← New search

2002 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 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

59 reports with mileage · 23 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

24 reports
Clear category filter
194,460 miles · Jul 30, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, GOT MY FUSES AND RELAY'S ALL CHECKED AND TURNED THE CAR ON THE NEXT MORNING, NOTHING ON MY DASH PANEL IS WORKING. NO MILEAGE, NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK, FUSES AND RELAYS ARE ALL GOOD.

NHTSA ODI #10745149

92,488 miles · Sep 17, 2014
Electrical System

I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF MY 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE; WELL BACK IN 2011 IT JUST WOULD NOT START; TOOK IT TO A TRUSTY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP CAUSE MOST LIKELY I NEEDED AN IGNITION SWITCH; SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN TOWN; BEING THEY ARE A GM DEALER; I MENTIONED WHAT IT NEEDED; THEY LOOKED AT IT FOR …

Read full complaint

I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF MY 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE; WELL BACK IN 2011 IT JUST WOULD NOT START; TOOK IT TO A TRUSTY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP CAUSE MOST LIKELY I NEEDED AN IGNITION SWITCH; SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN TOWN; BEING THEY ARE A GM DEALER; I MENTIONED WHAT IT NEEDED; THEY LOOKED AT IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM; AND IT WAS 703.00 FOR LABOR AND EVERYTHING; OKAY SO WE DECIDE TO FIX IT; GET IT BACK AND GUESS WHAT SEVERAL WEEKS LATER IT DIES ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS GOING 70MPH; HE HAD TO THROW IT INTO NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER; CAUSE IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT!!! TAKE IT BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP; THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT; THEY HAVE ME COME PICK IT UP AND IT WONT EVEN START!!! SO I LEAVE IT THERE; THEN THEY CALL ME THAT MONDAY; YOU NEED AN IGNITION SWITCH AND WE WILL REPLACE THIS FOR FREE; DID I EVEN NEED A NEW COMPUTER??? GM THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE ON THAT RECALL LIST; CAUSE ITS NEXT; ALSO; I HAVE HAD A BROKEN TRUNK; A BROKEN MOON ROOF; AND IN THE WINTER WHEN ITS REALLY COLD OUT; GOOD LUCK GETTING INSIDE THE CAR; THESE DOORS FREEZE LIKE NO OTHER; ITS NOT MEANT TO SIT OUTSIDE; I HAVE HAD OVERHEATING ISSUES; GOT THAT FIXED FINALLY; NOW THE AC COMPRESSOR IS SHOT AND THE AC WON'T WORK; THAT IS 800.00 TO FIX; BUT BEFORE WITH TRYING TO RUN THE AC THE CAR WOULD REV UP REALLY BAD WHEN SITTING IDLE AND SOMETIMES IT JUST SHUTS OFF; ALWAYS STARTS BACK UP; THANK GOODNESS; BUT THE COMPUTER AND COMPRESSOR COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH EACH OTHER IS WHAT I WAS TOLD; THE BODY ON THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE; EXPECT RUST UNLESS YOU KEEP IT IN A GARAGE AND THE PAINT PEELS LIKE NO OTHER; IF THERE IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM; WHY IS THIS CAR NOT ON THE RECALL??? THIS CAR ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT; MY HUSBAND KNEW WHAT TO DO; ALSO SOMETIMES THE SEAT BELTS ALMOST CHOKE YOU, BE CAREFUL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637142

53,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY TOOK THIRTY MINUTES TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ANY POSITION OR RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY TOOK THIRTY MINUTES TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ANY POSITION OR RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI #10610257

130,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE PLACED IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE PLACED IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10604344

140,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHEN TRYING TO PUT CAR INTO PARK, SHIFT CABLE BROKE AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO PARK. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP CAR FROM ROLLING. THEN, BECAUSE CAR WASN'T FULLY IN PARK, IGNITION WOULDN'T RESTART. HAD TO REPLACE CABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593006

151,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SEIZED IN THE "ON" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE W…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SEIZED IN THE "ON" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA ODI #10579162

80,000 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Electrical SystemSteeringFire

STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAR ENGINE STOPPED. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS DUE TO RUBBING ON THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578213

120,000 miles · Jul 17, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ABS AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CANISTER VAMP SOLENOID AND EVAP CANISTER WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERS…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ABS AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CANISTER VAMP SOLENOID AND EVAP CANISTER WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10525328

98,628 miles · Apr 10, 2013
Electrical System

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IT SPENT 6 WEEKS IN THE SHOP THE FIRST TIME BACK IN LATE 2011 BECAUSE THE WIPERS, LIGHTS, POWER ANYTHING IN CAR WENT ON THE FRITZ AND LOCKS FAILED. NOW THE DRL LIGHTS QUIT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THEY FAIL WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR INT…

Read full complaint

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IT SPENT 6 WEEKS IN THE SHOP THE FIRST TIME BACK IN LATE 2011 BECAUSE THE WIPERS, LIGHTS, POWER ANYTHING IN CAR WENT ON THE FRITZ AND LOCKS FAILED. NOW THE DRL LIGHTS QUIT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THEY FAIL WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR, HIGH BEAMS QUIT, REAR LIGHT CONNECTORS ARE ROTTED AND SHORTED OUT AND THE IGNITION SWITCH IS SCREWED UP AND THAT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. IT HAS GONE INTO WEEK 7 NOW WITH NO RESULTS. I FEEL GENERAL MOTORS OWES US SOME SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM FINDING OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THE EXACT SAME ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES NOT TO MENTION VERY COSTLY REPAIRS AND BEING WITHOUT OUR VEHICLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. OUT OF THE 70 COMPLAINTS I READ THERE ARE 20 PLUS ISSUES WITH THE SAME ELECTRICAL ISSUES I AM HAVING. WHY HAS GENERAL MOTORS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES OR AT LEAST HELP WITH THE REPAIR COSTS?? IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 13 WEEKS AND COUNTING FOR THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505738

30,000 miles · Dec 25, 2010
Electrical System

FIRE HAZARD, REAR LIGHT SOCKETS MELTING AND SMOKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372380

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.