RoadVitals

1997 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.
4
Latest Aug 12, 2005
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.
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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.
0
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.
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Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Sunbird, most frequently naming the brakes, steering and suspension categories. 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Brakes133.3%
  • Steering133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Steering
Filed Aug 12, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS LOOSE AND THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL WITH STEERING WHEEL. FIRST BROKE LAST YEAR, AND THE OWNER HAD IT REPAIRED ON MARCH 10, 2004. A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS LATER THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BROKE AGAIN. CURRENTLY, IT BROKE F A THIRD TIME. THE FIRST TIME THE OWNER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE. THE SECOND TIME WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE THIRD TIME THE OWNER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AGAIN. THE COST WAS AROUND $200.00. NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA ON WHY THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. THE DEALER DID THE REPAIRS. THE OWNER HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE OWNER WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REPAIRS LAST THIS TIME BEFORE SHE PAID FOR THEM. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS. THE CAR IS ACTUALLY A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10129555
Incident
Mar 10, 2004
Mileage
139,713 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 24, 2003

THE VEHICLE WHEEL BEARING WERE ON RECALL BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10012289
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
Filed Jan 23, 2003
Crash reported

NO DEFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD HIS SEAT BELT ON, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND HIS HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH FORCE, BUT WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE AREA WHERE HE HIT HIS HEAD IN THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH WAS THE ONLY AREA WHERE THE GLASS HAD COME OUT. SCC

NHTSA ID
10003859
Incident
Sep 20, 2001
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 1997

SECOND TIMES THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 30 TO 40MPH AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR THERE IS ALSO A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
813851

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

Recalls

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Vehicle Recalls

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

9709015015A

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

COMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP IS "ON". *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Pontiac Sunbird by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000300—
1999300—
1998200—
1997Viewing400—
1996400—
1995100—
1994422156.2
1993373057.2
1992304052.2
1991274267.3
1990112263.4
1989732—
1988436—
1987625—
1986620—
1985413—
1984523—
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.