1997 Pontiac Sunfire

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 12/30/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE THREW A ROD.TALKED TO OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.EVEN ON MULTIPLE ENGINES. *AK

• 12/27/2006· STEERING

  TILT STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK INTO PLACE ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY UP AND TO THE LEFT. DANGEROUS FOR STEERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND IN PARTICULAR IF EVASIVE SAFETY MANEUVERS ARE NEEDED. FIXED AT REPAIR SHOP BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE PIVOT UNIT MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A VERY HIGH COST. *NM

• 12/23/2003· SUSPENSION

  WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHICH CAME FROM THE FRONT END. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO JERKED AWAY FROM THE CONSUMER. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

• 12/21/2000· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE EVENING HOURS AND LIGHTS FAILED. THE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING AND FOUND OUT BY PUTTING SOMETHING BEHIND THE DIMMER SWITCH THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH IN APRIL 2000 HOWEVER IN DEC 2000 THE SAME SWITCH HAS FAILED AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE IT WAS MY RESPOSIBILITY TO REPAIR. DUE TO THE FACT THAT I PAID APPROXIMATELY $170.00 IN APRIL 2000 I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ABLE TO AID IN GETTING THIS REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO ME.

• 12/20/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

• 12/17/2007· STEERING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN TO THE RIGHT, BUT NOT TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) DOES NOT APPLY TO HER VIN. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,406 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,402. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ

• 12/13/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. FAILS TO START WHEN COLD AND ALSO AFTER DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE IN FOUR DAYS. FUEL PUMP WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT TO BE THE PROBLEM. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES IN 7 DAYS AFTER THE $700 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. ALTHOUGH TECHNICIANS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP ME, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION, THE NHTSA SHOULD CONSIDER ANY VEHICLE THAT STOPS ON THE FREEWAY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU, IN ADVANCE, FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE..

• 12/11/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  WHEN MAKING A PANIC STOP THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR , RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO A BARRIER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 12/10/2003· AIR BAGS

  BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH. *AK

• 12/09/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE SURGES INTERMITTENTLY, NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND DURING REPAIR DATES.

• 12/08/2004· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

• 12/05/2004· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT PARK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WILL ONLY PARK CORRECTLY IF THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN RUNNING AT FULL SPEED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST TWO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD SWITH TWICE BECAUSE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON (DAY OR NIGHT) INSTEAD OF THE NIGHT TIME DRIVING LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT PARKING CORRECTLY.*AK

• 12/05/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE ROTORS FAILED THREE TIMES IN TEN MONTHS.

• 12/04/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING A VEHICLE COLLISION.

• 12/03/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STOP FOR NO REASON. THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING. ENGINE WOULD NOT START UP RIGHT AWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *AK

• 11/23/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THIS CAR HAS BEEN MORE TROUBLE THAN IT IS WORTH. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE ALREADY AND NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN ALREADY. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I HAVE ANOTHER CRAKED HEAD GASKET, I REPLACED ONE TWO YEARS AGO JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED! *AK

• 11/23/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, SHORTLY AFTER FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK AREA, CAUSE UNKNOWN. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE STARTED DUE TO A ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. *AK *ML

• 11/22/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE INTAKE VALVE SPRING IN THE 3RD CYLINDER SNAPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

• 11/20/2000· STEERING,SEAT BELTS

  STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO STEERING COLUMN BREAKING. ALSO, SEATBELT LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN. DEALER REPLACED SEATBELT, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 11/06/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONTACTED THE DEALER SAID THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED BATTERY CABLE TO MELT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

• 11/05/2002· VISIBILITY

  CONSUMER STATE AFTER TURNING WINDSHIELD WIPER OFF WIPERS WOULD NOT LIE DOWN IN THE OFF POSITION. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 11/02/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING WHEN HAZARD BUTTON IS PARTICALLY ENGAGED.

• 11/01/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE REAR HAZARD LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. A RECAL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON EARLIER MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 10/30/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2001. THE '97 SUNFIRE WAS PRETTY RELIABLE VEHICLE, I HAD GOT REPAIRS OCCASIONALLY FOR THIS AND THAT. HOWEVER, I NEVER KNEW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS PAST JUNE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED AND CONSULTING A MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP THE IGNITION WIRES AND IT WOULD COST ME 5-6 HUNDRED TO REPAIR. I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROBLEM AND IF THE RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. *JB

• 10/27/2003· STEERINGCrash

  WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED AND THE CONSUMER HIT A POLE. DRIVER FEELS VERY LUCKY THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T LOCK WHILE AT A HIGH SPEED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SCC *JB

• 10/24/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/23/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  OWNER APPLIED BRAKES SUDENLY AND THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR DID NOT STOP. *AK CAUSE ACCIDENT. *ET

• 10/22/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  I HAVE A 97 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. IT HAS A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR WHICH LEAKS ALL OVER MY ENGINE. THE FUMES BLOW INTO MY VENTS AND IS HARD TO BEAR. I ALSO HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND DON'T WANT THEM EVEN IN THE CAR BUT IT IS ALL I HAVE TO DRIVE. I CALLED DEALERS AND THEY SAID IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SAFETY OR ANY RECALL, BUT THE CAR IS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD AND IN GREAT MECHANICAL SHAPE. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF SO I DO NOT SEE WHY THE FUEL INJECTOR SHOULD BE FAULTY ALREADY. I FEEL AS THOUGH GM WONT HELP ME AT ALL. THIS IS APART THAT SHOULD NOT BE BAD SO SOON. THANKS. *LA

