PONTIAC SUNBIRD · model year

1993 PONTIAC SUNBIRD

50 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993PONTIACSUNBIRD carries 50 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 4 fires, 5 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 1993 SUNBIRD is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 4 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:cables (2) and seats:front assembly:recliner (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 1993 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.

50
Complaints
7
Crashes
4
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

50 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1

Recent Complaints

20040422SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WATER LEAKS INSIDE CAR, RADIATOR LEAK, HEATER CORE, HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, FREEZE OUT PLUGS, ENGINE WET WITH OIL, A/C CUTTING IN AND OUT, RUNS ROUGH WHEN A/C IS ON, SLOW PICK UP, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK, WINDOW WASHERS STOP BEFORE CYCLE IS DONE, BREAKS AND BREAK LINE BAD, WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR CRACKS TWICE NOW, OVER ALL REPAIRS TOTAL ABOUT $1600.00, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET NEXT SO PLSU THIS AMOUNT, I HAVE BILLS KEPT OF ALL EXACT PAYMENTS OF PARTS AND LABOR

Mileage: 46,000

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WATER LEAKS INSIDE CAR, RADIATOR LEAK, HEATER CORE, HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, FREEZE OUT PLUGS, ENGINE WET WITH OIL, A/C CUTTING IN AND OUT, RUNS ROUGH WHEN A/C IS ON, SLOW PICK UP, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK, WINDOW WASHERS STOP BEFORE CYCLE IS DONE, BREAKS AND BREAK LINE BAD, WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR CRACKS TWICE NOW, OVER ALL REPAIRS TOTAL ABOUT $1600.00, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET NEXT SO PLSU THIS AMOUNT, I HAVE BILLS KEPT OF ALL EXACT PAYMENTS OF PARTS AND LABOR

Mileage: 46,000

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WATER LEAKS INSIDE CAR, RADIATOR LEAK, HEATER CORE, HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, FREEZE OUT PLUGS, ENGINE WET WITH OIL, A/C CUTTING IN AND OUT, RUNS ROUGH WHEN A/C IS ON, SLOW PICK UP, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK, WINDOW WASHERS STOP BEFORE CYCLE IS DONE, BREAKS AND BREAK LINE BAD, WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR CRACKS TWICE NOW, OVER ALL REPAIRS TOTAL ABOUT $1600.00, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET NEXT SO PLSU THIS AMOUNT, I HAVE BILLS KEPT OF ALL EXACT PAYMENTS OF PARTS AND LABOR

Mileage: 46,000

20040422VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WATER LEAKS INSIDE CAR, RADIATOR LEAK, HEATER CORE, HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, FREEZE OUT PLUGS, ENGINE WET WITH OIL, A/C CUTTING IN AND OUT, RUNS ROUGH WHEN A/C IS ON, SLOW PICK UP, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK, WINDOW WASHERS STOP BEFORE CYCLE IS DONE, BREAKS AND BREAK LINE BAD, WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR CRACKS TWICE NOW, OVER ALL REPAIRS TOTAL ABOUT $1600.00, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET NEXT SO PLSU THIS AMOUNT, I HAVE BILLS KEPT OF ALL EXACT PAYMENTS OF PARTS AND LABOR

Mileage: 46,000

20040114ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

I HAVE A 1993 PONTIAC SUBNBIRD, 2.2 L,AT,AC. I AHVE WENT THROUGH 3 BATTERIES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE ALTENATOR CHECKED AND IT CHECKED OUT GOOD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. *AK

Mileage: 130,000

20040114ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

I HAVE A 1993 PONTIAC SUBNBIRD, 2.2 L,AT,AC. I AHVE WENT THROUGH 3 BATTERIES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE ALTENATOR CHECKED AND IT CHECKED OUT GOOD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. *AK

Mileage: 130,000

20030317SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT SLIDE AND TIPS FORWARD WHENEVER STOPPING. *NLM

20030213CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, CONSUMER BELIEVED INCIDENT WAS RELATED TO RECALL 93V190000, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE TWO PROBLEMS WERE NOT RELATED.*JB

Mileage: 129,000

20020820FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A SHORT IN WIRING BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX AND A FIRE HAD STARTED. THE FIRE JUST BURNED THE WIRING AND SOME SMALL AREAS AROUND THE GLOVE BOX. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE RELAY SWITCH FOR THE AUTO LOCK SYSTEM WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE GLOVE BOX CAUSED THE FIRE. THE LOCK SYSTEM STARTED GIVING CONSUMER PROBLEMS A MONTH PRIOR TO FIRE, THEN STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF BEFORE THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER HAD SEEN SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN PULLED THE GLOVE BOX OUT AND SAW THE WIRES ON FIRE. *SCC

