PONTIAC SUNFIRE · model year

1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE

149 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998PONTIACSUNFIRE carries 149 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries, and 2 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 1998 SUNFIRE is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 18 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10) and air bags:frontal (6). 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 1998 SUNFIRE. 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.

149
Complaints
13
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

149 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE18
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
STEERING:RACK AND PINION5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
STEERING4
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL3
AIR BAGS3
TIRES3
SUSPENSION2

Recent Complaints

20180527ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WITH START FLASHING WILL START AGAIN AND BUT SHUT DOWN AGAIN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND HAD IT AT A DEALER THEY REPLACED THE ECU THE GAUGES AND THE IGNITION THEY REPLACED THE ECU 3 TIMES WITH NO AVAIL THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALL 4 OF MY PONTIACS

Mileage: 165,000

20180527POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WITH START FLASHING WILL START AGAIN AND BUT SHUT DOWN AGAIN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND HAD IT AT A DEALER THEY REPLACED THE ECU THE GAUGES AND THE IGNITION THEY REPLACED THE ECU 3 TIMES WITH NO AVAIL THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALL 4 OF MY PONTIACS

Mileage: 165,000

20180527STEERING

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WITH START FLASHING WILL START AGAIN AND BUT SHUT DOWN AGAIN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND HAD IT AT A DEALER THEY REPLACED THE ECU THE GAUGES AND THE IGNITION THEY REPLACED THE ECU 3 TIMES WITH NO AVAIL THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALL 4 OF MY PONTIACS

Mileage: 165,000

20171206AIR BAGS

CARS BATTERY CONSTANTLY RAN DOWN. BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND WAS OK AS IT WAS THREE MONTHS OLD. REPAIR STATION SAID THE HORN WAS SHORTED AND THE AIR BAG IS PART OF THE HORN SWITCH AND MUST BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 65,000

20161029SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PROBLEM INITIALLY HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, BUT NOW IS PERSISTENT AND NONE OF THESE ITEMS FUNCTION POSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.

Mileage: 56,000

20161029ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PROBLEM INITIALLY HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, BUT NOW IS PERSISTENT AND NONE OF THESE ITEMS FUNCTION POSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.

Mileage: 56,000

20161029EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PROBLEM INITIALLY HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, BUT NOW IS PERSISTENT AND NONE OF THESE ITEMS FUNCTION POSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.

Mileage: 56,000

20150511TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE EQUIPPED WITH DOUGLASS X-TRAC A-W TIRES, SIZE 205/55R16 (NA). THE CONTACT PURCHASED ONE TIRE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 AND ANOTHER IN JANUARY OF 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAL-MART IN FEBRUARY OF 2014, WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE LEAKING. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN UPDATED 7/23/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THREE TIRES WERE PURCHASED A DIFFERENT TIMES AND HAD LEAKS. UPDATED 07/28/15*BF...UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*CN

Mileage: 88,000

20121102POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 12/21/12 *CN UPDATED 1/14/2013 *JS

Mileage: 101,000

20121030VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING. WHEN TRYING TO USE THE BRAKE THE CAR STILL WILL NOT STOP. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

20111003STEERING

APPARENTLY, THEIR IS A KNOWN ISSUE W/THE 98 PONTIAC SUNFIRE STEERING RACK AND PINION GEAR MAKING IT FEEL LIKE THEIR IS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING, EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JANUARY OF 2011 OFF A LITTLE OLD LADY, WHO KEPT IT IN A GARAGE AND BARELY DROVE IT, THE CAR ONLY HAD 51,000 MILES ON IT. SHE ADVISED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY RECALLS, SO SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT IN FOR ANY OF THE RECALL REPAIRS. I HAVE CHECK THE NHTSA WEBSITE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER REPUTABLE SITES AND HAVE FOUND THEIR HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, UPON CALLING PONTIACS RECALL HOTLINE, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THESE RECALLS ON YOUR WEBSITE NEVER EXISTED FOR MY 98 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND WENT ON TO SAY THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE EVERY THING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET (HOW FUNNY, YOUR AVERAGE MORON COULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT). BUT REGARDLESS, IT APPEARS THAT PONTIAC IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THESE RECALLS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW IF

Mileage: 66,241

20110621FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WON'T DISENGAGE, CAR IS DEAD. (WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS TRIGGERED, THE FUEL PUMP IS SHUT OFF) IT MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY USING A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL KEY. FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS (TURN ON IIGNITION FOR 10 MIN, TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN) DOESN'T WORK. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THERE ARE 1000S OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SUNFIRE AND OTHER GM CARS. I WOULD LIKE GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR THE FAULTY SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20110621ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WON'T DISENGAGE, CAR IS DEAD. (WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS TRIGGERED, THE FUEL PUMP IS SHUT OFF) IT MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY USING A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL KEY. FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS (TURN ON IIGNITION FOR 10 MIN, TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN) DOESN'T WORK. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THERE ARE 1000S OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SUNFIRE AND OTHER GM CARS. I WOULD LIKE GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR THE FAULTY SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20101203STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. THE CONTACT VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT HAD TO REVERSE AND REPOSITION THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN A DAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

20091112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE WAS BLOWING 30 AMP FUSE GOING TO REAR DEFOGGER GRID. FOUND MELTED INSULATION ON 12 VOLT LINE AND GROUND RESULTING IN SHORT CIRCUIT. DEFOGGER GRID STILL DRAWING ENOUGH CURRENT TO MELT INSULATION OF 12 VOLT LINE. DISCONNECTED REAR DEFOGGER GRID TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FIRE IN DASH. *TR

Mileage: 192,000

20091102SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

LOST BRAKES IN MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WHEN BRAKING ON AN EXPRESSWAY EXIT RAMP. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION, BUT WAS ABLE TO AVERT A COLLISION. THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE (HYDRAULIC) CORRODED THROUGH AND CAUSED A LARGE LEAK, LEAVING MARGINAL BRAKES.*TR

Mileage: 111,000

20080425EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DAYTIME LIGHTS STAYING ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED TO HAVE THE NIGHT TIME HEADLIGHTS ON. IT GOES BACK AND FORTH FROM DAY TO NIGHT LIGHTS AND WILL NOT STAY ON NIGHT WHEN DRIVING. *TR

20080406STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1998 SUNFIRE BEGAN TO MAKE CLUNKING NOISES ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE. UPON VISUAL INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME COMPONENT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND SEPARATED. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCE. I HAVE SENT DIGITAL FILES TO YOUR WEBMASTER EMAIL TO SHOW EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY , AS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

20070723ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS OFF AND ON. PUT IN STOP LEAK FOR A TEMP FIX. HOWEVER DEXCOOL CONTINUED TO EAT AWAY AT MY COOLANT SYSTEM. CAR HAS OVERHEATED ON MANY OCCASIONS. FINALLY ABLE TO USE JB WELD TO FIX LEAK . *TR

Mileage: 110,000

20070723ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS OFF AND ON. PUT IN STOP LEAK FOR A TEMP FIX. HOWEVER DEXCOOL CONTINUED TO EAT AWAY AT MY COOLANT SYSTEM. CAR HAS OVERHEATED ON MANY OCCASIONS. FINALLY ABLE TO USE JB WELD TO FIX LEAK . *TR

Mileage: 110,000

Compare 1998PONTIACSUNFIRE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE have?
The 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE has 149 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE?
The most-complained component for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 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.