Total Complaints
8 filings
PONTIAC SUNBIRD · model year
1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD
8 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1984PONTIACSUNBIRD carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1984 SUNBIRD is steering:rack and pinion with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 1984 SUNBIRD. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
8
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100803CrashSEAT BELTS
1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD VEHICLE CRASH 4/14/1986 SEAT CAME OUT OF THE FLOOR, SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BREAKING MY BACK AND PELVIS IN 7 PLACES SEAT BELT RETAINER CAME OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE GENERAL MOTORS KNEW ABOUT THESE DEFECTS AND FAILED TO NOTIFY ANYONE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
20100803CrashSEATS
1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD VEHICLE CRASH 4/14/1986 SEAT CAME OUT OF THE FLOOR, SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BREAKING MY BACK AND PELVIS IN 7 PLACES SEAT BELT RETAINER CAME OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE GENERAL MOTORS KNEW ABOUT THESE DEFECTS AND FAILED TO NOTIFY ANYONE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
20100803CrashSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD VEHICLE CRASH 4/14/1986 SEAT CAME OUT OF THE FLOOR, SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BREAKING MY BACK AND PELVIS IN 7 PLACES SEAT BELT RETAINER CAME OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE GENERAL MOTORS KNEW ABOUT THESE DEFECTS AND FAILED TO NOTIFY ANYONE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
19981030STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING GEAR RACK AND PINION SEAL FAILED RESULTING IN LEAK.
19970626POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT OPERATE. WHEN IT IS PUT IN GEAR THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE; A PART THAT CONNECTS THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT CONNECTED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
19961009STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TTHE STEETING GEAR RACK AND PINION UNIT LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID EXTERNALLY AND INTERNALLY. PROBABLE DIAGNOSIS SEAL FAILURE. *AK
19960815STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING.' *SD
19950706CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK
Compare 1984PONTIACSUNBIRD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD have?▼
The 1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD has 8 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL).
Is the 1984 PONTIAC SUNBIRD safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.