Owners have filed 41 complaints
about the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire with NHTSA between 2003 and 2020.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 10 of 11 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 14
Against the median year of the Pontiac Sunfire. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 76
14.6% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 76
44% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2004 compares with every other Pontiac Sunfire
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
411.1%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
25.6%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
513.9%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
719.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
719.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
25.6%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
822.2%
150,000+ miles
12.8%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 2003peak 4Aug 2020
Recalls on the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 200421132 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 209 - Seat Belt Assemblies, and CMVSS 210 - Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages. On some of these vehicles, the passenger-side rear safety belt may have been installed with an incorrect nut and bolt that may not withstand the loads required by the two standards. In a severe crash, the upper seat belt anchorage may separate. The effectiveness of the seat belt could then be reduced and the occupant could receive greater injuries. Correction: Dealers will remove the required interior trim pieces and replace the incorrect passenger-side rear seat belt retractor attachment hardware.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 107,000 milesOttawa, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS WORKING NORMALLY THEN SUDDENLY WENT SOFT. PUMPED BRAKES BUT PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. CAUSED CAR TO CRASH INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. FAILURE WAS CONSISTENT WITH EITHER MATER CYLINDER FAILURE OR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND PRESSURE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE A TOTAL LOSS. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS WENT OFF IN SUNFIRE. NO SERIOUS INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10439679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesCameron, NYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS,TRAC AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I HIT A DEER BECAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WOULD NOT LET ME STOP FROM HITTING IT. I NOW HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH ABS TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE LIGHT BUT IT NOW MAKES IT HARD TO STOP TILL ALL THOSE COME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE HUB OF REAR END.
NHTSA complaint #10221376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesCameron, NYCrash
WHEELS:HUB
THE ABS,TRAC AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I HIT A DEER BECAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WOULD NOT LET ME STOP FROM HITTING IT. I NOW HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH ABS TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE LIGHT BUT IT NOW MAKES IT HARD TO STOP TILL ALL THOSE COME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE HUB OF REAR END.
NHTSA complaint #10221376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,000 milesAlbemarle, NCCrash1 injured
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
DT: THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FELL APART, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE .TRIED TO GET IT TO STRAIGTEN OUT., IT WAS LIKE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T DO WHAT CONSUMER, WANTED IT TO DO AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE,. BUT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE WINDSHIELD BUSTED, HIT A MAILBOX ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER DOOR. COULD SEE BLACK MARK LIKE IT WAS CLIPPED, AND NOT DENTED. FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, IT JUST BUCKLED. SMELLED SOMETHING THAT SEEMED LIKE SMOKE, BUT DIDN'T SEE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10126029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,000 milesOmaha, NEFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2004 SUNFIRE THAT WAS JUST PURCHASED AT THE END OF AUGUST, WHEN I SAW A FLAME COME OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH NEAR MY FOOT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THROUGH IT IN PARK AND JUMPED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED!
NHTSA complaint #10111861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Tinley Park, IL
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, I HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO STRAIGHT. I THOUGHT I MIGHT NEED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD FIRESTONE DEALER THAT NORMALLY WORKS ON MY CARS. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR, THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED OUT AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THEY GAVE ME PICTURES OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WHICH ALL READY HAD CRACKED APART DUE TO THE RUST. THEY SAID IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE OR ANYTHING IN THE ROAD THE FRAME COULD SPLIT APART AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED A BODY SHOP TO SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED AND THEY SAID IT WAS TO BIG OF A JOB.. THEY RECOMMENDED JUNKING THE CAR.. THIS CAR IS IN REAL GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THIS MAJOR DEFECT. THIS HAS FORCED ME TO BUY ANOTHER CAR.. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF YOUR PRODUCT. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11349088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 176,557 milesOshkosh, WI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE INNER IGNITION LOCK NEEDS TO BE CHANGED ABOUT EVERY 60,000 MILES. YOU CAN'T TURN THE KEY OVER AT ALL SO OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T START YOUR CAR. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11015293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 92,000 milesWintersville, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY DAUGHTER LEFT HOME AND THE VEHICLE FRAME, OF THE 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE,BROKE IN TWO PARTS WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT BROKE DUE TO IT RUSTED INTO TWO PARTS. SHE WAS NOT INJURED BUT THE CAR OF COURSE WAS INOPERABLE. THERE WAS NO WRECK OR ACCIDENT FOR THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE TO DISINTEGRATE. