2001 Pontiac Sunfire Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sunfire years
- Fewer complaints than other years 10th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire. That ranks 10th out of 11 Sunfire model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (21 complaints, 32%), typically at around 64,000 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 66owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 21 | 32% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 18% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 12% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 7 | 11% | 43,160 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 6% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 6% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 5% | 90,982 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 5% | 114,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 3% | 45,750 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | 48,547 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 3% | 77,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | 89,982 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Pontiac Sunfire recalls (1)
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. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online by going to www.mygmlink.com and entering the vehicle's identification number.
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
- Erratic fuel gauge (EA02028) — opened Sep 30, 2002, closed Dec 30, 2003.
- Erratic fuel gauge (SQ01002) — opened Jan 26, 2001, closed Sep 30, 2002.
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 2001 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that the anti-theft warning indicator kept randomly illuminating. The vehicle was able to start and, at times, upon entering the vehicle, the key would not turn over to start the vehicle from the ignition. The dealer replaced the…
In part due to corrosion of the lower control arm, it experienced a sudden structural failure resulting in a significant loss of steering control. This problem occurred twice to my vehicle. The first time it occurred was when cornering an hitting a small pothole. I had the car repaired by a gm…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac sunfire. While driving 25 mph, the ignition switched off independently and caused the steering wheel to lock without warning. The failure caused a four vehicle crash. The air bags failed to deploy and the vehicle was destroyed. It was unknown if any injuries were…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that the traction control, service engine and abs warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The technician was unable to diagnose the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac sunfire. While driving various speeds, the engine stalled. The vehicle was able to restart and the traction warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
Other Pontiac Sunfire years
← 2000 Sunfire · 2002 Sunfire →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Sunfire | 68 | 0 |
| 2004 Sunfire | 32 | 1 |
| 2003 Sunfire | 72 | 1 |
| 2002 Sunfire | 82 | 0 |
| 2001 | 66 | 1 |
| 2000 Sunfire | 96 | 1 |
| 1999 Sunfire | 93 | 2 |
| 1998 Sunfire | 120 | 3 |
| 1997 Sunfire | 190 | 6 |
| 1996 Sunfire | 201 | 7 |
| 1995 Sunfire | 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 2001 Pontiac Sunfire?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 21 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 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 2001 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.