1998 Pontiac Sunfire

120 complaints on file, page 1 of 6.

1. Filed May 27, 2018Failure May 26, 2015165,000 milesEnglewood, FLElectrical system, Power train, Steering

   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 ECU THE GAUGES AND THE IGNITION THEY REPLACED THE ECU 3 TIMES WITH NO AVAIL THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALL 4 OF MY PONTIACS

   NHTSA complaint 11098157
2. Filed Dec 6, 2017Failure Dec 5, 201765,000 milesNEW Iberia, LAAir bags

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11052792
3. Filed Oct 29, 2016Failure Oct 18, 201656,000 milesWest DES Moines, IAElectrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes

   BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PROBLEM INITIALLY HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, BUT NOW IS PERSISTENT AND NONE OF THESE ITEMS FUNCTION POSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.

   NHTSA complaint 10919968
4. Filed May 11, 2015Failure Feb 11, 201488,000 milesPlymouth, INTires

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE EQUIPPED WITH DOUGLASS X-TRAC A-W TIRES, SIZE 205/55R16 (NA). THE CONTACT PURCHASED ONE TIRE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 AND ANOTHER IN JANUARY OF 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAL-MART IN FEBRUARY OF 2014, WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE LEAKING. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN UPDATED 7/23/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THREE TIRES WERE PURCHASED A DIFFERENT TIMES AND HAD LEAKS. UPDATED 07/28/15*BF...UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*CN

   NHTSA complaint 10715636
5. Filed Nov 2, 2012Failure Oct 10, 2012101,000 milesLaguna Woods, CAPower train

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 12/21/12 *CN UPDATED 1/14/2013 *JS

   NHTSA complaint 10483129
6. Filed Oct 30, 2012Failure Sep 28, 2012138,000 milesParis, TNVehicle speed control

   THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING. WHEN TRYING TO USE THE BRAKE THE CAR STILL WILL NOT STOP. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10482683
7. Filed Oct 3, 2011Failure Oct 1, 201166,241 milesBartlesville, OKSteering

   APPARENTLY, THEIR IS A KNOWN ISSUE W/THE 98 PONTIAC SUNFIRE STEERING RACK AND PINION GEAR MAKING IT FEEL LIKE THEIR IS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING, EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JANUARY OF 2011 OFF A LITTLE OLD LADY, WHO KEPT IT IN A GARAGE AND BARELY DROVE IT, THE CAR ONLY HAD 51,000 MILES ON IT. SHE ADVISED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY RECALLS, SO SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT IN FOR ANY OF THE RECALL REPAIRS. I HAVE CHECK THE NHTSA WEBSITE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER REPUTABLE SITES AND HAVE FOUND THEIR HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, UPON CALLING PONTIACS RECALL HOTLINE, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THESE RECALLS ON YOUR WEBSITE NEVER EXISTED FOR MY 98 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND WENT ON TO SAY THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE EVERY THING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET (HOW FUNNY, YOUR AVERAGE MORON COULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT). BUT REGARDLESS, IT APPEARS THAT PONTIAC IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THESE RECALLS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW IF MY CONCERNS ARE LEGITIMATE. I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR A REPAIR, WHEN THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER THEIR RECALL. THANKS. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10428381
8. Filed Jun 21, 2011Failure Jun 1, 201160,000 milesLAS Vegas, NVElectrical system, Fuel system, Gasoline

   1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WON'T DISENGAGE, CAR IS DEAD. (WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS TRIGGERED, THE FUEL PUMP IS SHUT OFF) IT MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY USING A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL KEY. FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS (TURN ON IIGNITION FOR 10 MIN, TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN) DOESN'T WORK. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THERE ARE 1000S OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SUNFIRE AND OTHER GM CARS. I WOULD LIKE GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR THE FAULTY SYSTEM. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10407734
9. Filed Dec 3, 2010Failure Nov 30, 201097,000 milesCahokia, ILSteering

   TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. THE CONTACT VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT HAD TO REVERSE AND REPOSITION THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN A DAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10369139
10. Filed Nov 12, 2009Failure Nov 6, 2009192,000 milesCouncil Bluffs, IAElectrical system

    VEHICLE WAS BLOWING 30 AMP FUSE GOING TO REAR DEFOGGER GRID. FOUND MELTED INSULATION ON 12 VOLT LINE AND GROUND RESULTING IN SHORT CIRCUIT. DEFOGGER GRID STILL DRAWING ENOUGH CURRENT TO MELT INSULATION OF 12 VOLT LINE. DISCONNECTED REAR DEFOGGER GRID TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FIRE IN DASH. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10291910
11. Filed Nov 2, 2009Failure Aug 7, 2009111,000 milesToledao, OHService brakes, Hydraulic

    LOST BRAKES IN MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WHEN BRAKING ON AN EXPRESSWAY EXIT RAMP. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION, BUT WAS ABLE TO AVERT A COLLISION. THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE (HYDRAULIC) CORRODED THROUGH AND CAUSED A LARGE LEAK, LEAVING MARGINAL BRAKES.*TR

    NHTSA complaint 10290562
12. Filed Apr 25, 2008Failure Apr 24, 2008Omaha, NEExterior lighting

