RoadVitals

1990 Pontiac Sunbird Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
11
Latest Jan 13, 2003
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
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.
4

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 Pontiac Sunbird, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine321.4%
  • Seat belts321.4%
  • Brakes214.3%
  • Electrical214.3%
  • Interior & seats17.1%
  • Steering17.1%
  • Tires & wheels17.1%
  • Transmission17.1%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FAN BELT FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ID 784585 · filed Mar 27, 2000

HEAD GASKETS FAILED TWICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *SKD

NHTSA ID 481638 · filed Feb 28, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTAIN DRIVER IN THE SEAT. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE BELT NOT RETRACTING AROUND HER. *AK

NHTSA ID 814956 · filed Sep 12, 1997

DRIVER BELIEVES SAFETY BELT THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE DOOR ARE UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID 521531 · filed Jul 19, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 55MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

NHTSA ID 10003632 · filed Jan 13, 2003

FAN BELT FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ID 784585 · filed Mar 27, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FAN BELT FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ID 784585 · filed Mar 27, 2000

EA94-013 ACTIVE, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID 969017 · filed Jul 18, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SEAT BACK BROKE UPON REAR IMPACT, RESULTING IN COLLAPSING. TT

NHTSA ID 966309 · filed Jun 5, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

STEERING ARM BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE FIRE WALL CAME LOOSE, RESULTING IN STIFF STEERING. TT

NHTSA ID 958627 · filed Jan 12, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. THREE TIRES HAVE SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. BLACKWALL OF THE TIRES IS NO LONGER BLACK. TIRE SIZE 195/70R14, DOT # VDRWJRA138. REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A 1990, SUNBIRD. TIRE MILEAGE LESS THAN 20,000. TIRES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID 871171 · filed Sep 21, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FAN BELT FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ID 784585 · filed Mar 27, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .