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2005 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →
68Owner complaints

Model-year median: 77

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
82
200272
200332
200468
2005
Compare all Sunfire years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
60Steering
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Engine
3Exterior Lighting
3
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Suspension
2Visibility
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Power Train
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Tires
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

61 reports with mileage · 7 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 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine complaints

3 reports
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114,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT TO TURN A CORNER AND THE ENTIRE CAR DIED. I LOST ALL STEERING AND ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRIED TO BE RESTARTED THAT WAS A VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. ONCE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OIL IN THE VEHICLE. WAS ALSO TOLD THIS IS IDENTICAL…

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DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT TO TURN A CORNER AND THE ENTIRE CAR DIED. I LOST ALL STEERING AND ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRIED TO BE RESTARTED THAT WAS A VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. ONCE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OIL IN THE VEHICLE. WAS ALSO TOLD THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEMS OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639339

98,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT START, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK THE CARE CLAIM TO RUN HOT WHEN THAT ISN'T THE CASE. THE WINDOW STOP WORKING, THE ENGINE SAY THAT IT NEED CHECKING HOWEVER WHEN I TAKE IT TO BE SERVICE THEY ALWAYS SAYS THIS MODEL HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD WIRES REPLACED, NEW STAR…

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THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT START, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK THE CARE CLAIM TO RUN HOT WHEN THAT ISN'T THE CASE. THE WINDOW STOP WORKING, THE ENGINE SAY THAT IT NEED CHECKING HOWEVER WHEN I TAKE IT TO BE SERVICE THEY ALWAYS SAYS THIS MODEL HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD WIRES REPLACED, NEW STARTER, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW MOTOR IN THE LEFT WINDOW. AND I HAVE HAD ALL THIS DONE TO FINE OUT THAT THERE IS ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I HAVE WASTED HUNDREDS WHEN ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS ADMIT THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND SUBMIT A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616165

75,000 miles · Mar 31, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD CAR SHUT OFF AND EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AND HAD NO POWER. AFRAID IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT FASTER SPEED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576011

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.