Pontiac Sunfire headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

"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.

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2007 AND THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER NEXT TO DRIVING WHEEL WAS NOT WORKING. CAR WAS IN STORAGE FOR OVER A YEAR AND AROUND MAY 2010 THE DRIVERS WINDOW STOPPED "ROLLING UP" SO WE GOT THE WINDOW MOTOR CHANGED AS THEY SAID IT WAS BURNT. WINDOW WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN IT TURNED OUT TO BE ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAVING TO DO WITH THE SWITCH CONTROLLING THE WINDOWS. AROUND APRIL 2011 A NEW ISSUE, HIGH BEAMS STOPPED WORKING ON AND OFF. THEY EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING AND LEADING TO NO BEAMS AT ALL, NOT SIGNALS AND NO LIGHT IN DASHBOARD. ANOTHER PART HAD TO BE REPLACED. MAY 2013 - STEREO LIGHT IS NOT WORKING, BUT STEREO IS OPERATING. JULY 2013 - TRUNK WILL NOT LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #10525951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST AFTER I PURCHASED IT AND BECAME COLD SO I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS SMOKE FILLED THE CAR. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING OIL OR GAS. I CALLED DELPHI ABOUT RECALLS AND BEFORE I COULD FINISH A SENTENCE THE MAN CUT ME OFF SAYING THAT THE ONLY RECALL ON MY CAR WAS FOR THE O RING ON THE FUEL. HE SAID IF I HAVE A 1999 AND THAT WAS DEFECTIVE I WOULD BE SPEWING FUEL EVERYWHERE. I DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED AND HE JUST CUT ME OFF. MY BROTHER PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER FOR OVER 3,000 DOLLARS AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE ODOMETER IS SUPPOSE TO BE BECAUSE HE SAID THE DEALER TOLD HIM TO BRING IT BACK AND HE WOULD FIX IT. AFTER HE PAID THE DEALER HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT HE WILL CONTACT MY BROTHER WHEN HE CAN FIX IT. ACCORDING TO THE ODOMETER IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 23,000 MILES. I ALSO NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT AND THERE IS YELLOW HOT WIRE HANGING OUT OF THE FUSE BOX.

NHTSA complaint #10501229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

IN LOOKING UP WHAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR I HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL OTHER CARS SEEM BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. MOST DAYS THE ONLY INSTRUMENT THAT IS WORKING IS THE SPEEDOMETER. GENERALLY I USE A GARMIN TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM AT THE CORRECT SPEED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND THE TACHOMETER IS NO LONGER WORKING. RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICE THAT THE LIGHTS IN THE RADIO ARE NOT ALL LIGHTING UP. SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE HANDLING FOR THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I AM FINDING ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10423780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DRL LIGHTS ON MY DAUGHTERS PONTIAC SUNFIRE MALFUNCTIONED AND QUIT WORKING. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DRL'S IS THAT THEY ARE WIRED INTO THE HEADLIGHTS, AND WHEN THE DRL"S SHORT OUT THEY DISABLE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT. I HAVE TRYING T TO GET IT REPAIRED BUT HAVEN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM YET. I HAVE REPLACED THE DRL RELAY, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THE BULBS, WITH NO LUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10419392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I TOO HAVE A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SE 2.2 AUTO WITH ABOUT 58,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MARCH OF 2002 WITH ONLY 14,937 MILES ON IT. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR TILL NOVEMBER 2004 AT 44,874 MILES, WHEN AN 8 POINT BUCK RAN INTO THE LEFT SIDE FRONT FENDER AND DAMAGED IT, THE HOOD, WINDSHIELD, DRIVER'S DOOR, ROOF, AND BACK DOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, THEN SAT OUTSIDE FOR ABOUT 4 1/2 YEARS. HAD TO INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP AND BATTERY, THEN I STARTED DRIVING IT AGAIN EVERY DAY IN NOVEMBER 2009. NOW I HAVE NO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS, LIGHTS ARE GOOD. ALSO, WHEN I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FLASH REAL FAST ABOUT 7 OR 8 TIMES, THEN GO OUT, AND THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT IF I TURN ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FIRST, IT IS FINE! SERVICE LIGHT GOES OUT AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, UNTIL PUT BACK INTO GEAR WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OFF! I HAVE REPLACED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS RELAY WITH A NEW ONE, BUT IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING, AND IF I LEAVE THE RELAY OUT, THEN WHEN I TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS, ONE IS NORMAL AND THE OTHER IS REAL DIM!! THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A PROBLEM STEMMING FROM THE DEER DAMAGE AND REPAIRS, BUT I SEE FROM ALL OF THE OTHER COMMENTS ON HERE FROM THE PAST 9 OR 10 YEARS OR SO, THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. WOULD THIS BE THE TURN SIGNAL/DIMMER SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS?? ANY IDEAS?? THANK YOU!!

NHTSA complaint #10393215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FAILURE TO THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS, WITH TIME, CORROSION ATTACK THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS. WHICH WILL CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT INTENSITY TO LOWER OR WORST, TOTAL HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THAT MEAN THAT YOU CAN BE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND TOTALLY LOSE YOUR HEADLIGHT. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES NOW, AND I NEED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED A 5TH TIME APRIL 2004.

