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1986 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 →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19835
19844
19856
19866
19874
19887
1989
Compare all Sunbird years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
2Steering
2Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1

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 6 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. 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.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

6 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

COMPLAINT ABOUT MANFACTURES NEED TO INSTALL BRAKE LINES ON ALL VEHICLES. *BF THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RUSTING OF BRAKE LINES. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10099361

Mileage unknown · May 19, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOBES ON THE CAMSHAFT WERE WORN OUT, WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823452

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1996
Latches/locks/linkages

REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK, WOULD OPEN WITH A PUSH. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #501276

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET CONTINUALLY FAILS. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #500548

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1995
Steering

THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WILL NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER, EXCESSIVE EFFORT IS NEEDED TO OPERATE STEERING. TT

NHTSA ODI #969131

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 1995
Steering

COLD POWER STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #478361

Official recalls

1

86V056000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Apr 28, 1986

THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.