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1993 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 →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

2Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
199027
199130
199237
199342
19941
19954
1996
Compare all Sunbird years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Electrical System
6Engine And Engine Cooling
6Seat Belts
5Vehicle Speed Control
4
All reported categories
Visibility
4Seats
2Structure
2Suspension
2Air Bags
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Power Train
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
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: 3 of 37 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 →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
46,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other

WATER LEAKS INSIDE CAR, RADIATOR LEAK, HEATER CORE, HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, FREEZE OUT PLUGS, ENGINE WET WITH OIL, A/C CUTTING IN AND OUT, RUNS ROUGH WHEN A/C IS ON, SLOW PICK UP, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK, WINDOW WASHERS STOP BEFORE CYCLE IS DONE, BREAKS AND BREAK LINE BAD, WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR CRACKS TWICE NOW, OVER ALL REPAIRS…

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WATER LEAKS INSIDE CAR, RADIATOR LEAK, HEATER CORE, HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, FREEZE OUT PLUGS, ENGINE WET WITH OIL, A/C CUTTING IN AND OUT, RUNS ROUGH WHEN A/C IS ON, SLOW PICK UP, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK, WINDOW WASHERS STOP BEFORE CYCLE IS DONE, BREAKS AND BREAK LINE BAD, WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR CRACKS TWICE NOW, OVER ALL REPAIRS TOTAL ABOUT $1600.00, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET NEXT SO PLSU THIS AMOUNT, I HAVE BILLS KEPT OF ALL EXACT PAYMENTS OF PARTS AND LABOR

NHTSA ODI #10070865

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR IS OVERHEATING, AND THERE ARE NO LEAKS. IT HAS A NEW THERMOSTAT, AND THE WATER PUMP IS FINE EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OK, BUT FOR SOME REASON IT IS STILL OVERHEATING *AK

NHTSA ODI #718659

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionVisibility

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATES, AND THERE IS SOME GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SHOCKS. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTAINER WHERE THE WINDSHIELD FLUID GOES BECAUSE THE FLUID KEPT LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STATES THAT VEHICLE IS HOT. VEHICLE IS HOT, AND THEIR IS A BUZZING SOUND COMING FR…

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WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATES, AND THERE IS SOME GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SHOCKS. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTAINER WHERE THE WINDSHIELD FLUID GOES BECAUSE THE FLUID KEPT LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STATES THAT VEHICLE IS HOT. VEHICLE IS HOT, AND THEIR IS A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE DEFOGGER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836434

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED/REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #781957

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE RADIATOR CAP AND THE RADIATOR VALVE HAVE CORRODED AND RUSTED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE COOLANT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814403

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

OIL PRESSURE SWITCH FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #483957

Official recalls

2

93V190000 · 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.

93V121000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jul 21, 1993

THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.

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.