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1999 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

27 reports with mileage · 66 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

7 reports
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11,000 miles · May 19, 2005
Unknown Or Other

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE ODOMETER BLINKS AND SCRAMBLES AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND WHEN IT IS WORKING THE MILEAGE IS CORRECT. ALSO, WHENEVER I TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR AWHILE. LASTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURN …

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SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE ODOMETER BLINKS AND SCRAMBLES AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND WHEN IT IS WORKING THE MILEAGE IS CORRECT. ALSO, WHENEVER I TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR AWHILE. LASTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURN LEFT, OR ACCELERATE UPHILL AND I HAVE HAD 3 MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND TAKEN IT TO 3 DEALERS AND 2 AUTO SHOPS AND NOBODY CAN SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM!

NHTSA ODI #10121423

35,457 miles · Sep 26, 2003
Unknown Or Other

REAR BRAKES KEEP GOING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. I HAVE TO GET THEM READJUSTED ALMOST EVERY WEEK. FIRST STARTED IN FEBUARY 2001. SINCE THEN ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST 1.5 - 2 YRS. HAVE TO GET ADJUSTMENT DONE EVERY WEEK TO TWO WEEKS. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIME MOST ON FWYS WERE I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY AND THE BREAKS DID NOT CATCH. I KE…

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REAR BRAKES KEEP GOING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. I HAVE TO GET THEM READJUSTED ALMOST EVERY WEEK. FIRST STARTED IN FEBUARY 2001. SINCE THEN ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST 1.5 - 2 YRS. HAVE TO GET ADJUSTMENT DONE EVERY WEEK TO TWO WEEKS. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIME MOST ON FWYS WERE I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY AND THE BREAKS DID NOT CATCH. I KEPT GOING FWD. LUCKILY I WAS FAR ENOUGH BACK FROM VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT I DID NOT HIT THEM. DURING RAINY DAYS IT'S EVEN WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #10039577

20,000 miles · Jan 27, 2003
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE HAS A SHORT IN INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH CAUSE ITS COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION AT DIFFERENT TIMES, FOR EXAMPLE THE ODOMETER,FUEL GAUGE, AND SPEEDOMETER. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10004692

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A SHORTED WIRE AT THE PULLEY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #559823

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2000
Unknown Or Other

1998 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INSTALLED ON 1999 MODEL CAR, THREE (3) REPLACEMENT INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS NOT OPERATIONAL, CAR OUT OF SERVICE 25 DAYS AS OF THIS FILING, DEALER SAYS NO REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE, ATTEMPTING TO "REPAIR" DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - AWAITING PARTS, NO COMPLETION DATE GIVEN FOR REPAIRS

NHTSA ODI #732103

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722461

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

NOISE OVER SPEED BUMPS IS AT A LOW SPEED EASING OVER THEM.

NHTSA ODI #712735

Official recalls

2

04V036000 · 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.

99V218000 · Interior Lighting

Aug 11, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING MAY NOT FUNCTION AFTER ADJUSTING THE INTERIOR LIGHT INTENSITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT LIT AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.