• 10/19/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE OIL FILTER HAD A HOLE IN IT WHICH CAUSED THE OIL LEAK. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

• 10/18/2004· STEERINGCrash

  RECALL ON PINION BEARING IN 1997 SUNFIRE. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB RECALL# 02V286000

• 10/18/2002· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN CONSUMER SAYS MAY HAVE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE, AND BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 10/18/2002· AIR BAGS

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, VEHICLE MAY HAVE HIT A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, SUDDENLY BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 10/16/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 40-50 MPH ENGINE OIL FILTER FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSS OIL PRESSURE AND ENIGNE SHUTTING DOWN. *AK

• 10/11/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT PARK PROPERLY. IMPAIR VISION WHEN IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. *LA

• 10/11/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WATER PUMP FAILED.

• 10/09/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER NOTICED PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, RADIO, ODOMETER, AND PANEL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 10/08/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WILL REPLACE RELAY KIT FREE OF CHARGE, BUT WILL CHARGE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO STARTER IN THE PROCESS OR MAKING RECALL CHANGES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

• 10/06/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE BRAKES WILL GRAB AND SQUEAK. THEN WHEN PUTTING FOOT ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE AND THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. *AK

• 10/05/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON, AND INSIDE CAB THERE IS A SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. ALSO, AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

• 10/05/1999· STEERING

  STEERING TO THE LEFT STARTED TO GET BAD AT 38,000 MILES. NOW THE CAR LOCKS UP AT ALL MOST EVERY LEFT HANDED TURN WAS ALMOST HIT 2 TIMES. NOT GOOD!

• 10/02/2002· STEERINGFire

  CONSUMER STATES WHEN STARTED THE CAR SMOKE START COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, STATES THAT THE RELAY KIT CAUGHT FIRE. NLM

• 10/01/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE DAMAGED DUE TO EXPLODING BATTERY.

• 09/25/2001· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY SHAFT BROKE IN HALF, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

• 09/23/2002· AIR BAGSCrash

  AS A RESULT OF HITTING A DEER AT 55 MPH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED.AK

• 09/23/1998· AIR BAGS

  RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V146000), AIR BAG. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC REFUSED TO DO WORK ACCORDING TO RECALL. NO EXPLANATION GIVEN. *AK

• 09/22/2003· STEERING

  WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE STEERING WHEEL KEPT SPINNING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL KEPT SPINNING. MECHANIC HAS REPLACED STEERING RACK AND STEERING COLUMN.*MR

• 09/22/1999· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STRUCTURE

  WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN, THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHELL, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE'S, THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN THE BRAKES. ALSO, PANELS IN THE REAR ON BOTH SIDES KEEP COMING OFF. *AK

• 09/18/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED 6 TIMES FOR WHAT I FEEL IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! MY ENGINE STALLS WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP OR AFTER BEING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT IDLES ROUGH. I HAVE HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR, FUEL SENSOR REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, COIL, WIRE TO THE IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. MY CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, WHEN IDLING IN TRAFFIC, AND WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 IN REPAIRS AND TOW FEES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

• 09/15/1999· STEERING

  GM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ITS CONSUMERS. WHEN DRIVING MY 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THROUGH ANY WATER, EVEN A SMALL 3-5 FOOT WIDE PUDDLE OF ONLY 1-2 INCHES DEEP WATER, THE POWER STEERING BELT BECOMES WET AND STARTS SQUEALING LOUDLY. THE POWER STEERING THEN BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND VERY UNRESPONSIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR OVER A YEAR. DON BOHN AUTOPLEX SAYS THEY HAVE CONTACTED PONTIAC AND ALSO A GM MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE. DON BOHN REPORTS TO ME THAT PONTIAC AND GM DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME AND SAID NOTHING IS TO BE DONE. IT HAS BEEN SAID TO ME BY DON BOHN MANAGEMENT AND ALSO A PONTIAC REPRESENTATIVE ON THEIR 1-800 SERVICE NUMBER THAT THIS CONDITION OF THE POWER STEERING IS A 'CHARACTERISTIC' OF THE 1997 'J' BODY TYPE CARS OF GM AND THERE IS NO PRESENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOT ONLY WHEN IT RAINS BUT EVEN WHEN THERE IS A 'SMALL' PUDDLE ON THE HIGHWAY. EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE ONE YEAR LEFT ON MY MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY, PONTIAC AND GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHEN I MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT DON BOHN AUTOPLEX, EDDIE SATTLER (OR SADDLER) THAT I DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR HOME BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, HE GOT ANGRY AND THREATENED TO TOW MY CAR TO MY HOME IF I REFUSED TO TAKE DELIVERY. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND AM EXTREMELY DESPONDENT AND FRUSTRATED. PLEASE ADVISE OR HELP ME. THANK YOU. CARROLL ALBARADO