1995 Pontiac Sunfire Transmission Problems

WHEN DRIVING AND SPEED REACHED 40 MPH THE CAR VIBRATES, WHEN SPEED REACHED 60 MPH IT VIBRATES AGAIN. WHEN DECELERATING AFTER DRIVING FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND SPEED REACHED 10 MPH (WHILE DECELERATING) THE CAR VIBRATES VIOLENTLY, THEN SHUTS OFF. WHEN I RESTART THE ENGINE IT RUNS NOISILY WHILE STILL IN PARK, THEN SHUTS OFF AGAIN WHEN PUT IN GEAR. I HAVE TO WAIT A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE I START THE CAR AND PUT IT IN GEAR AND IT RUNS, UNTIL I DECELERATE AGAIN AND THE CYCLE STARTS OVER. I HAVE HAD MY HEAD GASKET REPAIRED/REPLACE BY JAY PONTIAC IN COLUMBUS GEORGIA AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE I RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE ON THE HEAD GASKET LEAK SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS OVER. I HAVE HAD MY ALTERNATOR REPAIRED/REPLACED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ETC. THE DEALER NEVER SEES ANY PROBLEMS WHEN HE DIAGNOSES MY CAR ON HIS COMPUTER & EVERYTIME HE SUGGESTS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND I GO BROKE PAYING TO GET IT FIXED, THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I AM VERY FED UP WITH PONTIAC & GM & THEIR DEALERS/SERVICE PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO KNOW NOTHING OF THEIR PRODUCTS' FAILURE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY CAR SO I CAN GET IT FIXED. I AM ALSO SEEKING TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AND FROM THE HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH PONTIAC & GM I AM STAYING AWAY FROM THEIR PRODUCTS AND ADVISING EVERYONE I KNOW TO STAY AWAY FROM THEM. I AM AT THE POINT WHERE THE ONLY AUTOMOBILE PRODUCT I AM INTERESTED IN IS FOREIGN MADE. I UNDERSTAND YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND A PRODUCT HAVING PROBLEMS EVEN THE MANUFACTURER CAN'T FIGURE OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10005100

Incident

Jan 31, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

FOR MORE THAN A YEAR MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. FUSES BLOW. I'VE HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED, 2 CLUTCHES INSTALLED, AND A NEW IGNITION MODULE. VARIOUS OTHER SMALL PROBLEMS. MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO REPAIR NEXT. THE MOST RECENT SHUT DOWN OCCURED ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. WAS TOWED HOME. NOW SITTING IN DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

743899

Incident

Feb 10, 2001

AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL FOR PCM, CONDITION OF VEHICLE WORSENED. SINCE REPAIR, DEALER CONCLUDED THAT HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE HEAD GASKET BLEW UP FIRST AND THEN THE PCM FAILED. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE ON BOTH, THE VEHICLEE RUNS HORRIBLE. *YH

NHTSA ID

875504

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

HAD HEADGASKET/ TRANSMISSION/ BOTH FRONTSPEAKERS/ REAR GLASS FOR REAR DEFOGGER, AND RADIO REPLACED ONCE THEY SAY IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, HAD ONE SPARK PLUG REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

719750

TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH FAILURE CAUSED A VIBRATION IN THE DRIVETRAIN FROM 35MPH TO 50MPH. THE DEALER SUGGESTED DISCONECTING THE CLUTCH AS THE CHEAPEST WAY TO STOP THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS SINCE LOST ABOUT 3MPG. THIS WAS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING AROUND 55,000 MILES. A PONTIAC SERVICE MANGER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $500.00 TO FIX THE LEAK,,OR I COULD PUT SOME "BARS LEAK' IN THE COOLANT TO SEAL UP THE LEAK. AGAIN THIS IS THE CHEAP WAY OUT FOR A WHILE, BUT NOT THE CORRECT WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIPS I DEALT WITH ALREADY KNEW THAT THESE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND IN THIS MODEL CAR,BUT STOPPED SHORT OF SAYING IT WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

706792

Incident

Mar 11, 1999

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR MALFUNCTIONED, INDICATING A POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WON'T BE IN THAT POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

835136

Incident

Mar 1, 1996

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHLE DRIVING UPHILL VEHICLE WENT TO KICK INTO OVERDRIVE AND INSTEAD WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHER EENGINE IDLED AND WOULD REV UP BUT NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

533284

Incident

Mar 20, 1998

DRIVER PUT CAR INTO REVERSE, STEPPED ON GAS, CAR WENT FORWARD. *DSH

NHTSA ID

601303

Incident

May 1, 1995