1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE

257 complaints filed with NHTSA.

257
Complaints
35
Crashes
10
Fires
21
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING:RACK AND PINION19
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE17
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE12
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER10
AIR BAGS9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH9
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM8
STEERING7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
SUSPENSION5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5

Recent Complaints

20150123FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS AND A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20150123FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS AND A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20140701FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE WIRES TO MELT TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHIC

Mileage: 200,000

20140701FireSTEERING:COLUMN

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE WIRES TO MELT TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHIC

Mileage: 200,000

20070209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH A SAFETY RECALL PROBLEM**CC THE VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR EITHER REPAIR. *NM

Mileage: 131,746

20060220AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT OF ANY KIND, OR WARNING. *NM

Mileage: 125,500

20060206FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE FAILED TO START. TURNED IGNITION OFF REMOVED KEY, CAR STEERING COLUMN BURST INTO FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. *JB

20050502AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 5 MPH.

Mileage: 11,000

20050201FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TRIED TO START THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULD'T, WHICH WAS REALLY ODD CONSIDERING MY CAR HASN'T GIVEN ME ANY REAL TROUBLE. I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND IT TRIED TO START WITHOUT THE KEY. I WENT IN THE HOUSE TO CALL A RIDE TO WORK AND HEARD THE RADIO GOING. I LOOKED OUT TO SEE WHO IT WAS AND SAW A FIRE GOING IN MY CAR. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. AFTERWARDS, THEY SAID THAT MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED INTO THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE FIRE.*AK

Mileage: 110,000

20041027CrashSTEERING:RACK AND PINION

RECALL ON PINION BEARING IN 1997 SUNFIRE. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB RECALL# 02V286000

20040702AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONSUMER WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL COLLISIONS. *NM

20040203CrashPARKING BRAKE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT MODERATE SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A POLICE CRUISER TO STOP. CONSUMER CALLED 911 FOR HELP. *AK

Mileage: 107,000

20040203CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT MODERATE SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A POLICE CRUISER TO STOP. CONSUMER CALLED 911 FOR HELP. *AK

Mileage: 107,000

20040203CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT MODERATE SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A POLICE CRUISER TO STOP. CONSUMER CALLED 911 FOR HELP. *AK

Mileage: 107,000

20040116FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

20030710CrashSTEERING

WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED AND THE CONSUMER HIT A POLE. DRIVER FEELS VERY LUCKY THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T LOCK WHILE AT A HIGH SPEED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 54,446

20030707CrashSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKES, BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP MY CAR. *AK

Mileage: 81,000

20030707CrashSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM

PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKES, BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP MY CAR. *AK

Mileage: 81,000

20030609CrashSUSPENSION:REAR

UNKNOWN REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE REAR AXLE AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED, SO THAT THE ORIGINAL BROKEN COMPONENT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON LEVEL GROUND AT ABOUT 60 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND DID NOT ENGAGE THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM, YET THE REAR END OF THE CAR SWERVED WILDLY, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO HIT A HIGH CURB, SEVERELY DAMAGING THE RIGHT REAR TIR

Mileage: 108,000

20030421CrashSTEERING

WHILE THE DRIVER MADE A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FALL INTO A DITCH. *NLM