IllustrationENGINE BLOCK IS MADE OUT OF CAST IRON AND HEAD IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM, AND THEY HEAT AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO LEAK ANTI FREEZE. PONTIAC ISSUED SPECIAL POLICY FOR THIS DEFECT.*AK PONTIAC WILL NOT FIX DUE TO VEHICLE HAVING OVER 100000 MILES. *SLC
1995 Pontiac Sunfire
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Pontiac Sunfire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sunfire 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: 12 of 119 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports11 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
119 reportsCOOLANT LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET. *AK
PARKING LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. GOES OUT EVENTUALLY.*AK
FIRST HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 34149 MILES ON 2/14/98. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL FOR PCM, CONDITION OF VEHICLE WORSENED. SINCE REPAIR, DEALER CONCLUDED THAT HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE HEAD GASKET BLEW UP FIRST AND THEN THE PCM FAILED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE ON BOTH, THE VEHICLEE RUNS HORRIBLE. *YH
AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER HAD NO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS,BUT CONCERNED THAT AIR BAGS MIGHT DEPLOY . *ET
THE MOTOR IN THIS CAR HAS BLOWN ON ME TWICE WITH NO WARNING RUNNING AS SMOOTH AS CAN BE AND JUST BOOM THE MOTOR GOES, THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEND IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE AC ON COOLING DOWN THE INSIDE AND IT JUST BLEW UP. I THINK GM SHOULD GIVE ME A NEW CAR FOR FREE. THIS ONE HAS BEEN A LEMON.
THE TIRE CAME APART AT THE SEEM JUST LIKE THE FIRESTONE TIRES IN QUESTION. IT LOOKS LIKE A RETHREAD WHEN IT COME APART. THE TIRE TOTALLY COLLAPSED. THE TIRE HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED AT AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALER AND PASSED INSPECTION. ACCORDING TO THE WALMART AUTO DEPARTMENT IN KINGSPORT TENNESSE THE TIRE STILL HAS ENOUGH THREAD…
Read full complaint
THE TIRE CAME APART AT THE SEEM JUST LIKE THE FIRESTONE TIRES IN QUESTION. IT LOOKS LIKE A RETHREAD WHEN IT COME APART. THE TIRE TOTALLY COLLAPSED. THE TIRE HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED AT AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALER AND PASSED INSPECTION. ACCORDING TO THE WALMART AUTO DEPARTMENT IN KINGSPORT TENNESSE THE TIRE STILL HAS ENOUGH THREAD TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY I BOUGHT FOUR BRAND NEW TIRES (BF GOODRICH) TO REPLACE THE GOODYEAR TIRES, THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR.( DOT NUMBER: HKDR 394 TIRE SIZE: P195/70R14 )
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH VEHICLE HYDROPLAINED AND CRASHED SIDEWAYS INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED A FEW SECONDS LATER. *AK
Official recalls
502V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 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.
96V250000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights
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.
96V003000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
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.
95V141000 · Structure:frame And Members
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.
95V025000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02001 · Fire In Steering Column Area
Opened Jan 3, 2002 · Closed Mar 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.