NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
120 reports120,000 miles · Mar 1, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
IN MY 98 SUNFIRE GT I HAVE SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH YET I STILL OWN THE CAR. A LITTLE BIT AGO IT SEEMS LIKE MY EXHAUST PIPE FALLS OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE FLANGE. WITH CAUSING YOUR CAR TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS A DRAG RACER. WELL I WENT TO PONTIAC AND FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME A PRETTY PENNY $500 SOME ODD…
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IN MY 98 SUNFIRE GT I HAVE SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH YET I STILL OWN THE CAR. A LITTLE BIT AGO IT SEEMS LIKE MY EXHAUST PIPE FALLS OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE FLANGE. WITH CAUSING YOUR CAR TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS A DRAG RACER. WELL I WENT TO PONTIAC AND FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME A PRETTY PENNY $500 SOME ODD DOLLARS. AND THE FUNNY THING IS THAT THIS HAS NOT JUST HAPPENED TO ME. IT HAS HAPPENED TO A FEW OF MY FRIENDS AS WELL. I DON'T HOW KNOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE GOTTEN LETTERS ABOUT THE FAULTY EXHAUST FLANGES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10112345
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER OF 2000 IT HAD TO KEEP GOING BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IN THE CAR KEPT CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING AROUND 55-60 MPH. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY AFTER THE 3RD MONTH THEY FOUND THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS BAD. THAT WAS REPLACED. IT RAN FINE UNTIL TH…
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WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER OF 2000 IT HAD TO KEEP GOING BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IN THE CAR KEPT CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING AROUND 55-60 MPH. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY AFTER THE 3RD MONTH THEY FOUND THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS BAD. THAT WAS REPLACED. IT RAN FINE UNTIL THE NEXT WINTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & CAR KEPT STALLING WHEN AT STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS. TOOK TO DEALER HAD DIAGNOSTIC RAN WHICH READ FAULTY GAS CAP, TPS SENSOR.... I REPLACED THEM MYSELF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT TILL THE NEXT DAY. TOOK CAR BACK IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC WHICH READ FAULTY GAS CAP, TPS SENSOR,EGR ,COIL PACKS,GAS TANK SENSOR.....HAD DEALER WORK ON IT.... THEY COULD NOT SEE WHY ALL THIS STUFF WAS POPPING UP ....HAD IT ALL REPLACED. REPLACING IT DID NOT WORK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER!!! I CHECKED CAR OVER & FOUND IF YOU WIGGLED THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS CONNECTIONS THE CAR RAN FINE & ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT! TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE WIRING FIXED. THEY TOOK ALL THE WIRING APART & CLEANED EVERYTHING. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM IN THE WIRING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON NEXT DAY.TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN FINALLY THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY..... WEATHER WAS NICE AGAIN & HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR.... NOW THAT WINTER IS HERE AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN , DIAGNOSTIC STATED TPS SENSOR WAS BAD... I AGAIN REPLACED IT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT FOR A COUPLE HOURS & IS BACK ON AGAIN & CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPING & TRYING TO GO ....CAR IS AT DEALER RIGHT NOW AGAIN. THE WHOLE TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STALLING.................... HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM 2000 TO NOW & STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10105764
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2004
Steering
MY CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE REPAIR WAS IN 2002 AT A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY ONLY GUARANTEE WORK DONE FOR A YEAR, WHICH LEAVES ME TO PAY FOR THE R…
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MY CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE REPAIR WAS IN 2002 AT A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY ONLY GUARANTEE WORK DONE FOR A YEAR, WHICH LEAVES ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED GMC AND THEY WILL NOT HELP COVER ANY CHARGES, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I WILL NEED THIS SAME PROBLEM FIXED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS "SHAFT" PROBLEM SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF EITHER BY THE DEALERSHIP OR GMC. BY READING THE OTHER REPORTS HERE, IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. SO WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? WHY AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT WHEN IT'S A MANUFACTURER ISSUE?
NHTSA ODI #10086679
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2004
Steering
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING COLUMN. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, IT MAKES A BUMPING NOISE. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. NOW IT HAS GONE OUT AND THE RECALLS R THE SAME BUT THEY SAY IT DOES NOT COVER MY CAR I NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE FIXED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10083180
120,000 miles · Jul 19, 2004
Seat Belts
THERE WAS A PLASTIC PIECE ON THE BUCKLE THAT KEPT THE LAP BELT IN PLACE WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT PLASTIC PIECES BROKE UPON FASTENING THE SEAT BELT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE LAP BELT SLID FREELY BACK AND FORTH AND FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10066708
82,000 miles · Jul 18, 2004
Electrical System
I TOOK MY SUNFIRE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SPECIFIED IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND AM NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY STARTER. THE STARTER I HAVE IS NOT EVEN ONE YEAR OLD - I AM SURE THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RECENT RECALL WORK DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA ODI #10081305
50,000 miles · Jun 3, 2004
Electrical System
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. TWO MONTHS LATER A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND PART REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THE CONSUMER IWAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075608
65,000 miles · May 11, 2004
Electrical System
RECALL NO. 04V036000, IGNITION SWITCH: THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS SALVAGED.*AK SINCE THE DEALER REFUSED REPAIR, VEHICLE DOESN'T START AND CAN NO LONGER BE DRIVEN. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10063578
51,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10065510
2,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS BRAKES FAILED 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, BUT THEN THE FRONT BRAKES RELEASED, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. REAR BRAKES WERE THE ONLY BRAKES STOPPING THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT ONLY PERFOR…
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ABS BRAKES FAILED 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, BUT THEN THE FRONT BRAKES RELEASED, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. REAR BRAKES WERE THE ONLY BRAKES STOPPING THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT ONLY PERFORMED A BRAKE ADJUSTMENT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10065399
Official recalls
3Jan 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.
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.
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 ↗
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