1996 Pontiac Sunfire Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire, and owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Rack and pinion (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 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…
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Switch (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 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…
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Suspension: rear
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.
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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 speed crash or when an object strikes the floor pan.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.
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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 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.
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Hazard flashing warning lights (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, 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.
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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 cable.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator control cable assembly.
201 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA; 30 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 24 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 134,803 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 32 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Sunfire won't start a something with fuel pump”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 13, 2016 · Fuel/propulsion system
“My wreck happened in 2006. The air bag deployed and crushed my face i had to have titanium plates put in my face crashed my legs broke many bones.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 20, 2015 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–26 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–22 / 29–33 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.2/2.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Pontiac Sunfire model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Pontiac Sunfire model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 Pontiac Sunfire | 0 | 2 |
| 1991 Pontiac Sunfire | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 Pontiac Sunfire | 0 | 2 |
| 1995 Pontiac Sunfire | 5 | 119 |
| 1996 Pontiac Sunfire | 7 | 201 |
| 1997 Pontiac Sunfire | 6 | 190 |
| 1998 Pontiac Sunfire | 3 | 120 |
| 1999 Pontiac Sunfire | 2 | 93 |
| 2000 Pontiac Sunfire | 1 | 96 |
| 2001 Pontiac Sunfire | 1 | 66 |
| 2002 Pontiac Sunfire | 0 | 82 |
| 2003 Pontiac Sunfire | 1 | 72 |
| 2004 Pontiac Sunfire | 1 | 32 |
| 2005 Pontiac Sunfire | 0 | 68 |
Checking a specific 1996 Pontiac Sunfire
How do I know if my 1996 Pontiac Sunfire has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Pontiac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V070000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Pontiac models
- G65,889 complaints
- Grand AM5,580 complaints
- Grand Prix5,426 complaints
- Bonneville1,979 complaints
- Vibe1,865 complaints
- Montana1,054 complaints
- Trans Sport973 complaints
- Solstice728 complaints
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.