Pontiac Sunbird complaints by model year
196 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 42 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | 37 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 1992 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 1991 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 1990 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1991–2000. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Pontiac Sunbird recalls (14)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Sunbird model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94V115000 | Jun 24, 1994 | SUSPENSION:INDEPENDENT FRONT SPINDLE:KNUCKLE:STEER | 1994 | — |
| 93V190000 | Nov 22, 1993 | FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL | 1992, 1993 | — |
| 93V121000 | Jul 21, 1993 | BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:LINES:HOSE:NON-METALLIC | 1993 | — |
| 92V048000 | Apr 3, 1992 | FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL | 1992 | — |
| 92V003000 | Jan 10, 1992 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:BELTS | 1991 | — |
| 91V165000 | Sep 23, 1991 | STRUCTURE:DOOR ASSEMBLY:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1991 | — |
| 91V166000 | Sep 23, 1991 | STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY:LATCHES | 1992 | — |
| 88V189000 | Dec 6, 1988 | FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:TANK | 1989 | — |
| 88V121000 | Jul 25, 1988 | VISUAL SYSTEMS:GLASS:WINDSHIELD | 1988 | — |
| 88V095000 | Jun 14, 1988 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:HARNESS:REAR COMPARTMENT | 1988 | — |
| 87V184000 | Dec 1, 1987 | FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:PIPE:FILLER:NECK | 1987 | — |
| 87V079000 | May 7, 1987 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:TRACKS AND ANCHORS:FRONT SEAT:MAN | 1983, 1984 | — |
| 86V056000 | Apr 28, 1986 | LIGHTING:SWITCH:BUTTON:RING:HEAD LIGHTS | 1986 | — |
| 84V011000 | Feb 6, 1984 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:FRONT BUCKET SEAT LATCH | 1984 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Pontiac Sunbird FAQ
How many recalls has the Pontiac Sunbird had?
NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns that cover at least one Pontiac Sunbird model year from 1984 to 2000. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Pontiac Sunbird year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 1994 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (42) and the 1995 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Pontiac Sunbird problems?
Across the 1991–2000 model years, owners most often name the service brakes, engine and engine cooling, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Pontiac Sunbird get?
EPA rates the 1994 Pontiac Sunbird at 20 to 26 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.