1995 Pontiac Sunfire Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sunfire years
- More complaints than other years 4th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Pontiac Sunfire. That ranks 4th out of 11 Sunfire model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (38 complaints, 32%), typically at around 84,500 miles. Complaints mention 11 crashes, 11 fires, 10 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 119owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 11complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1995 Pontiac Sunfire problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 38 | 32% | 84,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 27 | 23% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 12% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 13 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 9 | 8% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 7% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 4% | 51,867 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3% | 180,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1995 Pontiac Sunfire recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, buick at 1-800-521-7300, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Exterior lighting:hazard flashing warning lights
Problem: The front and/or rear hazard warning lamps (four-way flashers) do not flash when the hazard switch is activated. This fails to comply with fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: If these lamps were not flashing, other vehicles would not be aware that this vehicle was stopped increasing the risk of an accident.
Fix: Dealers or vehicle owners will inspect for proper function of the hazard warning lamps. If necessary, dealers will replace the hazard lamp switch.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: The instrument panel cluster trim plate/bezel can sag and cover the light emitting diode portion (lighted pointed above panel) of the transaxle shift indicator display. This does not comply with fmvss no. 101, "control location, identification, and illumination."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: the driver of the vehicle would not be able to see the actual position of the transaxle gear selector resulting in a driver either inadvertently leaving a parked or idling vehicle in drive, reverse, or neutral rather than park, or selecting an incorrect transaxle shift position while driving the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers are to install a new instrument panel cluster trim plate/bezel assembly which is not subject to this condition.
Structure:frame and members
Problem: Some welds were omitted from the body lock pillar, or "b" pillar. This does not comply with fmvss no.208, "occupant crash protection."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: if a vehicle crash should occur, occupant protection levels could be reduced.
Fix: All vehicles in this recall campaign have been repurchased and replaced with a comparable vehicle.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Problem: These vehicles have been built with welds missing from the front suspension lower control arm assemblies causing excessive loads on the existing welds.
Risk: This condition can result in separation of the frontbushing sleeve subassembly from the control arm increasing the potential for a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect both left-hand and right-hand front suspension lower control arm assemblies and replace all control arm assemblies found with omitted welds.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fire in steering column area (PE02001) — opened Jan 3, 2002, closed Mar 15, 2002, led to recall 02V070000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl*the contact owns a 1995 pontiac sunfire. The contact was driving approximately 60 mph with the cruise control engaged; when she turned the cruise control off and attempted to slow down, the accelerator pedal suddenly stuck. After repeated pressure to the brake pedal, the accelerator pedal became…
Tl*the contact owns a 1995 pontiac sunfire. The contact experienced difficulty starting her vehicle and turning the ignition switch. The following morning, she opened the door and noticed that the steering column melted and was lying on the floorboard. A police report was filed. The contact…
I smelled gas and loss of fuel. Gas leaking out from injector onto hot engine could cause fire. Had part replaced- fuel injectors #2 and 3. Now another is leaking. Have to take it in, but money is an object. *nm
The head gasket was leaking antifreeze which caused the vehicle to overheat. *jb.
Consumer noticed that the rear middle seat belt unlocked on its own. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The cause had not been determined. *ak
Other Pontiac Sunfire years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Sunfire | 68 | 0 |
| 2004 Sunfire | 32 | 1 |
| 2003 Sunfire | 72 | 1 |
| 2002 Sunfire | 82 | 0 |
| 2001 Sunfire | 66 | 1 |
| 2000 Sunfire | 96 | 1 |
| 1999 Sunfire | 93 | 2 |
| 1998 Sunfire | 120 | 3 |
| 1997 Sunfire | 190 | 6 |
| 1996 Sunfire | 201 | 7 |
| 1995 | 119 | 5 |
See all Pontiac Sunfire problems by year, every Pontiac model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Pontiac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Pontiac Sunfire?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 38 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1995 Pontiac Sunfire?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1995 Pontiac Sunfire a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sunfire model years, the 1995 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.