1998 Pontiac Sunfire Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire, and owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1998 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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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, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the…
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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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Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)
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.
120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 80,403 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 18 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“While driving the vehicle will shut down and the theft system light with start flashing will start again and but shut down again i was driving on a city street and had it at a dealer they replaced the”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 27, 2018 · Electrical system
“Cars battery constantly ran down. Battery was checked and was ok as it was three months old. Repair station said the horn was shorted and the air bag is part of the horn switch and must be replaced.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 6, 2017 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–21 / 27–31 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact 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 1998 Pontiac Sunfire
How do I know if my 1998 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1998 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 02V286000).
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.