1997 Pontiac Sunfire Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire, and owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 1997 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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Body (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. 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.
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Space saver wheel (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 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.
190 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA; 29 describe a crash and 8 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 97,406 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 28 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, smoke started to emit from the vents and a fire erupted under the dashboard. The contact and the front p”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 23, 2015 · Electrical system
“Tl * the contact owns a 1997 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that smoke was emitting from the steering column. The contact mentioned that after inspecting the vehicle he noticed that there was an”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 1, 2014 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 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 1997 Pontiac Sunfire
How do I know if my 1997 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 1997 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.