    I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DAYTIME LIGHTS STAYING ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED TO HAVE THE NIGHT TIME HEADLIGHTS ON. IT GOES BACK AND FORTH FROM DAY TO NIGHT LIGHTS AND WILL NOT STAY ON NIGHT WHEN DRIVING. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10225667
13. Filed Apr 6, 2008Failure Apr 3, 200888,000 milesLondon, 00Frame and members

    1998 SUNFIRE BEGAN TO MAKE CLUNKING NOISES ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE. UPON VISUAL INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME COMPONENT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND SEPARATED. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCE. I HAVE SENT DIGITAL FILES TO YOUR WEBMASTER EMAIL TO SHOW EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY , AS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10223478
14. Filed Jul 23, 2007Failure Jul 14, 2007110,000 milesLAS Vegas, NVCooling system, Radiator assembly

    COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS OFF AND ON. PUT IN STOP LEAK FOR A TEMP FIX. HOWEVER DEXCOOL CONTINUED TO EAT AWAY AT MY COOLANT SYSTEM. CAR HAS OVERHEATED ON MANY OCCASIONS. FINALLY ABLE TO USE JB WELD TO FIX LEAK . *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10197189
15. Filed Sep 21, 2006Failure Sep 21, 2006100,000 milesKearney, NERack and pinion, Hose, Piping, And connections

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS AGO, WHEN TURNING LEFT, A POP WAS HEARD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SINCE THAT TIME, THE STEERING HAS BEEN HARDER TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

    NHTSA complaint 10168870
16. Filed May 9, 2006Failure May 9, 2006130,000 milesWoodstock, NYLugs/nuts/bolts/studsCrash

    1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE MAKING A RIGHT TURN 30 MPH WHEN ALL WHEEL LUG BOLTS BROKE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND WHEEL CAME OFF. WHEEL GOT STUCK UNDER CAR. NO STEERING AND BRAKING WAS LIMITED. CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD. WITH THE HELP OF THE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR WAS STOPPED. FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES. DAMAGE TO DISK BRAKE, LARGE DENT IN FENDER AND BUMPER. NHTSA RECALL 97V219000 INDICATES SIMILAR PROBLEM FOR 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHEEL HOLES WERE PERFECTLY ROUND INDICATING THE WHEEL NUTS WERE NOT LOOSE. CAR FRONT WHEELS HAD BEEN SERVICED 6 MONTHS EARLIER FOR NEW BRAKES. WHEN I CALLED PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737 THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR INVOLVING WHEEL LUG BOLTS AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10157090
17. Filed Jul 22, 2005Failure Jul 14, 2005Clinton, IAHigh/low beam dimmer switch

    I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE FAILURE IS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. .. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK FINE, BUT AT NIGHT, WHEN I TWIST THE LEVER TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON, ONLY MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY HEADLIGHTS REMAIN AT ABOUT 1/2 BRIGHTNESS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR STAYS ON. (IN OTHERWORDS, NO CHANGE IN THE BEAMS...) BUT THEN WHEN I EVER SO SLIGHTLY PULL THE LEVER BACK TO GO TO FLASH MY HEADLIGHTS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR DISAPPEARS AND MY HEADLIGHTS BRIGHTEN TO "NORMAL, NIGHTTIME BRIGHTNESS, THEN IF I PULL LEVER BACK TOWARDS ME EVEN FARTHER, THE HIGHBEAMS COME ON)... BUT THE PROBLEM IS... THE LEVER WON'T STAY ON EITHER NIGHTTIME OR HIGH BEAM MODES AT ALL. ONCE I LET GO OF THE LEVER IT RETURNS TO DAYTIME RUNNINGLIGHTS, EVEN WITH THE LEVER TWISTED ALL THE WAY TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON.... I STILL ONLY GET THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL)... . ON OCCASION THE HEADLIGHTS WORK OK TO BEGIN WITH, BUT AS I AM DRIVING THE "NORMAL" LIGHTS CLICK BACK OFF AND ITS ONLY THE DRL THAT ARE ON. ITS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE NIGHTIME TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT ON WHEN THE DRL ARE ONLY ON. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 97 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER DRL/ AND HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE NOT YET CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, AND I HAVE RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET AND OTHERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

    NHTSA complaint 10129653
18. Filed Jul 8, 2005Failure Nov 8, 200460,000 milesMelbourne, FLColumn

    A CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TWICE, AND RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE GREASED, OTHERWISE THE CONSUMER COULD LOSE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE NOISE WAS THE SOUND OF METAL ON METAL. GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10106898
19. Filed Apr 25, 2005Failure Feb 14, 2005Garner, NCHydraulic power assist system

    NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V286000; GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A STEERING ASSEMBLY RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. BUT AT CERTAIN TIMES THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN MAKING TURNS, MAKING THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.*AK VEHICLE POWER STEERING PERFORMS LIKE IT HAS NO POWER STERING , JUST LIKE RECALL DESCRIBES. DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE ACTION CAUSE VIN IS NOT IN LOT OF #'S RECALLED. *BF

    NHTSA complaint 10115852
20. Filed Apr 6, 2005Failure Sep 1, 20012,500 milesMableton, GAFuel system, Fuel pump

    WITHIN THE LAST 10,000 MILES FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. EVERY 2500 TO 3000 MILES THE PUMP WILL MALFUNCTION. CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10117536