IllustrationFAILURE OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES, BELT WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED IN THE BUCKLE, SEAT WILL NOT RETRACT. TT
1992 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: 1 of 30 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 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 reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
30 reportsWHEN APPLY THE BRAKE IN DRY CONDITION BRAKE GRABS AND RELEASE HAVE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE . TT
ABS BRAKES; WARNING INTERMITTENTLY MAY ACKNOWLEDGE FAILURE. BRAKES MAY LOCKUP OR BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD
THE SPARK PLUG WASN'T TREAD ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM . TT
STEERING KNUCKLES FAILED. *DH
WATER PUMP NOISY, REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL. *TW
ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, FRONT DISC ROTORS AND PADS,6 TIMES AND MASTER CYLINDER, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT
WATER PUMP FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, CAUSING TIMING AND DRIVE BELT FAILURES/VEHICLE TO STALL. *SKD
WHENEVER IN HEAVY RAIN, EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP, DEALER CAN'T REPRODUCE PROBLEM. TT
Official recalls
393V190000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Nov 22, 1993
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VERY COLD WEATHER, WATER THATN ENTERS THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT FREEZES AND CAUSES THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO DEVELOP A HIGH EFFORT OR BINDING CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, LOSS OF NORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL CAN RESULT, OR THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, CAUSING POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL ASSEMBLY.
92V048000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Apr 3, 1992
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN KINKED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THE KINK IN THE CABLE CAN CAUSE EITHER A HIGH EFFORT ACCELERATOR CABLE, STICKING ACCELERATOR CABLE, OR A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CABLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE STICKS OR BREAKS IT CANRESULT IN LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL. IF LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL OCCURS WHILE THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE ASSEMBLY.
91V166000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Sep 23, 1991
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING IS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR MISSING, LEADING TO A CONDITION WHERE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH DOES NOT ENGAGE THE SECONDARY STRIKER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT ENGAGED, AND THEPRIMARY HOOD LATCH WAS ALSO NOT ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. IFTHIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD,REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OF THE DRIVER AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: INSPECT HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES AND, WHERE NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.