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF SHE WAS TRAVELING AT MORE THAN 35 MPH AND ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY GAVE THIS A GM CASE NUMBER AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT YOU CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM TO MAKE OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS AWARE OF IT. THE SHOP THAT IS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE STATED HE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING A FRAME DUE TO THE FACT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN PONTIAC SUNFIRE VEHICLES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10716042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesFenton, MO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOUGHT CAR USED IN 2013. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY UNTIL 9/12/14 WHEN THE THEFT SYSTEM SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER, RPMS, AND GAS INDICATORS WERE NOT READING - CAR BEGAN STALLING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SHUT DOWN. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 TO 55 MPH ON A BUSY STREET. AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF FOR A TIME IT STARTS UP OKAY AND RUNS UNTIL THE SAME THING REOCCURS AFTER GOING ABOUT 20 MILES OR SO - IF CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE MOVING IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. APPARENTLY, THE APPROXIMATE COST TO FIX IS $400.00 - I AM ON A LIMITED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10637233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesFenton, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT CAR USED IN 2013. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY UNTIL 9/12/14 WHEN THE THEFT SYSTEM SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER, RPMS, AND GAS INDICATORS WERE NOT READING - CAR BEGAN STALLING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SHUT DOWN. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 TO 55 MPH ON A BUSY STREET. AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF FOR A TIME IT STARTS UP OKAY AND RUNS UNTIL THE SAME THING REOCCURS AFTER GOING ABOUT 20 MILES OR SO - IF CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE MOVING IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. APPARENTLY, THE APPROXIMATE COST TO FIX IS $400.00 - I AM ON A LIMITED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10637233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesFenton, MO
ENGINE
BOUGHT CAR USED IN 2013. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY UNTIL 9/12/14 WHEN THE THEFT SYSTEM SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER, RPMS, AND GAS INDICATORS WERE NOT READING - CAR BEGAN STALLING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SHUT DOWN. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 TO 55 MPH ON A BUSY STREET. AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF FOR A TIME IT STARTS UP OKAY AND RUNS UNTIL THE SAME THING REOCCURS AFTER GOING ABOUT 20 MILES OR SO - IF CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE MOVING IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. APPARENTLY, THE APPROXIMATE COST TO FIX IS $400.00 - I AM ON A LIMITED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10637233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,000 milesSparta, WI
STEERING
VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS START RIGHT AWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10596516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,000 milesSparta, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS START RIGHT AWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10596516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,000 milesSparta, WI
SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS START RIGHT AWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10596516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesArcadia, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR THE EVENING. IN THE MORNING WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WERE TRIED TO START. NEW STARTER INSTALLED AND STILL NO SUCCESS TO START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. AFTER EVALUATION IT WAS FOUND THE TIMING CHAINS HAD BROKEN AND INFRINGED ON THE CYLINDER HEADS. VEHICLE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT ENGINE AS PER MECHANIC. INVESTIGATED OTHER CLAIMS OF THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENING AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE 2.2L ECOTEC ENGINE HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST 5-7 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10584763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesArcadia, OH
ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR THE EVENING. IN THE MORNING WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WERE TRIED TO START. NEW STARTER INSTALLED AND STILL NO SUCCESS TO START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. AFTER EVALUATION IT WAS FOUND THE TIMING CHAINS HAD BROKEN AND INFRINGED ON THE CYLINDER HEADS. VEHICLE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT ENGINE AS PER MECHANIC. INVESTIGATED OTHER CLAIMS OF THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENING AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE 2.2L ECOTEC ENGINE HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST 5-7 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10584763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesMassillon, OH
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BECAME FRACTURED AND AS RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10548218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,000 milesFountain, MI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN JANUARY OF 2006 THE TACHOMETER GAUGE STARTED JUMPING AROUND NOT READING CORRECT, BY CLICKING THE IGNITION ON AND OFF WITH THE CAR NOT RUNNING IT WOULD RE-SET. IN THE FALL OF 2012 THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED AND CONTINUES TO READ WRONG. APRIL 1ST 2013, NOW THE FUEL GAUGE HAS STARED TURNING COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND NO LONGER WORKS.
NHTSA complaint #10511106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,000 milesStephens City, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE RPM NEEDLE WENT TOTALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE INTO THE NEEDLE OF THE SPEEDOMETER. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING. EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. PAINT STARTING TO CHIP IN DIFFERENT PLACES. THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE THAT I HAD THAT THE PAINT PEELED AND GENERAL MOTORS STATES THAT IT IS TOO OLD OF A VEHICLE TO PAY TO HAVE PAINTED. THAT IS TOTALLY SAD.
