IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK
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 →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
20–25K
525–50K
450–75K
575–100K
4100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
93 reportsWHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE IDLE PULLEY FAILED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE BLEW OUT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IT HIT A STEEL MAIL BOX TRYING TO KEEP FROM HITTING AN ANIMAL. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. *AK
CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA 99V21800 REGARDING INTERIOR LIGHTING. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK LIGHTING MAY NOT FUNCTION AFTER ADJUSTING THE INTERIOR LIGHT INTENSITY. DEALER STATED SORR…
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CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA 99V21800 REGARDING INTERIOR LIGHTING. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK LIGHTING MAY NOT FUNCTION AFTER ADJUSTING THE INTERIOR LIGHT INTENSITY. DEALER STATED SORRY THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
WE HAVE A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH 32445 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION, 3RD & 4TH GEARS, HAVE GONE BAD. I WOULD EXPECT TO RECIEVE MORE MILEAGE THAN THIS OUT OF A PROPERLY SERVICED TRANSMISSION. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN 220 MILES OF HAVING THE FLUID REPLACED IN HTE TRANSMISSION.*AK
PAINT IS STARTING TO WEAR OFF ON THE TOP OF MY CAR BY THE MOON ROOF AND AROUND THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR; ALSO THE SPOILER IS BECOMING DISCOLORED AND THE SAME, THE PAINT IS WEARING OFF. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V036000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. DEALER PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS AND CHARGED CONSUMER $500.00 HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE STARTING PROBLEMS. DEALER TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE THREE MORE TIMES AND CHARGED $500.00 EACH TIME A REPAIR WAS DONE. *AK *JB
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS OPERATE ERRATICALLY (SOMETIMES BLINKING RAPIDLY). I REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND DRL RELAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOPING THAT HE WOULD BE MOST EFFICIENT AND LOWEST COST TROUBLESHOOTER BASED ON HIS FAMILIARITY WITH THIS MODEL. CALLS TO MULTIPLE MICHIGAN DEA…
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LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS OPERATE ERRATICALLY (SOMETIMES BLINKING RAPIDLY). I REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND DRL RELAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOPING THAT HE WOULD BE MOST EFFICIENT AND LOWEST COST TROUBLESHOOTER BASED ON HIS FAMILIARITY WITH THIS MODEL. CALLS TO MULTIPLE MICHIGAN DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THIS ISSUE ON 1998 AND 19'99 SUNFIRE/CAVALIERS. ROOT CAUSE IS CORROSION OF WIRING WITHIN THE WIRE HARNESS. IT TOOK 6 HOURS ($500 WORTH OF LABOR, $0 PARTS!) TO LOCATE AND CORRECT A BROKEN WIRE WITHIN ITS INSULATION AND WITHIN THE HARNESS. UNFORTUNATELY, GM DOES NOT DEEM THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WHICH IS WORTHY OF PROVIDING REIMBURSEMENT ASSISTANCE TO ITS CUSTOMERS. OF COURSE, HEADLIGHTS ARE AN IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENT OF A VEHICLE- AND I SUSPECT MANY OTHER 1998 AND 1999 CAVALIER/SUNFIRE OWNERS RECOGNIZE THIS FACT. A SEARCH OF THIS ODI DATABASE REVEALS OTHERS; REF ODI ID #10053346, 562403, 8009447, 831751, 718361 AND 8008072. I AM CERTAIN THAT MANY, MANY OTHERS GO UNREPORTED TO THE ODI. I ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS CONDITION AND ENCOURAGE THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THIS PRODUCT DEFECT- IF NOT PROACTIVELY, AT LEAST WHEN IT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN ITS CUSTOMERS VEHICLES.*AK
GEARS NO LONGER WORK BECAUSE THE SHIFTER CABLE THAT LEADS TO THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF ITS HOUSING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *LA
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.
Official recalls
204V036000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.