125 of the 1,641 complaints filed about the Pontiac Sunfire are about the airbag system — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
125
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
69
Crashes
1
Fires
AIR BAGS
CARS BATTERY CONSTANTLY RAN DOWN. BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND WAS OK AS IT WAS THREE MONTHS OLD. REPAIR STATION SAID THE HORN WAS SHORTED AND THE AIR BAG IS PART OF THE HORN SWITCH AND MUST BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #11052792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
MY WRECK HAPPENED IN 2006. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CRUSHED MY FACE I HAD TO HAVE TITANIUM PLATES PUT IN MY FACE CRASHED MY LEGS BROKE MANY BONES.
NHTSA complaint #10717454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCHED OFF INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED A FOUR VEHICLE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10661403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
EVERY TIME I LET MY CAR SIT FOR 2 HOURS OR MORE, I START IT UP AND THE BELT ON THE TENSIONER SQUEAK FOR 15 SECONDS. ALSO THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE RIM FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000. WHEN I DRIVE IT THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ON BUT EVERY TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND I'M ACCELERATING THE ENGINE WILL NOT SHIFT, THE RPMS WILL REV UP TO RED LINE IF PUSHED THAT FAR, EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT FOR AIRBAG AND BATTERY WILL SHUT OFF AND IT WILL SHIFT. SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL WHILE THIS IS DOING THIS AT NIGHT, MY DASHBOARD AS WELL AS RADIO LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF UNTIL RPMS GO DOWN TO 2,000.
NHTSA complaint #10630444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DAUGHTER HYDROPLANED, WENT INTO DITCH ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD, TRAVELED ACROSS ROAD INTO LEFT DITCH AND HIT TREE, OPENING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DURING CRASH AND TOTALED VEHICLE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10544721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 5:00PM, PERFECT ROAD CONDITIONS. I STARTED CHOKING & SWERVED INTO ANOTHER LANE, OTHER DRIVER BLASTED HIS HORN & SCARED ME. I OVER COMPENSATED & LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR & ENDED UP HITTING THE MEDIAN. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FINE, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DIDN'T DEPLOY CORRECTLY. THE AIR BAG CAME OUT OF THE SIDE & NOT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAG BLEW MY REAR VIEW MIRROR OFF OF THE WIND SHIELD & ENDED UP BREAKING MY RIGHT HAND IN MULTIPLE PLACES. MY SEAT BELT ALSO CAME UNDONE. I AM ONLY 5 FEET TALL & IF THE AIRBAG HAD GONE OFF LIKE IT SHOULD'VE, I KNOW I WOULD HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INJURIES TO MY FACE & CHEST. THE REASON I AM MAKING A COMPLAINT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT HAD I HIT THIS WALL HEAD ON, I MOST LIKELY WOULD'VE BEEN KILLED. AT THIS TIME I DO NOT KNOW THE VIN OR CORRECT MILES, MY CAR AS TOTALED & IT'S STILL WITH THE TOW COMPANY. I BELIEVE THIS, ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELT UNLOCKING ON IT'S OWN AFTER A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, TO BE TREMENDOUSLY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10519995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,600.
NHTSA complaint #10514559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARRANT. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER FACE AND SHOULDERS. SHE FILED REPORT NUMBER 71762569700 WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND SHE WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TO TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10286427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY 1996 AIR BAG DEPLOYED, A FEW MONTHS AGO, I RECEIIVED AT NOTICE OF THIS HAPPENING ONCE I CALLED A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP IN AUGUSTA GA. I THAN RECEIVE A NOTIFY OF THIS OCCURING IN THIS MADE AND YEAR OF CAR. GMC CONTACTED ME AND ASK IF THAY COULD REPURCHASE THE CAR. I TOLD THEM AT THAT TIME I WAS INTERESTED. THEY MADE ME AN AFFORD THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR MY VECHICLE. THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEGE THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBE FOR THE VECHICLE. I ASK THAT MY ARE BAG BE REPLACED, DUE TO I THINK AND KNOW MY CAR WAS WORTH MORE THAN THE OFFER. THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT,TELLING ME I CAN TAKE THEIR OFFER ARE NOTHING, I FEEL THAT MY CAR WAS IENGINE AND BODY WAS IN EXACTLY EXCELLENT CONDITION, I KEPT THE CAR TO GIVEN TO MY SON , NOW I FEEL LIKE I AM THE ONE LOSING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICHE NEW, AND IT WAS NOT MY FAULT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND I HAVE TO TAKE THE LOST. .
NHTSA complaint #10232546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. AFTER IT RAINED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 DAYS, THE CONTACT NOTICED STANDING WATER IN THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO DRY OUT, EVERY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT, DIMMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN $350. THE CONTACT NO LONGER DRIVES THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE FEARS FOR HER LIFE DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/16/08
NHTSA complaint #10231846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY ONTO ROAD, APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AN HOUR, SUDDENLY BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME. CALLED GM AND TOOK CAR TO GM DEALER FOR INSPECTION. GM CALLED TO REPORT THAT IT WAS A GM FAILURE AND REQUESTED TO (PRIVATE PARTY) PURCHASE THE CAR BACK FROM US AT A CURRENT VEHICLE VALUE OF AROUND $900.
