RoadVitals

1984 Pontiac Sunbird

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Aug 3, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest May 7, 1987
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Pontiac Sunbird, most frequently naming the steering, body & structure and driver assistance categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Steering228.6%
  • Body & structure114.3%
  • Driver assistance114.3%
  • Interior & seats114.3%
  • Seat belts114.3%
  • Transmission114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
87V079000

SEATS

May 7, 1987
1,136,407 units potentially affected
The defect: THE METAL FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK AROUND THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER STUD OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, ALLOWING THE STUD TO SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR.
The risk: DRIVERS SEAT COULD TIP REARWARD UNEXPECTEDLY; THIS COULDRESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET ON THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR AT THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER POSITION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
84V011000

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Feb 6, 1984
76,586 units potentially affected
The defect: SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
The remedy: INSPECTION OF SEAT BACK LOCKS WILL BE PERFORMED. LOCKS THAT HAVE BENT, BROKEN OR MISSING HOOKS WILL BE REPLACED.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA87007ClosedEngineering Analysis

SUDDEN ACCEL

Opened Dec 16, 1986
Closed Aug 7, 1987

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS:STATUS: GM RESPONDED BY LETTER DATED 12 FEBRUARY 1987.EA CLOSED ON8/7/87.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
DP86019ClosedDefect Petition

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Opened Sep 12, 1986
Closed Dec 22, 1986

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
EA86023ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT TRACK LOCK

Opened Aug 1, 1986
Closed Jun 1, 1987

There is no summary currently available

SEATSLed to recall 87V079000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structureInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Aug 3, 2010
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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

NHTSA ID
10346997
Incident
Apr 14, 1986
Transmission
Filed Jun 26, 1997

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

NHTSA ID
813547
Steering
Filed Sep 10, 1996

STEERING GEAR RACK AND PINION SEAL FAILED RESULTING IN LEAK.

NHTSA ID
508488
Steering
Filed Jul 30, 1996

'COLD POWER STEERING.' *SD

NHTSA ID
506874
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 6, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
968338
Incident
Jun 21, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Pontiac Sunbird by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000300—
1999300—
1998200—
1997400—
1996400—
1995100—
1994422156.2
1993373057.2
1992304052.2
1991274267.3
1990112263.4
1989732—
1988436—
1987625—
1986620—
1985413—
1984Viewing523—
1983013—
1982002—
1980010—
1979130—
1978030—
1977030—
1976030—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.