RecallMyCar

Pontiac Sunbird Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 22 safety recalls and 197 owner complaints across 23 model years of the Pontiac Sunbird (1976–2000). The most-complained-about year is 1994.

22
safety recalls, all years
197
owner complaints, all years
1992
year with most recalls
1994
year with most complaints

Pick your Pontiac Sunbird model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Pontiac Sunbird03
1999 Pontiac Sunbird03
1998 Pontiac Sunbird02
1997 Pontiac Sunbird04
1996 Pontiac Sunbird04
1995 Pontiac Sunbird01
1994 Pontiac Sunbird142
1993 Pontiac Sunbird237
1992 Pontiac Sunbird330
1991 Pontiac Sunbird227
1990 Pontiac Sunbird011
1989 Pontiac Sunbird17
1988 Pontiac Sunbird24
1987 Pontiac Sunbird16
1986 Pontiac Sunbird16
1985 Pontiac Sunbird04
1984 Pontiac Sunbird25
1983 Pontiac Sunbird10
1980 Pontiac Sunbird10
1979 Pontiac Sunbird21
1978 Pontiac Sunbird20
1977 Pontiac Sunbird20
1976 Pontiac Sunbird20

What Pontiac Sunbird owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA. The 1994 model year has the most, with 42.

All Pontiac Sunbird recalls (22)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Pontiac Sunbird, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Arm (steering)

    NHTSA 94V115000 Reported 65 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    These vehicles were built with overtorqued drive axle spindle nuts. This condition can cause excessive loads on the spindle nut and drive axle resulting in failure of the drive axle or the spindle nut. Failure of either of these components can result in separation of the steering knuckle tire-wheel assembly from the drive axle.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand drive axles, bearing-hub assemblies, spindle nuts, and washers on all involved vehicles. Corrective action: dealers will replace left-hand and right-hand drive axles,…

    Model years: 1994

  2. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 93V190000 Reported 108,898 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. During very cold weather, water thatn enters the accelerator control cable conduit freezes and causes the accelerator cable to develop a high effort or binding condition.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator control assembly.

    Model years: 1992, 1993

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 93V121000 Reported 2,848 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The brake hoses were manufactured incorrectly, and do not comply with FMVSS 106, "brake hoses."

    Remedy: Replace the right front brake hose assembly on ciera and century models, and both rear brake hoses on cavalier and sunbird models.

    Model years: 1993

  4. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 92V048000 Reported 22,452 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The accelerator cable may have been kinked during vehicle assembly. The kink in the cable can cause either a high effort accelerator cable, sticking accelerator cable, or a broken accelerator cable.

    Remedy: Replace the accelerator control cable assembly.

    Model years: 1992

  5. Seat belts

    NHTSA 92V003000 Reported 347,866 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The front door shoulder belt guide loops may be cracked and are not in compliance with FMVSS 208.

    Remedy: Install reinforcing plates on the cracked shoulder belt guides.

    Model years: 1991

  6. Hinge and attachments (structure)

    NHTSA 91V165000 Reported 41,718 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Front door interlock striker may fail, causing door frame collapse and insufficient strength for the shoulder belt anchorage.

    Remedy: Replace the passive restraint interlock striker studs on front doors.

    Model years: 1991

  7. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 91V166000 Reported 3,212 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The secondary hood latch spring is improperly installed or missing, leading to a condition where the secondary hood latch does not engage the secondary striker.

    Remedy: Inspect hood latch assemblies and, where necessary, install a new secondary hood latch spring.

    Model years: 1992

  8. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 88V189000 Reported 13,095 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    A fuel tank leak could occur due to small creases on the tank underside cracking during pressure cycling which occurs during normal operation.

    Remedy: Replace fuel tank.

    Model years: 1989

  9. Windshield (visibility)

    NHTSA 88V121000 Reported 33 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    There may be poor bond adhesion between windshield glass and mounting.

