172 of the
1,641 complaints filed about the Pontiac Sunfire
are about the braking system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1996.
MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECT UNTIL 3 WEEKS AGO, IT HAS SINCE THEN WONT START BACK UP. THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SPARK, THEN TRIED SPARK PLUG WIRES, NEW BATTERY, CHECKED ALTERNATOR AND FUSES, COILS ALL GOOD. THEN I WAS LEAD TO MAYBE THE GAS THAT WAS IN IT. DROPPED GAS TANK, PUT NEW FUEL FILTER, CHECKED FUEL PUMP, GAS LINES, IT DID STAY RUNNING ONE TIME SINCE BUT WAS SHAKING ROUGHLY WITH A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WILL NOT RUN ANYMORE SINCE THEN. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS NOW AND IT IS MY ONLY CAR.. ALSO BEFORE THE CAR STARTED HAVING THE ABOVE PROBLEMS MY BRAKES KEPT GETTING TONS OF AIR ALSO LOSING A TON OF BRAKE FLUID, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND ALL BRAKE LINES ARE GOOD. IT'S DANGEROUS. ALSO HAVE BLED THE BRAKES. NOT MUCH HELP OTHER THAN TEMPORARILY.
NHTSA complaint #11329282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PROBLEM INITIALLY HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, BUT NOW IS PERSISTENT AND NONE OF THESE ITEMS FUNCTION POSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10919968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ENGINE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #10652659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS PURCHASING THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY 3 TIMES. THE CAR WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY SHUT OFF, THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED AND MULTIPLE TIMES THIS HAPPENED. I LOST ALLOT OF MONEY I PUT ON THE CAR AS IT BECAME OBVIOUS THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AND I HAD TO LET THEM TAKE IT BACK WITH NO REFUND TO ME.........THEY SAID AT THE DEALER THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10631179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE FROM A DEALERSHIP 5 MONTHS AGO. I TOLD THE OWNER/SALESMAN I WANTED A SAFE 1ST CAR FOR MY KID. MY KID AND SOME FRIENDS WERE DRIVING,IT WAS RAINING AND THE BACK TIRES STARTED TO SLIDE,MY KID REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR BRIEFLY AND SAID AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND THEY ENDED UP IN A SPIN. THE CAR HIT AN OBJECT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE,SPUN AROUND AND HIT ANOTHER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE,THEN BOUNCED OFF THAT AND LANDED ACROSS A DEEP DITCH WHERE IT WAS HIT AGAIN IN THE REAR WHEN STOPPING. NO STEERING. NO BRAKES. THE ENGINE WAS STILL GOING EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS WEDGED INTO THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT AND THE EMBANKMENT OF THE DITCH. BY THE GRACE OF GOD NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY INJURED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME. MY KID SAID THAT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE STEERING WHEEL FELT " WIGGLEY". WE LOOKED AT THAT AREA 1ST. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE. THE PIVOT PIN FOR THE COLUMN WAS GONE. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL IN OCTOBER OF 2008. I CALLED GM TO REQUEST THE RECORDS TO FIND OUT IF THE REPAIR WAS EVER DONE. THE GM REP REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE INFORMATION IN THE DATA BASE. HE SAID I COULD GET IT FROM A "CERTIFIED" GM DEALER! HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE STEERING, BUT THERE WAS OTHERS. I ASKED WHAT THEY WERE AND AGAIN HE SAID HE COULDN'T GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION. I ALSO OWN A PONTIAC G5 THAT'S BEEN WAITING FOR PARTS ON THE IGNITION RECALL. I HAVE BEEN ON A LIST AT MY DEALERSHIP. I AM MAD AS HELL! ALL MY KID HAS NOW IS THE COMFORT OF KNOWING THE FRIENDS WEREN'T HURT OR KILLED. SOME 1ST CAR, HUH? SPENT 5000.00 OF 401K MONEY FOR A DEATH TRAP THAT GM REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE DATABASE HISTORY ON. CAN'T DRIVE IT, CAN'T SELL IT, AND WITH NO HISTORY, CAN'T FIX IT. LIABILITY AND COMP, THAT'S ALL WE COULD AFFORD, INSURANCE IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR YOUNG DRIVERS. THERE IS NO MIDDLE CLASS AND THIS KIND OF THING IS WHY.
NHTSA complaint #10598342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD CAR SHUT OFF AND EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AND HAD NO POWER. AFRAID IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT FASTER SPEED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10576011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY FRONT BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY?! ONLY REAR, EMERGENCY BRAKE AND L FRONT? HAD R FRONT CALIPER COMPLETELY REMOVED AND REPLACED, YET PROBLEM STILL EXISTED?! WAS TOLD SOMETHING COULD BE WRONG WITH GM'S ANTI LOCK BRAKE UNIT INSTALLED INTO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER? COST WAS GOING TO BE AROUND $800.00 TO REPLACE UNIT THAT, ON MY VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO?
