NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
72 reports38,000 miles · Jul 13, 2005
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
DT: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO STRIKE A UTILITY POLE. THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED, IT UNLATCHED DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE …
Read full complaint
DT: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO STRIKE A UTILITY POLE. THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED, IT UNLATCHED DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10128659
42,000 miles · Jun 11, 2005
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS BOTH DASH AND EXTERIOR WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, NO LUCK. WAITED FOR 30 MINUTES AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT STARTED UP, BUT WHEN I GOT UP TO 40MPH, IT REPEATED WHAT IT DID BEFORE, PULL…
Read full complaint
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS BOTH DASH AND EXTERIOR WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, NO LUCK. WAITED FOR 30 MINUTES AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT STARTED UP, BUT WHEN I GOT UP TO 40MPH, IT REPEATED WHAT IT DID BEFORE, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED ANOTHER 15 MINUTES AND IT STARTED AGAIN, AND IT DID IT AGAIN. AGAIN I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED, THEN IT STARTED, AND I FINALLY GOT IT TO AN EXIT OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD ONLY RUN AT 25MPH, ANYTHING ABOVE THAT IT WOULD REPEAT THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS ABOVE. THE NEXT DAY AFTER LEAVING THE CAR SIT OVERNIGHT, IT STARTED JUST FINE, RAN JUST FINE, EXCEPT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY RESET THE COMPUTER, THE CODE READ THAT IT WAS RUNNING TO LEAN, THEY CHECKED, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE CAR WILL NOT RUN ABOVE 70MPH, THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE ONLY REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE, WERE THE RECALLS ALREADY ON FILE FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10124992
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2005
Equipment
THE ACCELERATOR STICKS OR "FLUTTERS".
NHTSA ODI #10124442
15 miles · May 31, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: BOUGHT VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 15 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DYING AT RANDOM FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT START BACK. SOMETIMES IT TAKES UP TO 20 MINUTES OR LONGER BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHY THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP, BUT NO ON…
Read full complaint
DT: BOUGHT VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 15 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DYING AT RANDOM FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT START BACK. SOMETIMES IT TAKES UP TO 20 MINUTES OR LONGER BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHY THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP, BUT NO ONE COULD FIGURE THIS OUT. TWO WEEKS AGO THE CAR WAS SUBJECTED TO A PRESSURIZED TEST. CONSUMER HAS THE CAR TOWED ON 5-31-2005 BECAUSE IT DIED, AND DID RESTART. THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF PROBLEMS TO TRY TO CORRECT, BUT NOTHING WORKED. THE CAR WAS KEPT AT THE DEALER FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS AT A TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10122557
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2005
Exterior LightingInjury
2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE - REAR BLINKER BULDS KEEP BURNING OUT. MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHERE THE DRIVER BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME. I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT LUCKILY NOT WRITTEN UP. I CALLED THE DEALER BUT THEY TOLD ME TO JUST…
Read full complaint
2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE - REAR BLINKER BULDS KEEP BURNING OUT. MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHERE THE DRIVER BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME. I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT LUCKILY NOT WRITTEN UP. I CALLED THE DEALER BUT THEY TOLD ME TO JUST KEEP REPLACING THE BULBS. THE BULBS COST AROUND $2.00 AND THEY BURN OUT WITHIN 2 HOURS. I'VE TRIED DIFFERENT TYPES OF BULBS BUT NONE WORK.
