Pontiac Sunfire complaints by model year
1,144 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 72 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | 82 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 | 66 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 2000 | 96 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| 1999 | 93 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| 1998 | 120 | 11 | 1 | 3 |
| 1997 | 190 | 29 | 8 | 6 |
| 1996 | 201 | 30 | 11 | 7 |
| 1995 | 119 | 11 | 11 | 5 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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, 1996–2005. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 38 | 30 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 16 | 60 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 39 | 31 | 32 | 17 | 25 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 26 | 26 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Air bags | 33 | 27 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 42 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 3 | 3 |
| Power train | 20 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel system | 11 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Pontiac Sunfire recalls (17)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Sunfire model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04V524000 | Nov 1, 2004 | GM/REAR LIGHT BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES | 2003 | — |
| 04V300000 | Jun 23, 2004 | GM/FMVSS 210/PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT | 2004 | — |
| 04V036000 | Jan 27, 2004 | GM/IGNITION SWITCH | 1998–2001 | — |
| 02V286000 | Nov 4, 2002 | GM/POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY | 1996, 1997, 1998 | — |
| 02V070000 | Mar 6, 2002 | GM/IGNITION SWITCH | 1995, 1996, 1997 | — |
| 99V218000 | Aug 11, 1999 | GM/FMVSS 101 | 1999 | — |
| 98V319000 | Dec 15, 1998 | GM/REAR SUSPENSION | 1996, 1997 | — |
| 98V146000 | Jun 29, 1998 | GM/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT | 1996, 1997 | — |
| 98V032000 | Feb 25, 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS/FMVSS 214 | 1997 | — |
| 98V027000 | Feb 17, 1998 | GM/FMVSS 101 | 1996 | — |
| 97V219000 | Nov 24, 1997 | GM/WHEEL LUG NUTS | 1998 | — |
| 97V106000 | Jun 28, 1997 | GM/COMPACT SPARE TIRE | 1997 | — |
| 96V250000 | Dec 17, 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS/FMVSS 108/4 WAY FLASHERS | 1995, 1996 | — |
| 96V003000 | Jan 2, 1996 | GM/TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:INDICATOR:LEVER | 1995 | — |
| 95V201000 | Oct 23, 1995 | FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL | 1996 | — |
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 Sunfire FAQ
How many recalls has the Pontiac Sunfire had?
NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns that cover at least one Pontiac Sunfire model year from 1985 to 2005. 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 Sunfire year has the most complaints?
Among the last 14 model years with settled counts, the 1996 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (201) and the 1991 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Pontiac Sunfire problems?
Across the 1996–2005 model years, owners most often name the electrical system, engine and engine cooling, service brakes in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Pontiac Sunfire get?
EPA rates the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire at 25 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.