NHTSA complaint #10318397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. HEADLAMPS DO NOT WORK. FOUND OUT THRU INTERNET SEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE WIRING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT GM SHOULD FIX (FOG LAMPS AS WELL). THE LAMPS ALREADY WENT OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IF THIS HAPPENS AT NIGHT YOU HAVE NO LIGHTS. GM KEEPS SKIRTING AROUND THE ISSUE UNTIL YOUR WARRANTY RUNS OUT THEN IT COSTS YOU MORE MONEY THAN YOU HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. VERY, VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING. JUST DO A INTERNET SEARCH FOR SUNFIRE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS/DO NOT WORK/ ETC. AND YOU'LL SEE.

NHTSA complaint #10315166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. ONE IS THAT I HAVE NO HIGHBEAMS AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER DRIVING IT FOR AWHILE,THE DRIVERSIDE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF FROM TIME TO TIME I HAVE TALKED TO A MECHANIC ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS. I WENT TO THE LOCAL JUNK YARD GOT A HARNESS AND IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM BUT JUST RECENTLY IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10298920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A SAFETY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10270065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE RUNNING LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. THEY WILL FLICKER WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO GEAR AND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE SERVICE (WRENCH) LIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE RUNNING LIGHTS FAILING. I BEGAN USING THE HIGHBEAMS ONLY (UNTIL I COULD FIGURE OUT THE RUNNING LIGHT) AND THEY WILL NOT WORK NOW. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL STILL FLASH WHEN THE LOCK BUTTON IS USED ON THE KEY REMOTE. I HAVE GOTTEN PULLED OVER FOR MY HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING BECAUSE MY HIGHBEAMS FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS AND HAVE BEEN READING INTERNET DISCUSSION BOARDS OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. MANY ARE SAYING THAT GM KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO RECALL THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10261665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. SINCE IT'S PURCHASE WE HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT LESS THAN 20,000 (IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THOUGH). MY POWER WINDOWS HAVE ALL STOPPED WORKING AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED (I'VE HAD TO BUY 7 DIFFERENT ONES), MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER FUSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, I HAVE ALSO HAD THE PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS AND THEY HAVE HAD SHORTS AND THE WIRING HAS NEEDED REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES, AND LAST FINALLY MY SWITCH ON MY DRIVER DOOR THAT TURNS THE DOME LIGHT ON AND THE RADIO OFF HAS NEEDED CHANGED 3 TIMES NOW! WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE!!

NHTSA complaint #10260055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEAD LIGHTS FAIL FOR NO REASON AND AT ANY TIME. THIS CAN INCLUDE BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM AND FOG LIGHTS. HAS BEEN REPAIRED NOW FOR THE 5TH TIME AT A GM DEALER SHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10259473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THE FORWARD ELECTRIC HARNESS ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER INTO THE LIGHT AND CAUSED IT TO FAIL. SOON AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2003, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL (GM RECALL NUMBER 03029) ON THE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BECAUSE IT AFFECTED THE SIGNAL LIGHTS AND DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE CONTACT RECENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, BUT THEY STATED THAT IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,700. UPDATED 03/23/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/24/09.

NHTSA complaint #10259327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE FRONT WIRING HARNESS ON MY 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2 DOOR HAS FAILED FOR THE 4TH TIME DUE TO CORROSION OF THE OBVIOUSLY-TOO-SMALL GAUGE WIRING AND INAPPROPRIATE PLACEMENT AND WATER-PROOFING OF THE WIRING HARNESS AND CONNECTORS. HEADLIGHT(S) OR FOGLIGHT(S) TYPICALLY EITHER FAIL OUTRIGHT, OR DIM TO ABOUT 10% INTENSITY, CAUSED BY CORROSION IN THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS. PREVIOUS FAILURES OF THIS WIRING HARNESS AFFECTING BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND/OR FOGLIGHTS OCCURRED IN JAN 2005, JAN 2006, AND JAN 2007, AND WERE REPAIRED BY REMOVAL OF CORRODED WIRE SECTIONS AND RE-SPLICING OF WIRES. DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH GM AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS CONFIRM MY SUSPICIONS OF SIMILAR FAILURES IN MANY OTHER SUNFIRES AND CAVALIERS. I AGREE WITH A LIFELONG MECHANIC WHO SAYS THE ONLY PROPER SOLUTION IS A COMPLETE REWIRING JOB. THIS IS AN EXTREME HAZARD AS COMPLETE HEADLIGHT FAILURE OR DIMMING CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. A DEAD OF NIGHT FAILURE ANYWHERE, IN THE CITY, NEAR A SCHOOL, OR ON A COUNTRY ROAD AS HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER'S FRIEND IN HER SUNFIRE, CANNOT BE CONSTRUED AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN LIFE-THREATENING; FOG LIGHT AND HEADLIGHT FAILURE AT ANY OTHER TIME IS DANGEROUS. IF THE FAILURE OF SUNFIRE/CAVALIER REAR BRAKE AND TURN LIGHTS WARRANTED A 2004 RECALL, THEN SURELY THIS EQUALLY OR MORE THREATENING CHRONIC PROBLEM DESERVES ONE. WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED ALREADY IS BEYOND ME. GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BY ISSUING A SERIES OF TSBS OVER THE YEARS ON THIS PROBLEM: #03018, #0309, #030842002, #021903, AND THE NHTSA HAS BEEN APPRISED OF THEM. I AM A HOBBY MECHANIC WHO HAS SPENT 45 YEARS BUILDING AND RACING POWERBOATS AND WORKING ON AND RESTORING CARS. I KNOW A DESIGN FAULT WHEN I SEE ONE. THIS ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE SUSPECT WIRING HARNESSES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED, RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THEM TO FAIL (TIME AND TIME AGAIN) AND THEN MAKING SPLICES TO THE WIRING AND CLEANING UP THE CONNECTORS.

NHTSA complaint #10257966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.