NHTSA ODI #10114620
1,980 miles · Feb 28, 2005
Exterior Lighting
IT TOOK 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP , 9 SERVICE REPAIRS BEFORE THE REAR LIGHT BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES RECALL 04V524000 WAS REPAIRED CORRECTLY. CENTRAL PONTIAC, BUICK, GMC - REPAIR 4 TIMES. INTER HAVEN FL 863 299-1221, TEINLE OLDSMOBILE-PONTIAC-CADILLAC-GMC TRUCK, INC- FREMONT OHIO, REPAIRED 4 TIMES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10113115
6,178 miles · Feb 20, 2005
Electrical System
BOUGHT A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN OCT 2003. FROM FEB OF 2004 TO FEB 2005 IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT OF FRANKLIN MOTOR CO IN JASPER AL A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY. FOR NO REASON. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED AT ONE POINT, WAS TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC ON A FOUR LANE HWY AND IT DIE…
Read full complaint
BOUGHT A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN OCT 2003. FROM FEB OF 2004 TO FEB 2005 IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT OF FRANKLIN MOTOR CO IN JASPER AL A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY. FOR NO REASON. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED AT ONE POINT, WAS TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC ON A FOUR LANE HWY AND IT DIES ACROSS 2 LANES. CAN NOT MAKE THE CAR MIMIC THE PROBLEM AT ANY TIME BUT DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT HAS NOT DONE IT WITH THEM WHILE BEING DRIVEN BY THEM. HAVE GONE THRU ARBITRATION WHICH WAS A JOKE, WAS TOLD BECAUSE OUR COMPLAINT LETTER REACHED GM COMPANY IN NOV OF 2004 THAT OUR YEAR ACCORDING TO THE LEMON LAW WAS UP. IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT WE HAD TRIED TO GET THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT FOR THE LAST YEAR.LAWYER FOR GM COMPANY SAID THE CAR WAS NOT A HAZARD BECAUSE THERE HAD NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THEY HAVE REPLACED RESONATOR AND PIPE ASSEMBLY, COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY, & MODULE, PCM/VCM ALL ON 4/5/04.UPPED IDLE FROM 725RPM TO 925-950 RPM ON 5/28/04. REPLACE VALVE, IDLE AIR CONTROL ON 3/23/2004*JB
NHTSA ODI #10111829
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2004
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
NUMEROUS OF FAILURES;AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, CLUTCH STICKS TO FLOOR, CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START. *BF THE TURN SIGNALS AND LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT, IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE TIMES WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD START ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT THE TURN OF THE KEY, THE VEHICLE USED AN EXTREM…
Read full complaint
NUMEROUS OF FAILURES;AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, CLUTCH STICKS TO FLOOR, CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START. *BF THE TURN SIGNALS AND LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT, IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE TIMES WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD START ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT THE TURN OF THE KEY, THE VEHICLE USED AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF GAS, THE DASH WOULD RATTLE, THE ENGINE WOULD GROWL, THE DASH MADE A SOUND LIKE THE SPEAKER WAS BLOWN, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL IN THE STEREO AND THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. (2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE) *SC
NHTSA ODI #10109784
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN EVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THEY WOULD CAUSE EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING PROPERLY AS IT SHOULD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10101594
8,448 miles · Nov 5, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAKED. *BF *TC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10101087
NHTSA investigations
2EA04028 · Turn Signal Malfunction
Opened Sep 14, 2004 · Closed Nov 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
ON MAY 14, 2004 THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-043) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE BRAKE/TAIL TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN EITHER THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, OR WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED.ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE 04-043 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-028).GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL/TURN SIGNAL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WITHIN THE BULB SOCKETS.THE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LACK OF THERMAL GREASE PLACED IN BETWEEN THE BULB AND THE SOCKET. BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V524) COVERING ALL MY 2003 VEHICLES.GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY THERMAL GREASE TO THEM OR REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ASSEMBLIES WITH THERMAL GREASE ALREADY ATTACHED.MODEL YEAR 2004 AND NEWER VEHICLES HAVE THE THERMAL GREASE INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE04043 · Turn Signal Malfunction
Opened May 14, 2004 · Closed Sep 14, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT THE REAR TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AND DO NOT PROVIDE A SIGNAL TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES.ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE REPORT OF A CRASH WHERE THE COMPLAINANT BRAKED AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE IMPACTED THE COMPLAINANT'S VEHICLE IN THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR.IN MAY 2002, GM'S SUPPLIER MADE CHANGES TO THE BULB SOCKET THAT INCLUDED STOPPING THE USE OF THERMAL-MASTIC GREASE IN THE BULB SOCKET.GM REPORTS THAT THE GREASE REDUCES ARCING AT THE CONTACTS AND DISSIPATES HEAT THUS PREVENTING MELTING OF THE SOCKET MATERIAL OR BURNING OF THE CONTACTS.MOST OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE APPLIED TO THE BULB SOCKET.IN JUNE 2003, GM DIRECTED THE SUPPLIER TO RESUME THE USE OF GREASE IN THE SOCKET.GM ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) 04-08-42-004A ON JULY 15, 2004 ADVISING TECHNICIANS TO MAKE SURE THAT ADEQUATE AMOUNTS OF GREASE WERE ADDED TO THE BULB SOCKETS ON ALL SERVICE PARTS.ODI WILL UPGRADE THIS INVESTIGATION TO EA 04-028 TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE ISSUE.