RoadVitals

1997 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.
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Latest Aug 12, 2005
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 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

  • 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.

Each component in detail

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

Brakes

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

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 7, 1997

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

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 · filed Aug 12, 2005

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

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10012289 · filed Mar 24, 2003

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 .