Total Complaints
42 filings
PONTIAC SUNBIRD · model year
1992 PONTIAC SUNBIRD
42 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992PONTIACSUNBIRD carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, 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 1992 SUNBIRD is vehicle speed control with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3) and vehicle speed control:cables (2). 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 1992 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.
42
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031016VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ON MY SUNBIRD KEEPS FAILING, CAUSING ABRUBT MALFUNCTIONS. IT IS DANGEROUS IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURS USUALLY ON A COLD OR RAINY DAY. THE CABLE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SOME SUNBIRDS HOWEVER; AFTER PHONING PONTIAC THEY INFORMED ME MY CAR DID NOT HAVE SUCH A RECALL. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT THIS TIME AND WANT SOME RESOLUTION. AS I HAVE KEPT IT IN EXCELENT CONDITION.I HAVE HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC AND PULL ON THE CABLE MYSELF. AT ONE POINT THE CABLE WAS STUCK AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. *LA
Mileage: 159,000
20021004CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 40 MPH THE DRIVER SEAT TO COLLAPSED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
20010924SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED THE BRAKES RELEASE ALLOWING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCCURED NUMEROUS OF TIMES BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG SINCE THE COMPUTER DOES NOT RECORD ANY FAILURE CODES. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURED WITH THE ORIGINAL BRAKES SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE NEW BRAKE DRUMS AND CALIPERS.
20010924VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED THE BRAKES RELEASE ALLOWING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCCURED NUMEROUS OF TIMES BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG SINCE THE COMPUTER DOES NOT RECORD ANY FAILURE CODES. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURED WITH THE ORIGINAL BRAKES SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE NEW BRAKE DRUMS AND CALIPERS.
20000908STRUCTURE:BODY
WHEEL WELL RUSTED, CAUSING SHOCKS TO COME THROUGH THE TRUNK, AND THE BODY FRAME OF THE VEHICLE TO FALL ON THE REAR AXLE. THIS CAUSED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
20000908STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
WHEEL WELL RUSTED, CAUSING SHOCKS TO COME THROUGH THE TRUNK, AND THE BODY FRAME OF THE VEHICLE TO FALL ON THE REAR AXLE. THIS CAUSED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19991118STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I KNEW IT HAD BEEN IN A WRECK BECAUSE THE HOOD AND TRUNK DID NOT LINE UP. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD, BUT THE AUTO DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THIS, EITHER. IS THERE ANY ACTION I CAN TAKE AGAINST THEM?
19991118STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I KNEW IT HAD BEEN IN A WRECK BECAUSE THE HOOD AND TRUNK DID NOT LINE UP. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD, BUT THE AUTO DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THIS, EITHER. IS THERE ANY ACTION I CAN TAKE AGAINST THEM?
19991118POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I KNEW IT HAD BEEN IN A WRECK BECAUSE THE HOOD AND TRUNK DID NOT LINE UP. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD, BUT THE AUTO DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THIS, EITHER. IS THERE ANY ACTION I CAN TAKE AGAINST THEM?
19990924ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
PROBLEMS OF HEATING/COOLING DEVELOPED, LEADING TO EXTENSIVE SERVICE TO CORRECT. GASKET FAILURE RECOGNIZED BY MECHANIC AFTER REPLACING HEATER CORE AND RADIATOR FAILED TO CORRECT PROBLEMS. (SISTER'S 1991 PONT SUNBIRD W/ SAME ENGINE FALED 6/99 WHILE ON HIGHWAY)
19990902ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN BELT SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990825SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE BRAKE LINE TO THE CALIPERS & STRUTS HAD BEEN SEVERED. WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAD NO BRAKES. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
19990621CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 45 MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990410ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
IN COLD WEATHER THE HORN WILL BECOME EXTREMELY COLD AND SHORT OUT, CAUSING THE HORN TO GO OFF CONTINUOSLY WITHOUT ANY STOPPING. HAVE TO REMOVE THE FUSE BEFORE IT WILL WORK! *AK
19990328SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELTS ARE MOUNTED INTO THE DOORS THE DOOR CAME OPEN WITH MYSELF AND I WAS NEARLY THROWED OUT OF THE CAR IF THIS CAR IS EVER ROLL OVER AND THE DOORS COES OPEN THERE ARE NO SEAT BELTS THERE . *AK
19980806STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
POWER DOOR LOCKS IN BOTH REAR DOORS HAVE FAILED.
19980528POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
PIN IN DIFFERENTIAL BROKE AND WENT INTO TRANSMISSION LOCKING ALL GEARS AND EXPLODING TRANSMISSION INTO CLUTCH AND LOCKING UP FRONT WHEELS.
19971223FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WHICH STARTED UNDER THE DASH BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
19970325ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
19970128ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Compare 1992PONTIACSUNBIRD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 PONTIAC SUNBIRD have?▼
The 1992 PONTIAC SUNBIRD has 42 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 PONTIAC SUNBIRD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 PONTIAC SUNBIRD is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES.
Is the 1992 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.