IllustrationCONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 55MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
1990 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 11 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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.
3 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
11 reportsPE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. THREE TIRES HAVE SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. BLACKWALL OF THE TIRES IS NO LONGER BLACK. TIRE SIZE 195/70R14, DOT # VDRWJRA138. REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A 1990, SUNBIRD. TIRE MILEAGE LESS THAN 20,000. TIRES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
FAN BELT FAILED.*ET
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTAIN DRIVER IN THE SEAT. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE BELT NOT RETRACTING AROUND HER. *AK
DRIVER BELIEVES SAFETY BELT THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE DOOR ARE UNSAFE.
EA94-013 ACTIVE, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THERE WAS A CAR SEAT STRAP IN THE REAR SEAT CAR SEAT WAS THROWN FORWARD THERE WAS NO CHILD IN CAR SEAT. TT
SEAT BACK BROKE UPON REAR IMPACT, RESULTING IN COLLAPSING. TT
HEAD GASKETS FAILED TWICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *SKD
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME OUT, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WARPED AND SPLIT. TT
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
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