Pontiac Sunfire Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,139 owner complaints and 17 safety recalls on file for the Pontiac Sunfire, across 11 model years (1995–2005). The 1996 model year has the most complaints (201). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Pontiac Sunfire years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sunfire year: 1996, 1997. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1996 Sunfire: 201 complaints, 7 recalls
- 1997 Sunfire: 190 complaints, 6 recalls
- 1998 Sunfire: 120 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2004 Sunfire: 32 complaints, 1 recall
- 2001 Sunfire: 66 complaints, 1 recall
- 2005 Sunfire: 68 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Pontiac Sunfire problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 304 | 11 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 219 | 11 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 131 | 11 | 20 |
| Air Bags problems | 122 | 10 | 67 |
| Steering problems | 109 | 11 | 14 |
| Exterior Lighting | 90 | 11 | 0 |
| Power Train | 69 | 9 | 5 |
| Visibility | 64 | 10 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 52 | 9 | 2 |
| Suspension | 45 | 10 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 11 | 7 |
| Structure | 37 | 10 | 2 |
| Equipment | 36 | 10 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 30 | 9 | 8 |
| Tires | 23 | 10 | 1 |
| Seats | 16 | 7 | 5 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 15 | 9 | 0 |
| Engine | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 10 | 6 | 1 |
| Wheels | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Pontiac Sunfire problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2005: electrical system (60)
All Pontiac Sunfire model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Sunfire | 68 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Sunfire | 32 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Sunfire | 72 | 1 | — | Exterior Lighting | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Sunfire | 82 | 0 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 Sunfire | 66 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Sunfire | 96 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1999 Sunfire | 93 | 2 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 Sunfire | 120 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Sunfire | 190 | 6 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Sunfire | 201 | 7 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Sunfire | 119 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
More from Pontiac: all Pontiac models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Sunfire years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1996 (201), 1997 (190) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sunfire year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Pontiac Sunfire?
Electrical System, with 304 complaints across 11 model years.
How many recalls does the Pontiac Sunfire have?
17 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.