Complaints by model year
Federal complaints filed against each model year of the Pontiac Sunfire. Hover a bar for the count.
1985
1991
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Three most-complained-about yearsAll other years
Which years to avoid
Ranked from the same federal record. Click any year for its full file.
Years to look at twice
- 1996 Pontiac Sunfire - 320 complaints
- 1997 Pontiac Sunfire - 257 complaints
- 2000 Pontiac Sunfire - 169 complaints
Highest raw complaint counts. Counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Quieter years
- 2001 Pontiac Sunfire - 83 complaints
- 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - 113 complaints
- 1999 Pontiac Sunfire - 128 complaints
Fewest complaints among years with a meaningful record; the two newest model years are excluded because they have had little time to accumulate filings.
What fails, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Pontiac Sunfire | 94 | 0 |
| 2004 Pontiac Sunfire | 41 | 1 |
| 2003 Pontiac Sunfire | 113 | 1 |
| 2002 Pontiac Sunfire | 128 | 0 |
| 2001 Pontiac Sunfire | 83 | 1 |
| 2000 Pontiac Sunfire | 169 | 1 |
| 1999 Pontiac Sunfire | 128 | 2 |
| 1998 Pontiac Sunfire | 149 | 3 |
| 1997 Pontiac Sunfire | 257 | 6 |
| 1996 Pontiac Sunfire | 320 | 7 |
| 1995 Pontiac Sunfire | 154 | 5 |
| 1994 Pontiac Sunfire | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 Pontiac Sunfire | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 Pontiac Sunfire | 2 | 0 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Recall repairs are free at the dealer.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V524000 | 2003 | Exterior Lighting | ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN |
| 04V300000 | 2004 | Seat Belts | CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.' THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT MAY HAVE BEEN INST |
| 04V036000 | 1998-2001 | Electrical System | ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWI |
| 02V286000 | 1996-1998 | Steering | CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER |
| 02V070000 | 1995-1997 | Electrical System | ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWI |
| 99V218000 | 1999 | Interior Lighting | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL |
| 98V319000 | 1996-1997 | Suspension | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BOLTS CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK. |
| 98V146000 | 1996-1997 | Air Bags | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG'S SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE, AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR IN A LOW SPEE |
| 98V032000 | 1997 | Structure | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH MIS-LOCATED WELDS AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE LEFT ROCKER PANEL INNER REINFORCEMENT AND THE BODY SIDE RING. THI |
| 98V027000 | 1996 | Interior Lighting | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES |
| 97V219000 | 1998 | Wheels | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS. |
| 97V106000 | 1997 | Wheels | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLIES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH INCORRECT RIMS. IF THE SPARE TIRE IS UNDERINFLATED, THE BEAD CAN SEPARATE FROM THE RI |
| 96V250000 | 1995-1996 | Exterior Lighting | THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES |
| 96V003000 | 1995 | Power Train | THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER TRIM PLATE/BEZEL CAN SAG AND COVER THE LIGHT EMITTING DIODE PORTION (LIGHTED POINTED ABOVE PANEL) OF THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAY. THIS DOES N |
| 95V201000 | 1996 | Vehicle Speed Control | THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE COULD HAVE BEEN KINKED DURING ASSEMBLY CAUSING HIGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFORT, STICKING ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, OR A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABL |
| 95V141000 | 1995 | Structure | SOME WELDS WERE OMITTED FROM THE BODY LOCK PILLAR, OR "B" PILLAR. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." |
| 95V025000 | 1995 | Suspension | THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH WELDS MISSING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES CAUSING EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE EXISTING WELDS. |