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 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2000
Electrical System
I ALSO HAD MY ALTERNATOR REPLACED,I WAS TOLD BY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT MY ALTERNATOR WAS REBUILT,KEEPING IN MIND I HADN;T REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TILL NOW,WHICH WAS AUGUST '99. I HAD THE INITIALS RB ON MY ALTERNATOR.I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP,THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE MANUFACTURERS INTIALS.I ALSO TOOK PICTURES OF IT BEFORE THE…
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I ALSO HAD MY ALTERNATOR REPLACED,I WAS TOLD BY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT MY ALTERNATOR WAS REBUILT,KEEPING IN MIND I HADN;T REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TILL NOW,WHICH WAS AUGUST '99. I HAD THE INITIALS RB ON MY ALTERNATOR.I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP,THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE MANUFACTURERS INTIALS.I ALSO TOOK PICTURES OF IT BEFORE THEY TOOK IT OUT. WHEN I GOT A SO CALLED NEW ONE IT DIDN;T HAVE ANY INITIALS ON IT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #726594
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2000
Air BagsPower TrainCrashInjury
AFTER MAKING A LOUD POPPING SOUND, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIPPED OVER DUE TO POSSIBLE AXLE FAILURE, TIRE WAS COMPLETELY MISSING FROM VEHICLE. YH
NHTSA ODI #552875
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE FIRE WHICH EMANATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #552826
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WENT FOR AN INSPECTION ON MY 1995 SUNFIRE AND WAS NOTIFIED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723984
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE DATES ARE ESTIMATES. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE GASKET THAT WAS BAD AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE HEAD CRACKING AND THE INTERNAL PARTS FAILING. THE MANUFACTUAR WAS CONTACTED WITHOUT ANY AVAIL OF GETTING ANY HELP. THE DEALER WHERE I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE STATED HE COULDNT TELL WHAT CAUSE…
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THE DATES ARE ESTIMATES. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE GASKET THAT WAS BAD AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE HEAD CRACKING AND THE INTERNAL PARTS FAILING. THE MANUFACTUAR WAS CONTACTED WITHOUT ANY AVAIL OF GETTING ANY HELP. THE DEALER WHERE I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE STATED HE COULDNT TELL WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE. MY FILE NUMBER WITH GM PONTIAC IS 00017728. THE DIAGNOSTIC GUESS ON THE BILL WAS #1 MAIN AND ROD BEARING CAME APART. ENGINE HEAD CRACKED AT # 3 SPARK PLUG AREA. LOSING COOLANT AT THAT LOCATION. SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AT BILLY NAVARRE CHEVROLET. SHOWING BILLING DATE OF 1-31-2000
NHTSA ODI #723463
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW ON ITS OWN . ALSO, WITHIN MINUTES CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT ,CONSUMER HAD TRIED TO START VEHICLE, BUT IGNITION DID NOT TURN OVER, AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE.VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862768
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train
HAD HEADGASKET/ TRANSMISSION/ BOTH FRONTSPEAKERS/ REAR GLASS FOR REAR DEFOGGER, AND RADIO REPLACED ONCE THEY SAY IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, HAD ONE SPARK PLUG REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #719750
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2000
Exterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING ON A ROAD ON THE WAY TO WORK, WENT TO PUT HIGH BEAM ON AND HIT A BUMP, AND ALL LIGHTS WENT OFF. WHEN CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE HIGH BEAMS, REGULAR HEADLIGHTS COMES BACK ON. CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER PUT ON A NEW SWITCH THREE TIMES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #856844
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 79000 MILES. HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 108000 NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN! *AKENGINE
NHTSA ODI #717973
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A HEAD GASKET GOING BAD FIVE TIMES. *AK
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.
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.
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.
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
1
PE02001 · Fire In Steering Column Area
Opened Jan 3, 2002 · Closed Mar 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
1995 Pontiac Sunfire Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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