RoadVitals

1995 Pontiac Sunfire 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 May 15, 2004
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.
12%
of 119 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 1995 Pontiac Sunfire 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

Brakes
Filed May 15, 2004

1995 SUNFIRE, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1997. THE BRAKES LOCK-UP WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I HAVE TO STOP A A CORNER OR LIGHT. THIS USUALLY ONLY HAPPENS WHEN OR AFTER IT RAINS. IT IS VERY SCARY I ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OVER THE CAR.MY HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE ENGINE GAGE RISES ALMOST TO OVER HEATING WHEN IT IS HOTOUTSIDE, AND THE AIR DOES NOT WORK I HAVE TO GET IT CHARGED EVERY YEAR. IS THIS CAR A LEMON OR WHAT?*AK

NHTSA ID
10072648
Incident
May 10, 2004
Mileage
96,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 24, 2003

1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE REAR OF CAR SQUATS WHEN BRAKING I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED / ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES NHTSA ALREADY HAS THIS LISTED AS SERVICE BULLETIN 735018 I WOULD LIKE TO ADD OUR VEHICLE TO THIS COMPLAINT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10023685
Incident
Jun 20, 2003
Brakes
Filed Aug 3, 1999
Crash reported

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE,PEDAL ON FLOOR,HIT LGE BUSH IN MEDIAN TO STOP.

NHTSA ID
709548
Incident
Jul 31, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jan 22, 1999

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MAKES FUNNY NOISES, AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVNG THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION. THE ABS MOTOR WAS REBUILT IN DECEMBER. OWNER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
833936
Incident
Oct 31, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jan 27, 1998

ABS FAILURE. BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
530031
Brakes
Filed Nov 24, 1997

UPON MAKING A COMPLETE STOP ON WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER NOTICED PULSTATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
819390
Incident
Nov 16, 1997
Brakes
Filed Oct 2, 1997

ABS PROBLEMS; ON NORMAL ROAD CONDTIONS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE BRAKE GRAB AND RELEASE, MAKING THE VEHICLE SKIP FORWARD AND ADDITIONAL BRAKING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED. THIS HAPPENS DURING NORMAL BRAKING. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
816836
Brakes
Filed Sep 29, 1997

WAS APPLYING BRAKES WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED WHEN IT SHOULD NOT HAVE. LOCKED UP THE TIRES & SOMETIMES HAD NO BRAKE PEDAL. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED 1ST TIME NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. 2ND TIME PUT IN NEW ABS MODULE. THE 3RD TIME COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

NHTSA ID
817724
Incident
Sep 27, 1997
Brakes
Filed Mar 18, 1997

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP SITUATION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
808827
Incident
Feb 9, 1997
BrakesSuspension
Filed Mar 17, 1997

PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKES; ALSO, FRONT END NOISY. *AK

NHTSA ID
515286
Brakes
Filed Feb 21, 1997

RUBBING OF LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA, ABNORMAL WEAR OF LEFT FRONT BRAKES, LOUD NOISE FROM LEFT FRONT EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. BEEN IN SHOP 17 TIMES. NEW BRAKES ON FRONT BUT ARE WEARING ALREADY. MECAHNIC SAY BRAKES ARE VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ID
809208
Incident
May 23, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 1996

FAILURE OF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA ID
977473
Incident
Dec 22, 1995
BrakesSteering
Filed Sep 26, 1995

STEERING WOULD LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKES WERE NONRESPONSIVE. TT

NHTSA ID
972497
Brakes
Filed Sep 6, 1995

WHEN IT RAINS THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK IT LOCKS UP AND SLIDES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
971616
Incident
Sep 6, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine38Electrical26Airbags13Visibility8Transmission8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .