMAIN ON, THEN THE "SERVICE" LIGHT COMES ON. ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON, AND IF THEY DO, THE BRIGHT LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. YOU CAN "OVER-RIDE" THE SYSTEM BY PULLING THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK PARTIALLY, WHICH THEN ALLOWS THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLAMP BULBS, AND THE DRL RELAY, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. AS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS, I SAW A WEBSITE CALLED "CARSURVEY.ORG" WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON SUNFIRES AND CAVALIERS (1998 - 2002). MANY OF THESE COMMENTS SAY THAT ACCORDING TO GM DEALERSHIPS, THIS IS A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM, AND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN CORRECTING IT. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS: DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE YOU WILL GET INVOLVED? I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS, BUT I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10175169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesArnold, MO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10158743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 73,000 milesWalworth, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY CAR IS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, AND TWICE WITHIN 12 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS QUIT WORKING , THE 1ST TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BAD WIRE AND REPLACED IT, WITHIN ONE YEAR IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PART WAS ONLY WARRANTED FOR 1YR OR 12,000 MILES OF WHICH THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER THE 12,000 MILES,THEREFORE I AM HAVING TO PAY AGAIN (TWICE IN ONE YEAR ) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
NHTSA complaint #10133099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Orleans, LA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY DAYTIME LIGHTS WILL WORK PROPERLY. HOWEVER, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT LIGHTS ARE UNABLE TO STAY ON, CAUSING DRIVER TO HOLD SWITCH IN ORDER TO HAVE LIGHTS STAY ON.
NHTSA complaint #8014420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellwood City, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT GETTING HOT MELTING THE CARPET AND PAINT INSIDE TRUNK, FUMES FILLED INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AT THIS TIME EXHAUST SYSTEM IS RUNNING JUST AS HOT AGAIN, DEALER STATED FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS BAD GAS MILEAGE, STARTER MOTOR SEIZED AND FAILED, POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM LEFT FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE, REPLACED RADIATOR, HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR AT IDLE, TRUNK LEAKS, HEAD LAMP IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, GLOVE BOX WILL NOT CLOSE, MUFFLER FELL OFF, KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WITH VEHICLE RUNNING, TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE, THERE WAS BRAKE PULSATION AT HIGH SPEED OR WHEN STOPPING, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, SPEAKERS INOPERATIVE, SEAT SPRING FAILED, SUSPECTED MOTOR OIL SMELL AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, POWER AND GROUNDS DISTRIBUTION REPLACED, WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY, FOUND WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, HAZARD LAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL WERE INOPERATIVE, REPLACED BLOWN FUSE, CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE, REPLACED BLOWN FUSE, TRACTION CONTROL INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, A/C HOSE LEAKING, REPLACED EVAPORATOR, HARD TO START AND ROUGH IDLE, ENGINE MAKE RATTLING NOISE AND QUIT RUNNING, REPLACED HEAD CYLINDER AND 02 SENSOR, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT, OVERFLOW BOTTLE MELTED AND 42 GOODYEAR TIRES BLEW OUT, ALSO THE HVAC WAS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #8003978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellwood City, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT GETTING HOT MELTING THE CARPET AND PAINT INSIDE TRUNK, FUMES FILLED INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AT THIS TIME EXHAUST SYSTEM IS RUNNING JUST AS HOT AGAIN, DEALER STATED FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS BAD GAS MILEAGE, STARTER MOTOR SEIZED AND FAILED, POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM LEFT FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE, REPLACED RADIATOR, HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR AT IDLE, TRUNK LEAKS, HEAD LAMP IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, GLOVE BOX WILL NOT CLOSE, MUFFLER FELL OFF, KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WITH VEHICLE RUNNING, TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE, THERE WAS BRAKE PULSATION AT HIGH SPEED OR WHEN STOPPING, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, SPEAKERS INOPERATIVE, SEAT SPRING FAILED, SUSPECTED MOTOR OIL SMELL AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, POWER AND GROUNDS DISTRIBUTION REPLACED, WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY, FOUND WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, HAZARD LAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL WERE INOPERATIVE, REPLACED BLOWN FUSE, CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE, REPLACED BLOWN FUSE, TRACTION CONTROL INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, A/C HOSE LEAKING, REPLACED EVAPORATOR, HARD TO START AND ROUGH IDLE, ENGINE MAKE RATTLING NOISE AND QUIT RUNNING, REPLACED HEAD CYLINDER AND 02 SENSOR, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT, OVERFLOW BOTTLE MELTED AND 42 GOODYEAR TIRES BLEW OUT, ALSO THE HVAC WAS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #8003978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mckeesport, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
FOR MY CAR BEING A 2000, I HAVE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FOR STARTERS, I HAD A DEFECT IN THE SIDE WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS BACK SIDE, I HAD THE LINE THE ANTIFREEZE RUNS THROUGH REPLACED DUE TO A HOLE BEING BURNT THROUGH IF FROM THE BATTERY, I HAD THE MOLDING IN MY PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR FIXED TWICE, THEN I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE NOT COMING ON, SO THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AND THAT WASNT THE PROBLEM SO THEN IT WAS BACK A SECOND TIME, AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, THEN THEY HAD TO ORDER ME A NEW CD PLAYER BECAUSE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THAT AS WELL. THEN THERE WAS SHAKING IN THE CAR AS I DROVE IT, THEY TESTED IT AND SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM, A WEEK LATER IT WAS BACK AND HAD COIL WIRES AND OTHER THINGS REPLACED DUE TO THE SHAKING, THEN THE GLASS IN MY DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR NEEDS REPLACED BECAUSE NOW THAT ISNT WORKING. I AM REALLY TIRED OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM HOPING SOMETHING WILL COME OUT OF THIS. I CANT BELIEVE THAT BUYING A NEW CAR CAN HAVE SO MUCH AGGRIVATION, TO BE HONEST I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT LONG DISTANCES, CONSIDERING I DRIVE AN HOUR TO WORK EVERY DAY.
NHTSA complaint #739600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frankfort, KYFire
INTERIOR LIGHTING
ON 1-23-2000, MY AUTOMOBILE, WHICH IS JUST 4 MONTHS OLD, STARTED SHOWING PROBLEMS. EVERY TIME YOU APPLIED THE BRAKES, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS INSIDE WOULD GO OUT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I WENT OUTSIDE TO START MY CAR TO LET IT WARM UP, WHEN I RETURNED IN ABOUT 15 MIN. THE INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND HAD A VERY STRONG ODOR LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HERE IN TOWN, THEY FIRST SAID THAT THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, JUST AS SOON AS I GOT IN THE CAR AND HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR WITH THEM AGIAN THEY FOUND THAT THE LEAD WIRE HAD SHORTED OUT ON THE PASSNGER SIDE AND BURNT THROUGH THE CARPET AT GROUND POINT. I FEEL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM HAD THE CARPET IGNITED AND ESPECIALLY BEINGS IT IS A NEW AUTO. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT AND SEE IF ANY OTHER SIMILIAR PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURED AND THESE AUTO'S SHOULD BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #717953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.