IllustrationWHEN VEHICLE REACHED A NORMAL TEMPERATURE IT CAUSED HESITATION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED BETWEEN 1500-2000 MILES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH AGAIN. SEEKING HELP IN NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.
1998 Pontiac Sunfire
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
30–25K
125–50K
1250–75K
675–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
32 reports with mileage · 88 unknown
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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. 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 reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
32 reportsCONSUMER NOTICED A VERY BAD ODOR WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME SICK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ONGOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING DURING LOW/HIGH SPEED FROM A STOP POSITION WHILE TURNING; ETC. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK
WHEN STARTING OUT, VEHICLE STARTS BUT WHEN YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR IT STALLS, WHEN YOU TRY TO RESTART IT KEEPS TURNING, IT WON'T CATCH. IT HAS ALSO HESITATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND 60 MPH. IT HAS DONE THIS 15-20 TIMES AND BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 7 TIMES. THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, ONCE THEY UPDATED MY COM…
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WHEN STARTING OUT, VEHICLE STARTS BUT WHEN YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR IT STALLS, WHEN YOU TRY TO RESTART IT KEEPS TURNING, IT WON'T CATCH. IT HAS ALSO HESITATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND 60 MPH. IT HAS DONE THIS 15-20 TIMES AND BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 7 TIMES. THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, ONCE THEY UPDATED MY COMPUTER, ANOTHER TIME THEY REPLACED MY COMPUTER, BUT IT STILL STALLS AND HESITATES. *AK
THE COOLANT LIGHT HAS CONTINUOUSLY FLASHED FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS. THE VEHICHLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO FIX. THE MANUAL STATES THAT COOLANT SHOULD ONLY BE REPLACED AT 155,000 MILES OR EVERY 5 YEARS. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION. THE PREVIOUS…
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THE COOLANT LIGHT HAS CONTINUOUSLY FLASHED FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS. THE VEHICHLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO FIX. THE MANUAL STATES THAT COOLANT SHOULD ONLY BE REPLACED AT 155,000 MILES OR EVERY 5 YEARS. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION. THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT, THE OIL WAS IN THE COOLANT AND THE COOLANT WAS IN THE OIL. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING THIS SITUATION WITH THE MILITARY LEGAL SERVICES ABOUT MY OPTIONS. MY VEHICHLE SHOULD BE READY THIS AFTERNOON IF THE PROBLEM IS FIXED.
THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE ORIGINAL INCIDENT, ALMOST EVERYDAY. THE VEHICLE TURNS OVER MANY TIMES BEFORE STARTING, AND HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS TWICE. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND EACH TIME THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE …
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THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE ORIGINAL INCIDENT, ALMOST EVERYDAY. THE VEHICLE TURNS OVER MANY TIMES BEFORE STARTING, AND HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS TWICE. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND EACH TIME THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO CERTAIN CONDITIONS THAT THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN IN, THEY VARY EVERYTIME. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT MORE OF A HASSLE TO HAVE A NEW CAR AND THESE SORT OF PROBLEMS.......
THE VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS OR STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *ET
STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. MANUFACTURER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. BEEN I TO DEALER 4 TIMES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. *AK
ENGINE DOESN'T START ALL THE TIME, I'VE HAD IT IN 3 TIMES TO BE CHECKED, THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.
Official recalls
304V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Jan 27, 2004
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. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
02V286000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Nov 4, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. 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, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
97V219000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Nov 24, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF ALL WHEEL NUTS AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN ANY THAT MAY BE BELOW REQUIRED TORQUE.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.