NHTSA complaint #10231598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 MPH BARELY BUMPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME,WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER AND DAMAGE TO COMPLETE DASH. *TR TL THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER BARELY BUMPED INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AND BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVERS FINGER WAS INJURED. THE WINDOW SHATTERED AND THE DASHBOARD WAS DESTROYED. SHE NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL, CALLED PONTIAC AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO EXISTING RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ESTIMATE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $2,100. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10220539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AS THE CONTACT PLACED HER CHILD IN THE REAR CHILD SEAT. WHEN SHE PUSHED THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,000. UPDATED 03-04-08
NHTSA complaint #10210359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2003 AND THE CAR WAS GREAT. IN MARCH 2006 I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE THE CAR WHEN ATTEMPTED TO START WOULD TAKE A FEW SECONDS EXTRA AND THEN START, THEN 6 MONTHS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE CAR JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR RESTARTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER. THEN IN NOVEMBER THIS STARTED HAPPENING MORE AN MORE FREQUENTLY. ONE NIGHT IN DECEMBER THE CAR CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OF THE ROAD. I WAITED AN HOUR AND STILL THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP SO I REPLACED THAT AND THE CAR WORKED FOR 2 DAYS AND THEN THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. HE THEN TESTED THE CAR AND SAW THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD HIM DO A TEMPORARY FIX AND RUN A LINE FROM THE BATTERY TO THE FUEL PUMP SO THE CAR WOULD STILL START. THEN EVERYTHING ELSE SLOWLY STARTED TO FAIL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW STAYS ON. ONE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN THE OTHER FOLLOWED BY MY HIGH BEAM TOTALLY. MY FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL WENT THEN THE REAR RIGHT FOLLOWED BY THE FRONT RIGHT. MY HORN NO LONGER WORKS. I DON'T KNOW IF MY AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10204414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND I WAS IN A CAR/COW ACCIDENT IN MAY 0F 06 I WAS GOING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH WE HIT HEAD ON AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOW WHAT'S UP WITH THAT??? THANK GOD NOW ONE WAS HURT.
NHTSA complaint #10196786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHTS HAVE BEEN LIT FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR AND LOCAL DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM OR FIX. VEHICLE RECENTLY HIT A BUMP AND DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. SPEED ABOUT 30 MPH WITH ANOTHER ADULT IN PASSENGER SEAT AND INFANT IN REAR-FACING SEAT IN REAR.
NHTSA complaint #10160955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT OF ANY KIND, OR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10150667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT:THE CONTACT STATED TWO FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE TURNING INTO A GAS STATION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. SHE WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AT THE TIME. THEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS CORROSION AND WATER IN THE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO BLACK EYES, A KNOT ON HER FOREHEAD AND BURNS ON HER THROAT AND CHEST. AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME WAS LYING ON THE GROUND. SHE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. IT SOUNDED AS IF SHE RAN OVER GLASS IN THE ROAD. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD INSTEAD OF DEPLOYING OUT TOWARD THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE POLICE OFFICER DID CAME AND TOOK A REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CAME TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHO WAS AT FAULT FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS IN TWO PREVIOUS REAR END ACCIDENTS AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT THAT TIME. FROM THE TIME OF HER LAST ACCIDENT IT HAD BEEN ABOUT TWO MONTHS UNTIL THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK UPDATE 12/6/2005 - THE ROAD THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10140783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED THEN IT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE ONLY VEHICLE IN MOTION WAS THREE CARS BACK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE IMPOUND LOT BY THE POLICE. NO ONE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN THE MOUTH AND CHEST AND SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION, FACIAL BRUISING, CHEST PAINS, HEADACHE, AND DIZZINESS. *AK (12/08/05) THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10140362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I WAS ON ROUTE 65 IN NORTH SEWICKELY IN PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS STOPPED DUE TO ANOTHER DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. A CAR CAME FROM BEHIND HITTING ME AND I WAS PROPELLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHICH HIT THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FROM THE HEAD ON COLLISION. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE BRUISES AND SPRAINED NECK AND SHOULDER. I HAVE PAIN TO MY ABDOMEN DUE TO THE SEAT BELT, I HAD ON. NOTHING, MY CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. I HAVE A CALL INTO GM BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR WHICH THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER ONE WAS A FEW MONTHS OF BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2000. WHEN A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF ME ON INTERSTATE 19. SMASHING THE FRONT END THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THEN EITHER. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN THE DEER HIT ME. I HAD ON MY SAFETY BELT.
NHTSA complaint #10132127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.