RoadVitals

1994 Pontiac Sunbird Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jul 2, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
33%
of 42 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Pontiac Sunbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesEngine
Filed Jul 2, 2002

AT 25MPH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SAID THAT SINCE SHE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE TIRE KINGDOM, TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD, SO SHE HAD THEM FIXED AND SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE WORKED THE SAME SINCE. ALSO THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING (FOR THE PAST 2YRS)/FEELS CAR IS NOT SAFE.*SCC

NHTSA ID
8013229
Incident
Jun 11, 2002
Brakes
Filed Sep 6, 2000
Crash reported

CAR WAS FOR DAUGHTER. SHE WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING. SHE CAME TO A CURVE AND PRESSED HER BRAKES BUT NO RESPONSE. THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED INTO A DITCH. SHE WAS VERY LUCKY THAT SHE WALKED AWAY AND THAT NO ONE ELSE IN CAR. POLICE AND DRIVER OF TOW TRUCK TRIED BRAKES AND BOTH CONFIRMED THAT BRAKES WERE OUT SO NO TICKET WAS GIVEN. INSURANCE HAD IT CHECKED OUT WEEKS LATER AND BRAKES WERE OK. CAR WAS TOTAL.

NHTSA ID
730528
Incident
May 9, 1995
Brakes
Filed Sep 23, 1998

ABS FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ID
541647
Incident
Jul 28, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 25, 1997

BRAKING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
525358
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 1997

ABS MALFUNCTION, CAR GOES INTO ANTILOCK MODE TO OFTEN, REPLACE BOTH FRT. WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, BRAKE PULSATES AND SEEMS TO LOCKUP, TURNED 2 FRT ROTORS, CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, TURN 2 REAR DRUMS,.

NHTSA ID
523765
Brakes
Filed Oct 16, 1997

ABS BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL/SKID. *AK

NHTSA ID
513741
Incident
Jan 13, 1997
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 1997

BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, ON THREE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID
522283
Incident
Oct 6, 1995
BrakesElectricalTires & wheels
Filed Oct 24, 1996

AT 17,OOO MILES THE BRAKES/TIRES AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ID
804001
Brakes
Filed Jul 18, 1996

ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, REPLACE DISC PADS, AND CALIPERS, ROTORS AND ADJUSTED THE REAR SHOES. *AK

NHTSA ID
987059
Incident
Jul 17, 1996
Brakes
Filed May 16, 1996

BRAKES DISCS WARPED. *DSH

NHTSA ID
504559
Incident
Mar 27, 1996
Brakes
Filed Mar 29, 1996
Crash reported1 injury reported

ABS, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY GRAB AND LET GO, EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ID
981417
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Mar 28, 1996

ABS SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK/LURCH/EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. *SD

NHTSA ID
502754
Incident
Mar 28, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jun 9, 1995

WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 60MPH MAKING ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES. TT

NHTSA ID
966579
Brakes
Filed Mar 15, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

ABS MALFUNCTIONED 7 TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID
962019
Incident
Jun 3, 1994

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 .