1997 Pontiac Sunfire Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sunfire years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire. That ranks 2nd out of 11 Sunfire model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (42 complaints, 22%), typically at around 99,000 miles. Complaints mention 29 crashes, 8 fires, 19 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 190owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 29complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 42 | 22% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 16% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 30 | 16% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 27 | 14% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 | 12% | 93,216 | — | — |
| Suspension | 12 | 6% | 73,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 12 | 6% | 100,300 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 6% | 127,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 4% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 3% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 3% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 2% | 111,128 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 2% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Pontiac Sunfire recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:rack and pinion
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
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. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. 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, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
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.
Suspension:rear
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. One of the rear suspension trailing arm bolts can fatigue and break.
Risk: If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a loss of vehicle control can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension trailing arm fasteners.
Air bags
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Because of certain calibrations in the air bag's sensing and diagnostic module, an inadvertent air bag deployment could occur in a low speed crash or when an object strikes the floor pan.
Risk: Air bags deploy with great force and can seriously injure unrestrained occupants who are too close to them.
Fix: Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.
Structure:body
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with mis-located welds at the joint between the left rocker panel inner reinforcement and the body side ring. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 214, "side door strength."
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the sheet metal structure would not perform as desired increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the welds and, if necessary, place five welds between the involved panels and apply primer and topcoat finish materials.
Wheels:space saver wheel
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The compact spare tire assemblies were assembled with incorrect rims. If the spare tire is underinflated, the bead can separate from the rim causing a rapid loss of air. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Risk: A rapid loss of air can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rim on the compact spare tire assembly. Owners are requested not to use the spare tire until the rim has been replaced.
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
- Unintended vehicle acceleration (DP03007) — opened Oct 14, 2003, closed Jan 30, 2004.
- Fire in steering column area (PE02001) — opened Jan 3, 2002, closed Mar 15, 2002, led to recall 02V070000.
- Oversensitive air bag deployments (EA98001) — opened Jan 23, 1998, closed Jul 31, 1998, led to recall 98V146000.
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 1997 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, smoke started to emit from the vents and a fire erupted under the dashboard. The contact and the front passenger were able to safely exit the vehicle without any injuries. The fire department…
Tl * the contact owns a 1997 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that smoke was emitting from the steering column. The contact mentioned that after inspecting the vehicle he noticed that there was an electrical short causing the wires to melt together. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
Fuel tank rusted and caused gas to leak out. *tr
Heard and felt a loud thud sound from steering area driving home. Power steering feels like it is gone when turning left, but turns easier when turning right at low speeds. Steering wheel becomes off centered at times. Almost feels as if i might loose control of front tires during turns or at…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 pontiac sunfire gt. The contact stated that he lost two engines due to his engine oil warning light not illuminating and warning him that the oil level was low. The vehicle had not been inspected by a dealer nor had it been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately…
Other Pontiac Sunfire years
← 1996 Sunfire · 1998 Sunfire →
| 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 | 190 | 6 |
| 1996 Sunfire | 201 | 7 |
| 1995 Sunfire | 119 | 5 |
See all Pontiac Sunfire problems by year, every Pontiac model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire?
Owners most often report steering, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 42 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 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 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.