NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
82 reports91,000 miles · Nov 22, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
ON NOVEMBER 12, 2008 I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THAT I HAD PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 28, 2008. AS THE CAR AHEAD OF ME BEGAN TO BRAKE I BEGAN TO BRAKE AS WELL. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGHT THE BRAKES "GRABBED" CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE A BROKEN FOOT CAUSE…
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ON NOVEMBER 12, 2008 I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THAT I HAD PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 28, 2008. AS THE CAR AHEAD OF ME BEGAN TO BRAKE I BEGAN TO BRAKE AS WELL. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGHT THE BRAKES "GRABBED" CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE A BROKEN FOOT CAUSED FROM PUSHING ON THE BRAKES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249575
55,000 miles · Nov 10, 2008
Visibility
PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR WORKING SLOWLY. UPON REPLACING THE BAD MOTOR I NOTICED THERE WAS NO ASSIST SPRING ON THE WINDOW LIFTING ASSEMBLY ON EITHER DOOR. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SPOT FOR ONE ON BOTH ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES THAT I HAD WORKED ON IN THE PAST INCLUDED THESE SPRINGS. I HAD THOU…
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PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR WORKING SLOWLY. UPON REPLACING THE BAD MOTOR I NOTICED THERE WAS NO ASSIST SPRING ON THE WINDOW LIFTING ASSEMBLY ON EITHER DOOR. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SPOT FOR ONE ON BOTH ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES THAT I HAD WORKED ON IN THE PAST INCLUDED THESE SPRINGS. I HAD THOUGHT THAT THE ASSIST SPRINGS WERE THERE TO HELP THE MOTOR IN LIFTING THE WINDOW. ESPECIALLY IN A TWO DOOR WITH LARGER WINDOWS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10248389
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2008
Visibility
MY WINDOW MOTORS STARTED GOING OUT OR LOSING POWER THE SHOP COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM THE FINALLY STOPPED WORKING IN OCT OF 2007 A FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND HER DID THE SAME THING AFTER REPLACING THE MOTORS IN THE WINDOWS 8 MONTHS LATER ONE OF THE MOTORS STARTED ACTING THE SAME WAY AGAIN MY FRIEND HAD TO REPLACE HER …
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MY WINDOW MOTORS STARTED GOING OUT OR LOSING POWER THE SHOP COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM THE FINALLY STOPPED WORKING IN OCT OF 2007 A FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND HER DID THE SAME THING AFTER REPLACING THE MOTORS IN THE WINDOWS 8 MONTHS LATER ONE OF THE MOTORS STARTED ACTING THE SAME WAY AGAIN MY FRIEND HAD TO REPLACE HER S ALSO IS THERE A DEFECT WITH THE MOTORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10245759
94,000 miles · Aug 24, 2008
TiresCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 270-STATE ROUTE 3, AND WAS DRIVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC! WENT TO CHANGE LANES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT! STARTED MERGING INTO MY CHANGING LANE WHEN I NOTICED A CAR SPEEDING INTO MY CHANGING LANE! I PULLED BACK INTO MY PREVIOUS LANE QUICKLY SO AS NOT TOO BE HIT. SOON AFTER MY CAR STARTED TOO SPIN. DID A 360 …
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I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 270-STATE ROUTE 3, AND WAS DRIVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC! WENT TO CHANGE LANES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT! STARTED MERGING INTO MY CHANGING LANE WHEN I NOTICED A CAR SPEEDING INTO MY CHANGING LANE! I PULLED BACK INTO MY PREVIOUS LANE QUICKLY SO AS NOT TOO BE HIT. SOON AFTER MY CAR STARTED TOO SPIN. DID A 360 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WENT INTO THE DIVIDING CEMENT WALL, HIT THAT AND DID ANOTHER 360 ON TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FREEWAY! AFTER CHECKING OUT MY TIRES I NOTICED A FLAT TIRE ON MY FRONT LEFT! LATER IN THE NIGHT NOTICED A ROUND INDENT IN THE SIDEWAY OF THE TIRE BUT LOOKED LIKE A BRAND NEW TIRE! I'VE HAD THESE TIRES A LITTLE MORE THEN A MONTH AND THEY WERE BALANCED AND HAD BEEN PUT ON STRAIGHT FROM THE TIRE DISCOUNT S STORE! THESE ARE YOKOHAMA, YK520 TIRES!! ONLY PUT A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES, NEVER DAMAGED THE TIRES AND NEVER TOUCHED THEM!! NOW MY CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND SOME DAMAGE TOO THE ENGINE! I VERY UN-HAPPY AND WILL BE TAKING THIS TO COURT WITH MY LAWYER!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239499
53,564 miles · Jun 23, 2008
Tires
PURCHASED 4 TIRES ON 1/24/2007 FROM SEARS ROEBUCK ON CONCORD PIKE WILMINGTON DELAWARE AND HAD 4 VALVE STEMS REPLACED AT THAT TIME, ON JUNE 11TH 2008 AFTER GOING ONLY 8,000 MILES ON THE TIRES WE HAD THE TIRE GO FLAT FROM A DEFECTIVE VALVE STEM. TODAY WE HAD ANOTHER FLAT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY FROM ANOTHER DEFECTIVE VALVE STE…
