NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
72 reports4,977 miles · Sep 29, 2004
Exterior Lighting
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER DRIVER STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND WATCH FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO COME ON. CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAUSED MOISTURE TO BECOME TRAPPED INSIDE. *AK REAR BRAKELI…
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WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER DRIVER STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND WATCH FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO COME ON. CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAUSED MOISTURE TO BECOME TRAPPED INSIDE. *AK REAR BRAKELIGHTS KEEP FAILING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SIX TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #10089846
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HESITATED. ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE AND VEHICLE SKIDDED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10091992
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2004
Service Brakes, Air
THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 SUNFIRE HAVE BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE GRINDING AND I WAS TOL DNOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN 3,000 MILES LATER I WAS BACK IN THE SHOP AND THE BREAKS WERE GROUND. THAT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT NO SOONER WAS I BACK IN THE SHOP AND THE BREAKS WERE COMPLETELY CHANGED. WELL ITS BEEN LESS…
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THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 SUNFIRE HAVE BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE GRINDING AND I WAS TOL DNOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN 3,000 MILES LATER I WAS BACK IN THE SHOP AND THE BREAKS WERE GROUND. THAT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT NO SOONER WAS I BACK IN THE SHOP AND THE BREAKS WERE COMPLETELY CHANGED. WELL ITS BEEN LESS THEN 4,000 MILES SINCE THAT WAS DONE AND THE BREAKS ARE STARTING TO GRIND AGAIN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10086837
14,000 miles · Jul 30, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALL ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES AND STILL HASN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM. *LA SINCE THE LAST CORRESPONDENCE THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HER VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A SERV…
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VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALL ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES AND STILL HASN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM. *LA SINCE THE LAST CORRESPONDENCE THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HER VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED IN NOVEMBER 2003 REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FROM THE OTHER DEALER. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10071957
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2004
Visibility
OUTSIDE MIRROR VIBRATION AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE VEHICLES ON THE SIDE AND REAR OF CAR. DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS MODEL." VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082484
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2004
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10076101
9,000 miles · Jun 8, 2004
Exterior Lighting
REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS-- BULBS BURNING OUT ON A WEEKLY BASIS, ONE BULB WAS MELTED IN THE SOCKET, BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I PLAN ON TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10075016
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ALL LIGHTS FROM THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO START IT UP AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK…
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WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ALL LIGHTS FROM THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO START IT UP AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10071725
20,620 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Exterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE INSIDE REAR OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER INSPECTED TRUNK, AND DETERMINED THAT LEFT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET WAS ON FIRE. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #10059247
10,000 miles · Mar 19, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
REAR TURN SIGNAL BULBS BLEW OUT THREE TIMES BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE SOCKET. ALSO, EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN AFTER DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY MINUTES. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10063539
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.
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