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2004 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire are lower than the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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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

27 reports with mileage · 5 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

32 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2011
Electrical System

WHEN IT IS VERY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL OF THE NEEDLES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL STICK AT CERTAIN POINTS OR STOP WORKING COMPLETELY, THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY AND I CAN NOT SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS WAS PART OF A GM CLASS SETTLEMENT BUT MY VEHICLE MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED FOR A FREE REPAIR OR A RECALL OF THI…

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WHEN IT IS VERY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL OF THE NEEDLES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL STICK AT CERTAIN POINTS OR STOP WORKING COMPLETELY, THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY AND I CAN NOT SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS WAS PART OF A GM CLASS SETTLEMENT BUT MY VEHICLE MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED FOR A FREE REPAIR OR A RECALL OF THIS PART. I DO NOT PLAN TO GET IT FIXED AT A DEALER BECAUSE OF THE COST BUT I PLAN TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OFF AND GET THE STEPPER MOTORS IN IT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375350

56,000 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Electrical System

CAN'T RECALL EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALWAYS REGISTERING 100 MPH EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT MOVING. SOMETIMES IT WILL REGISTER TO 70 MPH, BY RUNNING BACKWARDS FROM 100, WHILE IT IS MOVING. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND WHERE GM SETTLED IN A CLASS ACTION FOR THIS DEFECT …

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CAN'T RECALL EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALWAYS REGISTERING 100 MPH EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT MOVING. SOMETIMES IT WILL REGISTER TO 70 MPH, BY RUNNING BACKWARDS FROM 100, WHILE IT IS MOVING. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND WHERE GM SETTLED IN A CLASS ACTION FOR THIS DEFECT WHICH LISTED MY CAR AS A CAR THAT HAD THIS FAULTY COMPONENT, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT. I SEARCHED THIS WEBSITE'S COMPLAINT DATA BASE AND SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE, THE SPEEDOMETER. MY QUESTION IS, HOW MAY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE FOR ODI TO INITIATE AND INVESTIGATION, SO THAT A PROPER RECALL CAN TAKE PLACE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320296

35,000 miles · Dec 3, 2009
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL GAUGES ON DASH DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. TACH IS PEGGED OUT, FUEL GAGE NOT CORRECT AND SPEED IS INACCURATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294382

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2009
Exterior Lighting

LEFT SIDE REAR BLINKER LIGHT GOES OUT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER PONTIAC SUNFIRES BUT FOR YEARS OTHER THAN THE ONE I HAVE. APPARENTLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING. I CAN WIGGLE THE BULB AND IT WILL WORK UNTIL I HIT A BUMP AND THEN IT IS OUT AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE…

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LEFT SIDE REAR BLINKER LIGHT GOES OUT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER PONTIAC SUNFIRES BUT FOR YEARS OTHER THAN THE ONE I HAVE. APPARENTLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING. I CAN WIGGLE THE BULB AND IT WILL WORK UNTIL I HIT A BUMP AND THEN IT IS OUT AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRES AS WELL AS THE OTHER YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265560

100,000 miles · Apr 14, 2009
Electrical System

MY GAUGES (ALL BUT THE SPEEDOMETER) HAVE GONE CRAZY! THE FUEL GAUGE AND TEMP GAUGE ARE THE WORST. SOMETIMES THE TACHOMETER , THOUGH NOT OFTEN. MY FUEL GAUGE NEVER READS CORRECT AND SOMETIMES POINTS DIRECTLY DOWN OR IS INTO THE SPEEDOMETER. MY TEMP GAUGE EITHER NEVER MOVES OR ONCE IT MOVES, IT STAYS STUCK IN THE NEW LEVEL. I…

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MY GAUGES (ALL BUT THE SPEEDOMETER) HAVE GONE CRAZY! THE FUEL GAUGE AND TEMP GAUGE ARE THE WORST. SOMETIMES THE TACHOMETER , THOUGH NOT OFTEN. MY FUEL GAUGE NEVER READS CORRECT AND SOMETIMES POINTS DIRECTLY DOWN OR IS INTO THE SPEEDOMETER. MY TEMP GAUGE EITHER NEVER MOVES OR ONCE IT MOVES, IT STAYS STUCK IN THE NEW LEVEL. IT SOMETIMES GETS INTO THE TACHOMETER CAUSING THAT ONE TO STOP WORKING. IT SOMETIMES GOES BACK TO NORMAL IF THE CAR IS TURNED ON AND OFF MANY, MANY TIMES. OTHER TIMES THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK. IT OCCURS ALL THE TIME AND FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THEY HAVE BEEN STUCK. I WOULD GET IT REPAIRED, BUT CAN'T AFFORD THE COSTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265375

85,000 miles · Mar 30, 2009
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE STICKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DOES NOT RETURN TO 0MPH WHEN I STOP. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL BE PEGGED ALL THE WAY TO MAX. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TACHOMETER WILL DO THE SAME THING BUT IS NOT AS BAD AS THE SPEEDOMETER. W…

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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE STICKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DOES NOT RETURN TO 0MPH WHEN I STOP. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL BE PEGGED ALL THE WAY TO MAX. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TACHOMETER WILL DO THE SAME THING BUT IS NOT AS BAD AS THE SPEEDOMETER. WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE TACH WILL RESET BACK TO 0. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263636

60,000 miles · Dec 3, 2008
Electrical System

I OWN A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DIM, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING THE "BRIGHTS". AFTER REPLACING HEADLIGHT BULBS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUNFIRE AND IT INVOLVED CORROSION TO THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNES…

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I OWN A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DIM, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING THE "BRIGHTS". AFTER REPLACING HEADLIGHT BULBS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUNFIRE AND IT INVOLVED CORROSION TO THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL, WHICH I DID NOT FIND. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AND THERE IS MUCH WRITTEN ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN SEVERAL AUTO FORUMS, BUT GM HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE WITH A RECALL. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND HAD COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHICH I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE UNTIL SHE WAS FOLLOWING ME AT NIGHT AND I SAW THAT HER HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS, WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM BEEN ADDRESSED. I SEE THE DEALERS ARE CHARGING APPROX. $600 TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH SEEMS RIDICULOUS, CONSIDERING IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. DOES THERE NEED TO BE DEATHS INVOLVED IN ORDER FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED?HEADLIGHTS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250572

45,000 miles · Mar 16, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheelsCrash

THE ABS,TRAC AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I HIT A DEER BECAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WOULD NOT LET ME STOP FROM HITTING IT. I NOW HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH ABS TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE LIGHT BUT IT NOW MAKES IT HARD TO STOP TILL ALL THOSE COME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE HUB OF REAR END. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221376

20,000 miles · Feb 4, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000.…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000. UPDATED 07/09/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE. UPDATED

NHTSA ODI #10216893

51,550 miles · Dec 9, 2007
Electrical System

ALL GAUGES WERE ACCURATE UNTIL ONE MORNING WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK ON 50 WHEN CAR WASH COMPLETELY STOPPED. AS I DROVE FARTHER THE SPEEDOMETER ROSE TO 70 WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE RPM GAUGE IS READING 0 WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION WHICH IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211255

Official recalls

1

04V300000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Jun 23, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.' THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH AN INCORRECT NUT AND BOLT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND INSTALL A NEW NUT AND BOLT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

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.