IllustrationCONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SEAT BACK COLLAPSE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND SEAT BACKS WERE THROWN FORWARD THEN COLLAPSED INTO RECLINE POSITION. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *TT
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
What owners actually said
120 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL TWO LANE ROAD. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WAS HIT BROADSIDE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN A FATALITY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS
CAR STALLS AT ANY SPEED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SERVICED 3 TIMES AND STILL NOT FIXED. DEALER STATES THEY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE. NO ERROR CODES FROM MODULES. DT
THIS CAR HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITANTLY. IT HAS HAPPENED ON MOST OCASSIONS WHEN MAKING A SLOW TURN (LIKE FROM A STAND STILL AND TURNING AT A LIGHT). IT HAS HAD A TUNE UP AND STILL CONTINUES TO DO THIS. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG OR RECREATE THE PROBLEM. IN MY SEARCH ON THE N…
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THIS CAR HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITANTLY. IT HAS HAPPENED ON MOST OCASSIONS WHEN MAKING A SLOW TURN (LIKE FROM A STAND STILL AND TURNING AT A LIGHT). IT HAS HAD A TUNE UP AND STILL CONTINUES TO DO THIS. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG OR RECREATE THE PROBLEM. IN MY SEARCH ON THE NET I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS 1998 SUNFIRE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS THE POWER STEARING IS AFFECTED AND THE CAR IS DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER HAS THIS CAR IN GA WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE AND HAS HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS. I HOPE THIS CAN BE RESOLIVED SOON. DT
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE TURN SIGNALS LIGHTS AND THE HEAD LAMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH FOUR TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS REOCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
PROBLEMS HAVE RANGED FROM ETS BUTTOM LIGHT ON, PASSANGER WINDOW FAILURE TO CLOSE (3TIMES), TRANSMISSION (4 TIMES), WATER LEAKAGE INTO THE INTERIOR DUE CONVERTIBLE TOP, ACCELERATION AND\OR DECCELERATION DRIVING DOW HILL, THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS BEFORE THE VEHICLE REACHED THE 30,000 MILES. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEELS STUDS ARE SO FLIMSY,THAT THEY BREAK VERY EASILY WHEN BEING TIGHTEN. HAD 6 STUDS REPLACED. NLM
I WAS USING THE CINCHING LATCH PLATE TO KEEP MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT TIGHTENED. FORTUNATELY, THE DAY IT BROKE WE WERE LOOKING AT CARS. WE TRADED IN OUR SUNFIRE THAT DAY. I AM TERRIFIED TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT! I HAD RE-INSTALLED THE CAR SEAT, TIGHTENED IT, AND WIGGLED THE SEAT ONCE TO MAKE SU…
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I WAS USING THE CINCHING LATCH PLATE TO KEEP MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT TIGHTENED. FORTUNATELY, THE DAY IT BROKE WE WERE LOOKING AT CARS. WE TRADED IN OUR SUNFIRE THAT DAY. I AM TERRIFIED TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT! I HAD RE-INSTALLED THE CAR SEAT, TIGHTENED IT, AND WIGGLED THE SEAT ONCE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SECURE. I HEARD A POP AND THE SEAT MOVED A FOOT. MY FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT WASN'T AS BIG OF A DEAL TO ME--IT WASN'T HOLDING A CAR SEAT SECURE! NLM
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE NEW MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH, BUT IT IS EXPIRIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT RECALL STATES. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE RETAINER BROKE APART AND SEPARATED FROM THE BUCKLE. *JG
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.