NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
14 reportsClear category filter96,000 miles · May 15, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1995 SUNFIRE, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1997. THE BRAKES LOCK-UP WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I HAVE TO STOP A A CORNER OR LIGHT. THIS USUALLY ONLY HAPPENS WHEN OR AFTER IT RAINS. IT IS VERY SCARY I ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OVER THE CAR.MY HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE ENGINE GAGE RISES ALMOST TO OVER HEATING WHEN IT IS HOTOUTSIDE, …
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1995 SUNFIRE, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1997. THE BRAKES LOCK-UP WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I HAVE TO STOP A A CORNER OR LIGHT. THIS USUALLY ONLY HAPPENS WHEN OR AFTER IT RAINS. IT IS VERY SCARY I ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OVER THE CAR.MY HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE ENGINE GAGE RISES ALMOST TO OVER HEATING WHEN IT IS HOTOUTSIDE, AND THE AIR DOES NOT WORK I HAVE TO GET IT CHARGED EVERY YEAR. IS THIS CAR A LEMON OR WHAT?*AK
NHTSA ODI #10072648
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE REAR OF CAR SQUATS WHEN BRAKING I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED / ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES NHTSA ALREADY HAS THIS LISTED AS SERVICE BULLETIN 735018 I WOULD LIKE TO ADD OUR VEHICLE TO THIS COMPLAINT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10023685
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE,PEDAL ON FLOOR,HIT LGE BUSH IN MEDIAN TO STOP.
NHTSA ODI #709548
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MAKES FUNNY NOISES, AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVNG THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION. THE ABS MOTOR WAS REBUILT IN DECEMBER. OWNER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #833936
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS FAILURE. BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL.
NHTSA ODI #530031
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
UPON MAKING A COMPLETE STOP ON WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER NOTICED PULSTATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #819390
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS PROBLEMS; ON NORMAL ROAD CONDTIONS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE BRAKE GRAB AND RELEASE, MAKING THE VEHICLE SKIP FORWARD AND ADDITIONAL BRAKING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED. THIS HAPPENS DURING NORMAL BRAKING. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #816836
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WAS APPLYING BRAKES WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED WHEN IT SHOULD NOT HAVE. LOCKED UP THE TIRES & SOMETIMES HAD NO BRAKE PEDAL. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED 1ST TIME NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. 2ND TIME PUT IN NEW ABS MODULE. THE 3RD TIME COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
NHTSA ODI #817724
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP SITUATION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #808827
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKES; ALSO, FRONT END NOISY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #515286
Official recalls
5Mar 6, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
Dec 17, 1996
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.
Jan 2, 1996
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER TRIM PLATE/BEZEL CAN SAG AND COVER THE LIGHT EMITTING DIODE PORTION (LIGHTED POINTED ABOVE PANEL) OF THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAY. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSAXLE GEAR SELECTOR RESULTING IN A DRIVER EITHER INADVERTENTLY LEAVING A PARKED OR IDLING VEHICLE IN DRIVE, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL RATHER THAN PARK, OR SELECTING AN INCORRECT TRANSAXLE SHIFT POSITION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO INSTALL A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER TRIM PLATE/BEZEL ASSEMBLY WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS CONDITION.
Jul 26, 1995
SOME WELDS WERE OMITTED FROM THE BODY LOCK PILLAR, OR "B" PILLAR. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF A VEHICLE CRASH SHOULD OCCUR, OCCUPANT PROTECTION LEVELS COULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED AND REPLACED WITH A COMPARABLE VEHICLE.
Feb 16, 1995
THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH WELDS MISSING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES CAUSING EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE EXISTING WELDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONTBUSHING SLEEVE SUBASSEMBLY FROM THE CONTROL ARM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FOUND WITH OMITTED WELDS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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