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Pontiac SunfireYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,139 NHTSA owner complaints across 11 model years, the Pontiac Sunfire years to avoid are 1996, and the strongest years are 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005. The Sunfire has 17 safety recalls on record.

Pontiac Sunfire
Years to avoid'96Use caution: 1997Best years'01 '03 '04 '05Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,139Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls171995–2005 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Pontiac Sunfire years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sunfire median. Tap a year for its full report.

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2005Solid65/10068 complaints · 0 recalls2004Best75/10032 complaints · 1 recall2003Solid59/10072 complaints · 1 recall2002Solid52/10082 complaints · 0 recalls2001Solid56/10066 complaints · 1 recall2000Solid45/10096 complaints · 1 recall1999Solid50/10093 complaints · 2 recalls1998Solid45/100120 complaints · 3 recalls1997Caution30/100190 complaints · 6 recalls1996Avoid28/100201 complaints · 7 recalls1995Solid42/100119 complaints · 5 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Pontiac Sunfire problems

All model years combined: 1,139 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system30446
Engine and engine cooling2207
Service brakes, hydraulic13122
Air bags12379
Steering10917
Exterior lighting912
Power train717
Visibility644
Fuel system, gasoline522
20 other systems32138
17 recalls

Pontiac Sunfire recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Exterior lighting: turn signal04V-524 · 2003 · Nov 1, 2004 · 256,025 vehicles–Seat belts: rear/other04V-300 · 2004 · Jun 23, 2004 · 37 vehicles–Ignition: switch04V-036 · 1998–2001 · Jan 27, 2004 · 1,415,231 vehicles–Steering: rack and pinion02V-286 · 1996–1998 · Nov 4, 2002 · 1,159,156 vehicles–Ignition: switch02V-070 · 1995–1997 · Mar 6, 2002 · 1,589,948 vehicles–Interior lighting99V-218 · 1999 · Aug 11, 1999 · 6,584 vehicles–Suspension: rear98V-319 · 1996–1997 · Dec 15, 1998 · 27,083 vehicles–Air bags98V-146 · 1996–1997 · Jun 29, 1998 · 675,302 vehicles–Structure: body98V-032 · 1997 · Feb 25, 1998 · 8 vehicles–Interior lighting98V-027 · 1996 · Feb 17, 1998 · 249,420 vehicles–Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs97V-219 · 1998 · Nov 24, 1997 · 24 vehicles–Wheels: space saver wheel97V-106 · 1997 · Jun 28, 1997 · 652 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 17 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

8 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Sunfire

  1. TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONEA04028 · 2003 · closed Nov 22, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-524
  2. TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONPE04043 · 2003 · closed Sep 14, 2004
    No recall
  3. UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATIONDP03007 · 1996–1997 · closed Jan 30, 2004
    No recall
  4. ERRATIC FUEL GAUGEEA02028 · 2000–2001 · closed Dec 30, 2003
    No recall
  5. ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATIONPE02066 · 2000 · closed Nov 3, 2003
    No recall
  6. FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN AREAPE02001 · 1995–1997 · closed Mar 15, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-070
  7. ERRATIC FUEL GAUGESQ01002 · 2000–2001 · closed Sep 30, 2002
    No recall
  8. OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTSEA98001 · 1996–1997 · closed Jul 31, 1998
    Led to recall 98V-146