NHTSA complaint #10515617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH MY CAR I AM ONLY LISTING THE ONES WHICH HAVE HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE 1..TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES FIRST TIME WHILE TRAVELING 35MPH CAR CAME TO A DEAD STOP TIRES LOCKED UP, CAR WOULD NOT EVEN ROLL, CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENT. 2...WINDOW MOTORS FAILED TWICE ON EACH EACH DOOR OF MY 4 DOOR CAR 3...HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED 3 TIMES CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATION AT NIGHT 4...SEVERE WATER LEAK IN TRUNK AREA , WATER GETTING IN THROUGH FENDER WELL OR TRUNK UNDERBODY, CAUSED SO MUCH TO PUDDLE UP A MUSHROOM STARTED GROWING FROM BACK SEAT,... WATER PUDDLED UNDERNEATH CARPET IN SPARE TIRE AREA SO IT WAS NOT VISIBLE TO NAKED EYE, BUT WAS SLOSHING BACK AND FORTH WITH EVERY STOP AND GO OF VEHICLE STILL TO THIS DAY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT EXACT LOCATION WATER IS GETTING IN ALTHOUGH IT FOR SURE IS FROM UNDERBODY 5... OTHER DEFECTS INCLUDE RADIO DISPLAY LIGHTS FAIL ON 2 RADIOS, SEATBELTS AND STEERING WHEEL BECOME TOO HOT IN SUMMER BRAKE PADS WEAR UNEVENLY,,,, FUEL PUMPS GO OUT OFTEN.
NHTSA complaint #10405944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2.2L. REAR RIGHT BRAKE LOCKS. CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUDDER AND DIFFICULT TO STOP. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. POSSIBLE FAILURE TO STOP IS THE GREATEST CONCERN. THIS MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10384013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED DOWN A HILL DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES LOCKED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE DUST WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DUST WAS REMOVED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10368095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOST BRAKES IN MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WHEN BRAKING ON AN EXPRESSWAY EXIT RAMP. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION, BUT WAS ABLE TO AVERT A COLLISION. THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE (HYDRAULIC) CORRODED THROUGH AND CAUSED A LARGE LEAK, LEAVING MARGINAL BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10290562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FEBRUARY 2007 HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AND WAS TOLD REAR CALIPERS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WORK WAS COMPLETED TOTALING $875. WITHIN A WEEK, THE BRAKES LOCKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND FAILURE TO STOP. NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN IN CROSS WALK AT 20 MPH. RETURNED TO SERVICE, WAS TOLD ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO THE ABS BRAKES SYSTEM. SERVICE COMPLETED. 4 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED UP AND A GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED. RETURNED FOR SERVICE, PADS REPLACED, BRAKES ADJUSTED PER THE MECHANIC. 3 MONTHS HAVE PASSED NOW AND NOW THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES PERIODICALLY AND NOW WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PADS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ABS SYSTEM, I AGAIN NOTICE THE VEHICLE VEERING RIGHT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES TEND TO LOCK AT SPEEDS OF 20 TO 35 MPH WITH A LIGHT SCRAPPING AND/OR GRINDING NOISE AGAIN. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THEY HAVE COMPLETED AND REPAIRED THE BRAKES TO THE VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS AND CANNOT SERVICE ORE REPAIR IT ANY FURTHER. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, IT APPEARS SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OR INCIDENT OCCUR, UNFORTUNATELY RESULTING IN A CRASH. I AM REQUESTING A FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO BE COMPLETED ON THE GM ABS SYSTEMS FOR THIS VEHICLE. BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED 3 TIMES IN A TWO YEAR TIME SPAN. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ASSEMBLY OR DESIGN OF THIS ABS SYSTEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS ON THIS VEHICLE TOTALING NEARLY $2,000. I MUST COMMUTE TO WORK ON TWO MAJOR FREEWAYS IN LOS ANGELES, WHICH IF AN ABS FAILURE OCCURS, COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITH SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO MYSELF AND/OR PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10262702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON NOVEMBER 12, 2008 I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THAT I HAD PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 28, 2008. AS THE CAR AHEAD OF ME BEGAN TO BRAKE I BEGAN TO BRAKE AS WELL. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGHT THE BRAKES "GRABBED" CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE A BROKEN FOOT CAUSED FROM PUSHING ON THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10249575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK AND DESTROYED THE REAR BUMPER OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,000. UPDATED 01/29/08
NHTSA complaint #10213239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH 27,000 MILES. REAR BRAKE RETAINING SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING. BROKEN PARTS FELL INTO THE DRUM CAUSING NOISE AND EXCESSIVE HEATING OF THE DRUM. HAD TO PAY FOR THE PART AND FIX IT AFTER WAITING THREE DAYS TO GET THE PART FROM THE DEALER. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10209132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2006. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN INFORMATION INDICATING THIS PUMP IS IN THE SUSPECT GROUP OF PUMPS COVERED BY THE DELPHI RECALL NUMBER 07E-015. I CONTACTED THE NUMBER LISTED, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE SOMEONE ELSE HAD ENTERED INFORMATION ON THE VIN THAT THEY WILL NOT TELL ME ANYTHING. THEY REFUSED TO TELL ME HOW TO HAVE THE INSPECTION OR REIMBURSEMENT DONE. THIS VEHICLE WAS WRECKED BY MY DAUGHTER IN MARCH 2006, AND THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION OF THE ABS SYSTEM ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10187990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGES. THE ABS NORMALLY ENGAGED WHEN GOING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOES, PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE ABS ENGAGING. UPDATED 04/17/06.
NHTSA complaint #10151319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.