NHTSA complaint #10464834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 107,000 milesOttawa, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS WORKING NORMALLY THEN SUDDENLY WENT SOFT. PUMPED BRAKES BUT PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. CAUSED CAR TO CRASH INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. FAILURE WAS CONSISTENT WITH EITHER MATER CYLINDER FAILURE OR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND PRESSURE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE A TOTAL LOSS. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS WENT OFF IN SUNFIRE. NO SERIOUS INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10439679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN IT IS VERY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL OF THE NEEDLES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL STICK AT CERTAIN POINTS OR STOP WORKING COMPLETELY, THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY AND I CAN NOT SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS WAS PART OF A GM CLASS SETTLEMENT BUT MY VEHICLE MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED FOR A FREE REPAIR OR A RECALL OF THIS PART. I DO NOT PLAN TO GET IT FIXED AT A DEALER BECAUSE OF THE COST BUT I PLAN TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OFF AND GET THE STEPPER MOTORS IN IT REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10375350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesPikeville, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
CAN'T RECALL EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALWAYS REGISTERING 100 MPH EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT MOVING. SOMETIMES IT WILL REGISTER TO 70 MPH, BY RUNNING BACKWARDS FROM 100, WHILE IT IS MOVING. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND WHERE GM SETTLED IN A CLASS ACTION FOR THIS DEFECT WHICH LISTED MY CAR AS A CAR THAT HAD THIS FAULTY COMPONENT, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT. I SEARCHED THIS WEBSITE'S COMPLAINT DATA BASE AND SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE, THE SPEEDOMETER. MY QUESTION IS, HOW MAY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE FOR ODI TO INITIATE AND INVESTIGATION, SO THAT A PROPER RECALL CAN TAKE PLACE?
NHTSA complaint #10320296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesFriendswood, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL GAUGES ON DASH DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. TACH IS PEGGED OUT, FUEL GAGE NOT CORRECT AND SPEED IS INACCURATE.
NHTSA complaint #10294382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brewer, ME
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT SIDE REAR BLINKER LIGHT GOES OUT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER PONTIAC SUNFIRES BUT FOR YEARS OTHER THAN THE ONE I HAVE. APPARENTLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING. I CAN WIGGLE THE BULB AND IT WILL WORK UNTIL I HIT A BUMP AND THEN IT IS OUT AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRES AS WELL AS THE OTHER YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10265560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesLongview, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY GAUGES (ALL BUT THE SPEEDOMETER) HAVE GONE CRAZY! THE FUEL GAUGE AND TEMP GAUGE ARE THE WORST. SOMETIMES THE TACHOMETER , THOUGH NOT OFTEN. MY FUEL GAUGE NEVER READS CORRECT AND SOMETIMES POINTS DIRECTLY DOWN OR IS INTO THE SPEEDOMETER. MY TEMP GAUGE EITHER NEVER MOVES OR ONCE IT MOVES, IT STAYS STUCK IN THE NEW LEVEL. IT SOMETIMES GETS INTO THE TACHOMETER CAUSING THAT ONE TO STOP WORKING. IT SOMETIMES GOES BACK TO NORMAL IF THE CAR IS TURNED ON AND OFF MANY, MANY TIMES. OTHER TIMES THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK. IT OCCURS ALL THE TIME AND FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THEY HAVE BEEN STUCK. I WOULD GET IT REPAIRED, BUT CAN'T AFFORD THE COSTS.
NHTSA complaint #10265375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesVail, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE STICKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DOES NOT RETURN TO 0MPH WHEN I STOP. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL BE PEGGED ALL THE WAY TO MAX. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TACHOMETER WILL DO THE SAME THING BUT IS NOT AS BAD AS THE SPEEDOMETER. WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE TACH WILL RESET BACK TO 0.
NHTSA complaint #10263636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesMonroe, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DIM, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING THE "BRIGHTS". AFTER REPLACING HEADLIGHT BULBS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUNFIRE AND IT INVOLVED CORROSION TO THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL, WHICH I DID NOT FIND. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AND THERE IS MUCH WRITTEN ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN SEVERAL AUTO FORUMS, BUT GM HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE WITH A RECALL. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND HAD COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHICH I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE UNTIL SHE WAS FOLLOWING ME AT NIGHT AND I SAW THAT HER HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS, WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM BEEN ADDRESSED. I SEE THE DEALERS ARE CHARGING APPROX. $600 TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH SEEMS RIDICULOUS, CONSIDERING IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. DOES THERE NEED TO BE DEATHS INVOLVED IN ORDER FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED?HEADLIGHTS
NHTSA complaint #10250572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesCameron, NYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS,TRAC AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I HIT A DEER BECAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WOULD NOT LET ME STOP FROM HITTING IT. I NOW HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH ABS TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE LIGHT BUT IT NOW MAKES IT HARD TO STOP TILL ALL THOSE COME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE HUB OF REAR END.
NHTSA complaint #10221376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesCameron, NYCrash
WHEELS:HUB
THE ABS,TRAC AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I HIT A DEER BECAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WOULD NOT LET ME STOP FROM HITTING IT. I NOW HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH ABS TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE LIGHT BUT IT NOW MAKES IT HARD TO STOP TILL ALL THOSE COME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE HUB OF REAR END.
NHTSA complaint #10221376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesCoeurd'alene, ID
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000. UPDATED 07/09/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10216893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.