    Remedy: Reinstall windshield assuring proper adhesion.

    Model years: 1988

  10. Electrical system: rear compartment/trunk

    NHTSA 88V095000 Reported 14,840 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Rear lamp wiring harness may contain open or intermittent circuits affecting back up lamp or license plate lamp operation.

    Remedy: Install new wiring harness.

    Model years: 1988

  11. Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)

    NHTSA 87V184000 Reported 131,476 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The fuel feed and/or return hose/pipe assemblies could crack or separate, allowing fuel to leak into the underhood area.

    Remedy: Replace both fuel feed and return hose/pipe assemblies.

    Model years: 1987

  12. Seats

    NHTSA 87V079000 Reported 1,136,407 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The metal floor pan anchor bar could fatigue and break around the left front outer seat adjuster stud of the drivers seat, allowing the stud to separate from the floor pan anchor bar.

    Remedy: Install a reinforcement bracket on the floor pan anchor bar at the left front outer seat adjuster position of the drivers seat.

    Model years: 1983, 1984

  13. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 86V056000 Reported 93,317 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The push-pull headlight switch may have electrical contacts which allow an intermittent headlight circuit causing headlight to flicker or suddenly go out. Consequence of defect: sudden loss of the headlights under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions could reduce driver visibility which might result in a vehicle crash without…

    Remedy: Replace headlight switch as necessary.

    Model years: 1986

  14. Recliner (seats)

    NHTSA 84V011000 Reported 76,586 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Some vehicles have bucket seat back locks that do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard 207, anchorage of seats. In event of a crash, the seat back lock may not function.

    Remedy: Inspection of seat back locks will be performed. Locks that have bent, broken or missing hooks will be replaced.

    Model years: 1984

  15. Retractor (seat belts)

    NHTSA 81V060000 Reported 55,238 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    On certain vehicles, the seat belt retractors in the rear seating positions contain first lock positions which will not lock when used by smaller passengers. This fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection".

    Remedy: All owners will be sent a pre-paid postage card that is to be filled out and sent back. The card will indicate whether the seat belts are functioning properly. If dealer inspects seat belts, the seat belt retractors…

    Model years: 1980

  16. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 79V151000 Reported 42,977 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The carburetor fuel feed hose may not have been properly positioned during assembly. As a result the hose could come in contact with or be too close to the engine emission exhaust system gas recirculation valve. This can cause the hose to rupture.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect the fuel feed hose and reposition it, if necessary. Also, any damaged hose will be replaced.

    Model years: 1979

  17. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 79V141000 Reported 4,208 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The engine oil pressure switch may cause a random internal electrical short which could result in the engine starting by itself when the ignition switch is turned to the "on" position.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the oil pressure switches on all suspect vehicles at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1979

  18. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 79V081000 Reported 172,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Operation of the vehicle in a manner which produces hard bottoming out of the front suspension may cause deformation of the left engine mount support structure and allow the engine mount bracket to contact the steering pitman arm or steering linkage.

    Remedy: An engine mount support bracket reinforcement kit will be installed on the left front engine mount support structure without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1977, 1978

  19. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 78V019000 Reported 22,268 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The intermediate shaft coupling on the involved vehicles may have been machined oversized in the serration area where it attaches to the steering column. This would prevent the coupling from properly tightening on the shaft when the clamp and pinch bolt were installed.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the shaft coupling, if necessary, without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1978

  20. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 77V024000 Reported 314 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    On the involved vehicles, the incorrect fuel hose pipe was installed. Consequently, the needed special reinforcement, used to help prevent rupture of the hose and spillage of fuel resulting from an impact from the side, was omitted. This would constitute a non-compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 310, "fuel system…

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, install the correct fuel hose without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1977

  21. Pads (service brakes)

    NHTSA 76V023000 Reported 34,208 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Model years: 1976

  22. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

    NHTSA 76V018000 Reported 20 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Model years: 1976

Other Pontiac models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.