Illustration1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD VEHICLE CRASH 4/14/1986 SEAT CAME OUT OF THE FLOOR, SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BREAKING MY BACK AND PELVIS IN 7 PLACES SEAT BELT RETAINER CAME OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE GENERAL MOTORS KNEW ABOUT THESE DEFECTS AND FAILED TO NOTIFY ANYONE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
1984 Pontiac Sunbird
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sunbird years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reportsTHE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT OPERATE. WHEN IT IS PUT IN GEAR THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE; A PART THAT CONNECTS THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT CONNECTED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
TTHE STEETING GEAR RACK AND PINION UNIT LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID EXTERNALLY AND INTERNALLY. PROBABLE DIAGNOSIS SEAL FAILURE. *AK
'COLD POWER STEERING.' *SD
THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK
Official recalls
287V079000 · Seats
May 7, 1987
THE METAL FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK AROUND THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER STUD OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, ALLOWING THE STUD TO SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVERS SEAT COULD TIP REARWARD UNEXPECTEDLY; THIS COULDRESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET ON THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR AT THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER POSITION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT.
84V011000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Feb 6, 1984
SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSPECTION OF SEAT BACK LOCKS WILL BE PERFORMED. LOCKS THAT HAVE BENT, BROKEN OR MISSING HOOKS WILL BE REPLACED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA87007 · Sudden Accel
Opened Dec 16, 1986 · Closed Aug 7, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS:STATUS: GM RESPONDED BY LETTER DATED 12 FEBRUARY 1987.EA CLOSED ON8/7/87.===
DP86019 · Sudden Acceleration
Opened Sep 12, 1986 · Closed Dec 22, 1986
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA86023 · Seat Track Lock
Opened Aug 1, 1986 · Closed Jun 1, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available