no report yet
Ignition: switch
Risk. IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
1998 Pontiac SunfireProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 120 owner complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 27, 2018. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire has problems
120 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
32Engine and engine cooling
21Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
14Steering1 crash/fire/injury
13Service brakes, hydraulic2 crash/fire/injury
11Air bags7 crash/fire/injury
7Vehicle speed control
7Power train
5Seat belts
5Exterior lighting
3013 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 32 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 21 | 1 |
| Steering | 14 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 13 | 2 |
| Air bags | 11 | 7 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 1 |
| Power train | 7 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 30 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
1998 Pontiac Sunfire recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Steering: rack and pinion
Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT.
no report yet
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Risk. THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.
Best & worst years
1998 vs. every other Sunfire year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sunfire median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
1998 Pontiac Sunfire safety ratings
1998 Pontiac Sunfire 2-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Sunfire owners report
Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS OFF AND ON. PUT IN STOP LEAK FOR A TEMP FIX. HOWEVER DEXCOOL CONTINUED TO EAT AWAY AT MY COOLANT SYSTEM. CAR HAS OVERHEATED ON MANY OCCASIONS. FINALLY ABLE TO USE JB WELD TO FIX LEAK. *TR
IN MY 98 SUNFIRE GT I HAVE SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH YET I STILL OWN THE CAR. A LITTLE BIT AGO IT SEEMS LIKE MY EXHAUST PIPE FALLS OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE FLANGE. WITH CAUSING YOUR CAR TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS A DRAG RACER. WELL I WENT TO PONTIAC AND FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST…
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER OF 2000 IT HAD TO KEEP GOING BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IN THE CAR KEPT CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING AROUND 55-60 MPH. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY AFTER THE 3RD MONTH THEY FOUND THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS BAD. THAT WAS…
Own a 1998 Sunfire?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.