RecallMyCar

Pontiac Sunfire Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 17 safety recalls and 1,144 owner complaints across 14 model years of the Pontiac Sunfire (1985–2005). The most-complained-about year is 1996.

17
safety recalls, all years
1,144
owner complaints, all years
1996
year with most recalls
1996
year with most complaints

Pick your Pontiac Sunfire model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2005 Pontiac Sunfire068
2004 Pontiac Sunfire132
2003 Pontiac Sunfire172
2002 Pontiac Sunfire082
2001 Pontiac Sunfire166
2000 Pontiac Sunfire196
1999 Pontiac Sunfire293
1998 Pontiac Sunfire3120
1997 Pontiac Sunfire6190
1996 Pontiac Sunfire7201
1995 Pontiac Sunfire5119
1994 Pontiac Sunfire02
1991 Pontiac Sunfire01
1985 Pontiac Sunfire02

What Pontiac Sunfire owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 1,144 complaints with NHTSA. The 1996 model year has the most, with 201.

All Pontiac Sunfire recalls (17)

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

  1. Turn signal (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 04V524000 Reported 256,025 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 addition, if one bulbs were to become inoperative while the vehicle was operating in cruise control, the cruise control would disengage when the remaining…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear lamp bulb socket assemblies and apply grease or replace them if necessary. The recall began on january 18, 2005. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or pontiac at…

    Model years: 2003

  2. Seat belts: rear/other

    NHTSA 04V300000 Reported 37 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 installed with an incorrect nut and bolt.

    Remedy: Dealers are to inspect the safety belt anchorage and install a new nut and bolt, if necessary. The recall began on august 23, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.

    Model years: 2004

  3. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 04V036000 Reported 1,415,231 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the…

    Model years: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

  4. Rack and pinion (steering)

    NHTSA 02V286000 Reported 1,159,156 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. Owners who take their…

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  5. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 02V070000 Reported 1,589,948 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an…

    Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997

  6. Interior lighting

    NHTSA 99V218000 Reported 6,584 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 101, "control location, identification, and illumination." the instrument panel backlighting may not function after adjusting the interior light intensity.

    Remedy: Dealers will test the body control module, and if necessary, replace it.

    Model years: 1999

  7. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 98V319000 Reported 27,083 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. One of the rear suspension trailing arm bolts can fatigue and break.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension trailing arm fasteners.

    Model years: 1996, 1997

  8. Air bags

    NHTSA 98V146000 Reported 675,302 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 speed crash or when an object strikes the floor pan.

    Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.

    Model years: 1996, 1997

  9. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 98V032000 Reported 8 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 214, "side door strength."

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the welds and, if necessary, place five welds between the involved panels and apply primer and topcoat finish materials.

    Model years: 1997

  10. Interior lighting

    NHTSA 98V027000 Reported 249,420 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 101, "controls and displays."

    Remedy: Dealers will run a diagnostic test on the lamp control module and, if necessary, replace it.

    Model years: 1996

  11. Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)

    NHTSA 97V219000 Reported 24 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The wheel lug nuts were not tightened securely resulting in a fracture of the wheel studs.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the torque of all wheel nuts and, if necessary, tighten any that may be below required torque.

    Model years: 1998

  12. Space saver wheel (wheels)

    NHTSA 97V106000 Reported 652 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 rim causing a rapid loss of air. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 110, "tire selection and rims."

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rim on the compact spare tire assembly. Owners are requested not to use the spare tire until the rim has been replaced.

    Model years: 1997

  13. Hazard flashing warning lights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 96V250000 Reported 270,014 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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, and associated equipment."

    Remedy: Dealers or vehicle owners will inspect for proper function of the hazard warning lamps. If necessary, dealers will replace the hazard lamp switch.

    Model years: 1995, 1996

  14. Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 96V003000 Reported 28,068 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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 not comply with FMVSS no. 101, "control location, identification, and illumination."

    Remedy: Dealers are to install a new instrument panel cluster trim plate/bezel assembly which is not subject to this condition.

    Model years: 1995

  15. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 95V201000 Reported 360 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The accelerator control cable could have been kinked during assembly causing high accelerator pedal effort, sticking accelerator control cable, or a broken accelerator control cable.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator control cable assembly.

    Model years: 1996

  16. Frame and members (structure)

    NHTSA 95V141000 Reported 16 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Some welds were omitted from the body lock pillar, or "b" pillar. This does not comply with FMVSS no.208, "occupant crash protection."

    Remedy: All vehicles in this recall campaign have been repurchased and replaced with a comparable vehicle.

    Model years: 1995

  17. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 95V025000 Reported 21,340 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    These vehicles have been built with welds missing from the front suspension lower control arm assemblies causing excessive loads on the existing welds.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect both left-hand and right-hand front suspension lower control arm assemblies and replace all control arm assemblies found with omitted welds.

    Model years: 1995

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.