20011206CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKE PROBLEM ADDRESSED HERE IS A REPEATED, ERRATIC, SUDDEN LOSS OF SOME OR ALL BRAKE POWER IN THE CAR. MECHANICAL COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, PADS, ROTORS, ETC. BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO COME AND GO WITHOUT WARNING. RECALL WAS DENIED BY BOTH A PONTIAC DEALER AND THE CORPORATION.ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE WHY MY VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL..ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THE MANUFACTURER WERE DENIED...I NO LONGER CARE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT MY PERSONAL SATISFACTION, HOWEVER, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IN NHTSA 93V-121 AND THE TROUBLES I'VE HAD ARE TOO SIMILAR TOO IGNORE SINCE THERE COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF SIMILARLY IGNORED VEHICLES ON THE ROAD...IF POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WHY SOME CARS WERE LEFT OUT BEFORE I HAVE THE CAR FIXED...I CERTAINLY WON'T BE LETTING THE HOSES AND SUCH BE DISCARDED AFTER THE REPAIRS, BUT I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP COMPARING AND CONTRASTING THEM WITH THE ORIGINAL DISCREPANCIES...THANKS. *AK

20011206CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

BRAKE PROBLEM ADDRESSED HERE IS A REPEATED, ERRATIC, SUDDEN LOSS OF SOME OR ALL BRAKE POWER IN THE CAR. MECHANICAL COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, PADS, ROTORS, ETC. BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO COME AND GO WITHOUT WARNING. RECALL WAS DENIED BY BOTH A PONTIAC DEALER AND THE CORPORATION.ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE WHY MY VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL..ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THE MANUFACTURER WERE DENIED...I NO LONGER CARE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT MY PERSONAL SATISFACTION, HOWEVER, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IN NHTSA 93V-121 AND THE TROUBLES I'VE HAD ARE TOO SIMILAR TOO IGNORE SINCE THERE COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF SIMILARLY IGNORED VEHICLES ON THE ROAD...IF POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WHY SOME CARS WERE LEFT OUT BEFORE I HAVE THE CAR FIXED...I CERTAINLY WON'T BE LETTING THE HOSES AND SUCH BE DISCARDED AFTER THE REPAIRS, BUT I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP COMPARING AND CONTRASTING THEM WITH THE ORIGINAL DISCREPANCIES...THANKS. *AK

20010511SUSPENSION

WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL THAT CONSUMER FEELS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HE HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE INTO A DEALERSHIP TO BE EXAMINED FOR A CAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

20000223SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. OCCUPANT MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

20000212ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY CAR IS OVERHEATING, AND THERE ARE NO LEAKS. IT HAS A NEW THERMOSTAT, AND THE WATER PUMP IS FINE EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OK, BUT FOR SOME REASON IT IS STILL OVERHEATING *AK

19991129SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

PASSENGER SEAT BELT BROKE WHILE BUCKLED, STITCHES CAME OUT OF BELT.

19991026SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. SOMETIMES WHEN PULLING THEM OUT, THEY WILL GET JAMMED, AND DO NOT REACH THE BUCKLE RECEIVER. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

19990930FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK DESIGN IS WEAK, WHEN ROAD DEBRIS HIT TANK RESULTED IN HOLE AND LEAKAGE. MJS

19990721EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

THE TAILLIGHT SOCKETS MELTED WHEN IN USE. THE SOCKETS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AS ARE THE OUTER MOST SOCKETS. *AK

19990402ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATES, AND THERE IS SOME GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SHOCKS. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTAINER WHERE THE WINDSHIELD FLUID GOES BECAUSE THE FLUID KEPT LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STATES THAT VEHICLE IS HOT. VEHICLE IS HOT, AND THEIR IS A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE DEFOGGER. *AK

19990402VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATES, AND THERE IS SOME GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SHOCKS. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTAINER WHERE THE WINDSHIELD FLUID GOES BECAUSE THE FLUID KEPT LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STATES THAT VEHICLE IS HOT. VEHICLE IS HOT, AND THEIR IS A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE DEFOGGER. *AK

Compare 1993PONTIACSUNBIRD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 PONTIAC SUNBIRD have?
The 1993 PONTIAC SUNBIRD has 50 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 4 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 PONTIAC SUNBIRD?
The most-complained component for the 1993 PONTIAC SUNBIRD is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES and SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER.
Is the 1993 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.