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PURCHASED 4 TIRES ON 1/24/2007 FROM SEARS ROEBUCK ON CONCORD PIKE WILMINGTON DELAWARE AND HAD 4 VALVE STEMS REPLACED AT THAT TIME, ON JUNE 11TH 2008 AFTER GOING ONLY 8,000 MILES ON THE TIRES WE HAD THE TIRE GO FLAT FROM A DEFECTIVE VALVE STEM. TODAY WE HAD ANOTHER FLAT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY FROM ANOTHER DEFECTIVE VALVE STEM. IN CHECKING THE REMAINING TWO TIRES THEY ALSO HAVE A SERIOUS CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION. I FEEL THIS IS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT TO HAVE ALL 4 VALVE STEMS GO BAD AFTER 1 YEAR AND IN THE SAME LOCATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10232102
30,000 miles · Apr 21, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. OCCASIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL NOT RELEASE ONCE IT IS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE INITIALLY OCCURRED EVERY THREE WEEKS, BUT NOW OCCURS ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. OCCASIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL NOT RELEASE ONCE IT IS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE INITIALLY OCCURRED EVERY THREE WEEKS, BUT NOW OCCURS ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,221 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NHTSA ODI #10225211
35,690 miles · Apr 20, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
WENT TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY GREASED THE THROTTLE CABLE NO BINDS ANYWHERE. THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKS. IT'S A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF YOU PUSH THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN AND STOMP ON THE THROTTLE PEDAL IT RELEASE IT AND GOES BACK TO NORMAL. IT IS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10225180
26,000 miles · Dec 31, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK AND DESTROYED THE REAR BUMPER OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE AND SUSTAINED …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK AND DESTROYED THE REAR BUMPER OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10213239
86,000 miles · Nov 30, 2007
Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherFire
I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE AUGUST OF 2002, AND HAVE ONLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER. IT WOULD WORK WHEN IT WANTED TO. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUSE, THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I FIGURED THAT IT WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING, BUT IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO LET A MECHANIC GO PROBING AROUN…
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I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE AUGUST OF 2002, AND HAVE ONLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER. IT WOULD WORK WHEN IT WANTED TO. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUSE, THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I FIGURED THAT IT WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING, BUT IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO LET A MECHANIC GO PROBING AROUND MY CAR TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. ON 11/28/07 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ONLY A FEW MILES, UPON STARTING THE CAR - SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF MY VENTS AND THE GAS GAUGE (WHICH THE TANK WAS FULL) STARTED DROPPING DOWN TO 'E'. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THAT THE TWO THINGS ARE UNRELATED. EXACT QUOTE FROM INVOICE ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE "BURNT SMELL ELECTRICAL, FOUND HARNESS TO REAR DEFOGGER ON LEFT LOWER KICK PANEL MELTED REPLACED CONNECTOR WITH BUTT CONNECTORS". I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE GAS GAUGE AND THAT IT HAPPENED AT THE EXACT SAME TIME THAT THE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENT, AND THE INVOICE ABOUT THAT SAYS "NEEDS SENDING UNIT IN TANK ORDERED PARTS 200 PARTS 240 LABOR". MAKING THE PRICE COME TO AROUND 440.00 TO FIX THE GAS GAUGE! I CALLED AROUND AND FOUND A MECHANIC THAT CHARGED ME $300.00, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE SENDING UNIT WASN'T DEFECTIVE! WHEN THE HARNESS TO THE REAR DEFOGGER MELTED - IT MELTED OUT THE CLUSTER FOR THE FUEL GAUGE. I SPENT $300.00 FOR NOTHING, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10210434
47,000 miles · Nov 30, 2007
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AS THE CONTACT PLACED HER CHILD IN THE REAR CHILD SEAT. WHEN SHE PUSHED THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AS THE CONTACT PLACED HER CHILD IN THE REAR CHILD SEAT. WHEN SHE PUSHED THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10210359