Pontiac Sunfire Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 219 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Pontiac Sunfire across 11 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (39). The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (19% of reports).
- 219engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 50%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Head gasket: mentioned in 42 of 219 complaints (19%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Pontiac Sunfire at $1,400, and half of them between $1,150 and $3,900.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2005), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 55 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 219 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 2 an injury.
Pontiac Sunfire engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Sunfire | 2 | 3% | 24,147 |
| 2004 Sunfire | 4 | 13% | 22,750 |
| 2003 Sunfire | 8 | 11% | 36,000 |
| 2002 Sunfire | 11 | 13% | 19,700 |
| 2001 Sunfire | 12 | 18% | 65,000 |
| 2000 Sunfire | 25 | 26% | 47,425 |
| 1999 Sunfire | 17 | 18% | 109,299 |
| 1998 Sunfire | 32 | 27% | 52,000 |
| 1997 Sunfire | 31 | 16% | 47,000 |
| 1996 Sunfire | 39 | 19% | 136,050 |
| 1995 Sunfire | 38 | 32% | 84,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Pontiac Sunfire. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving the car just after i purchased it and became cold so i turned on the heater and within 30 seconds smoke filled the car. I thought the engine was on fire. It smelled like burning oil or gas. I called delphi about recalls and before i could finish a sentence the man cut me off saying…
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…
1999 pontiac sunfire, vehicle caught fire. *bf while driving, the consumer felt a thump and began to loose power. Once the consumer stopped, he noticed fire was coming from under the front end of the vehicle. Ohio traffic crash report # 10-0699-90.*jb updated 04/14/10 *bf
I purchased the car in 2006 with everything on it stock. In 2009 the coil pack started misfiring causing the catalytic converter to go bad and also causing the rods bearings to spin. *tr
This car was bought brand new. Since it's purchase we have had many issues. We had to replace the transmission at less than 20,000 (it was still under warranty though). My power windows have all stopped working and have been replaced (i've had to buy 7 different ones), my cigarette lighter fuse has…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Pontiac Sunfires have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 219 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Pontiac Sunfire. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Pontiac Sunfire engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Pontiac Sunfire?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,400 (half paid between $1,150 and $3,900), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Pontiac Sunfire?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 42 of 219 complaints.
Other Pontiac Sunfire problems
- Electrical System problems (304)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (131)
- Air Bags problems (122)
- Steering problems (109)
See all Pontiac Sunfire problems.