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1994 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 →
42Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
27
199130
199237
199342
19941
19954
19964
1997
Compare all Sunbird years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13Seats
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4Power Train
4Suspension
3
All reported categories
Tires
3Equipment
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Seat Belts
2Structure
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Service Brakes, Air
1Steering
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
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 42 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 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 reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

AT 25MPH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SAID THAT SINCE SHE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE TIRE KINGDOM, TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD, …

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AT 25MPH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SAID THAT SINCE SHE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE TIRE KINGDOM, TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD, SO SHE HAD THEM FIXED AND SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE WORKED THE SAME SINCE. ALSO THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING (FOR THE PAST 2YRS)/FEELS CAR IS NOT SAFE.*SCC

NHTSA ODI #8013229

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #541647

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKING FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #525358

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS MALFUNCTION, CAR GOES INTO ANTILOCK MODE TO OFTEN, REPLACE BOTH FRT. WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, BRAKE PULSATES AND SEEMS TO LOCKUP, TURNED 2 FRT ROTORS, CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, TURN 2 REAR DRUMS,.

NHTSA ODI #523765

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL/SKID. *AK

NHTSA ODI #513741

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, ON THREE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #522283

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1996
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicTires

AT 17,OOO MILES THE BRAKES/TIRES AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #804001

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, REPLACE DISC PADS, AND CALIPERS, ROTORS AND ADJUSTED THE REAR SHOES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #987059

Mileage unknown · May 16, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES DISCS WARPED. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #504559

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

ABS, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY GRAB AND LET GO, EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #981417

Official recalls

1

94V115000 · Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

Jun 24, 1994

THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE TIRE-WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE DRIVE AXLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

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

1

PE94042 · Horn Button Falling Off

Opened May 23, 1994 · Closed Sep 29, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available