IllustrationFUEL TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS AND THERE WERE SIGN OF LEAKAGE AT THE SEAMS. RECALL 88V189000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM
1989 Pontiac Sunbird
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →7Owner complaints
Model-year median: 4
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
2InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1989 Pontiac Sunbird
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 7 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 2 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 2 reports
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 2 reports
- Air Bags: 1 reports
- Equipment: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sunbird years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 1 of 7 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reportsWHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ANDDUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
I WAS PROMICED ALL THESE THINGS BUT HE IGNORED ME AND I HAVE BEEN ENDED UP WITH A PIECE OF JUNK THAT I PAID $800 AND HAVE PUT OVER $500 INTO IT I WANT TO KEEP THE CAR BUT THERE ARE MAJOR THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED AND I EVEN HAVE A WRITTEN CONTRACT I CALLED MY LOCAL DMV AND EVEN WENT DOWN THERE BUT THEY HAVE HAD TOO MANY COMPA…
Read full complaint
I WAS PROMICED ALL THESE THINGS BUT HE IGNORED ME AND I HAVE BEEN ENDED UP WITH A PIECE OF JUNK THAT I PAID $800 AND HAVE PUT OVER $500 INTO IT I WANT TO KEEP THE CAR BUT THERE ARE MAJOR THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED AND I EVEN HAVE A WRITTEN CONTRACT I CALLED MY LOCAL DMV AND EVEN WENT DOWN THERE BUT THEY HAVE HAD TOO MANY COMPAINTS ON THIS GUY AND THEY CANT HANDLE MY CASE AT THIS TIME I WOULD JUST LIKE HIM TOO EITHER SEND ME TOO A PLACE OR SEND ME THE MONEY AFTER I GET QOUTES ON THE PROBLEMS I THINK THE COST WOULD BE A TOTAL OF AROUND $1000 OR JUST GIVE ME WHAT I PUT INTO THE CAR PLUS WHAT I PAYED FOR IT AND I WOULD BE HAPPY THAT WOULD BE AROUND $1500. *NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
FUEL TANK FAILURE.
TIMING BELT FAILED.
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILURE, SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE. TT
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE: WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY, HEARD BANG; NOTICED SMOKE; PULLED OVER; ENGINE ENGULFED WITH FIRE; NO WARNING. TT
Recall campaigns
188V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Dec 6, 1988
A FUEL TANK LEAK COULD OCCUR DUE TO SMALL CREASES ON THE TANK UNDERSIDE CRACKING DURING PRESSURE CYCLING WHICH OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS CONDITION COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
2PE93090 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 8, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA92024 · Sticking Throttle
Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.