1997 Pontiac Sunfire Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS AND A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10678592

Incident

Jan 19, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE WIRES TO MELT TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10607304

Incident

Jun 25, 2014

Mileage

200,000 mi

FUEL TANK RUSTED AND CAUSED GAS TO LEAK OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467573

Incident

Jul 1, 2012

Mileage

97,000 mi

HEARD AND FELT A LOUD THUD SOUND FROM STEERING AREA DRIVING HOME. POWER STEERING FEELS LIKE IT IS GONE WHEN TURNING LEFT, BUT TURNS EASIER WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. STEERING WHEEL BECOMES OFF CENTERED AT TIMES. ALMOST FEELS AS IF I MIGHT LOOSE CONTROL OF FRONT TIRES DURING TURNS OR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449288

Incident

Feb 24, 2012

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOST TWO ENGINES DUE TO HIS ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT NOT ILLUMINATING AND WARNING HIM THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10373531

Incident

Dec 29, 2006

Mileage

95,000 mi

I HAD 4 DELTA FORTUNE TIRES ON MY 1997 SUNFIRE. 2 OF WHICH I REPLACED IN APRIL, 2009 FOR TIRE SEPARATION. I REPLACED THE THIRD TIRE IN EARLY SEPT. 2009 AGAIN FOR SEPARATION AND TODAY THE FORTH TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO RIGHT-REAR QUARTER PANEL AND TAIL-LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283884

Incident

Sep 14, 2009

Mileage

111,128 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE COUPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN LEFT AT ALL. THERE WAS NO DIFFICULTY MAKING RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE RACK AND PINION. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10241864

Incident

Dec 10, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. AFTER IT RAINED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 DAYS, THE CONTACT NOTICED STANDING WATER IN THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO DRY OUT, EVERY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT, DIMMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN $350. THE CONTACT NO LONGER DRIVES THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE FEARS FOR HER LIFE DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/16/08 *JB

NHTSA ID

10231846

Incident

Jun 20, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

HAVING TROUBLE WITH FUEL SYSTEM ON A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227820

Incident

Mar 10, 2008

Mileage

43,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION) AND REPAIRED AT 135,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, HE COULD NO LONGER MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN RIGHT AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOWER BEARING WAS DESTROYED AND THE COVER FOR THE BEARING WAS MISSING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS THE EXACT SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN THE RECALL. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED NO STEERING FAILURE UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. GM STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,193 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID

10223014

Incident

Mar 3, 2008

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN TO THE RIGHT, BUT NOT TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) DOES NOT APPLY TO HER VIN. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,406 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,402. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10212130

Incident

Dec 16, 2007

Mileage

160,402 mi

IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED 6 TIMES FOR WHAT I FEEL IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! MY ENGINE STALLS WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP OR AFTER BEING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT IDLES ROUGH. I HAVE HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR, FUEL SENSOR REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, COIL, WIRE TO THE IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. MY CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, WHEN IDLING IN TRAFFIC, AND WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 IN REPAIRS AND TOW FEES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10203383

Incident

Sep 18, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. THE FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46,741 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID

10196584

Incident

Mar 15, 2007

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT SAFETY RECALL # 02V286000 REGARDING RACK AND PINION STEERING. THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE STEERING WHEEL WASA DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING LEFT AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,337, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,250.*AK

NHTSA ID

10187093

Incident

Apr 5, 2007

Mileage

121,250 mi

RECEIVED 02V286000) FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING. I COULD NOT SAFELY DRIVE CAR. PONTIAC TOLD ME IF THE PART THEY REPLACEDWAS ALSO DEFECTIVE THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO FIX IT PAST 3 MONTHS OR 3,000 MILES. THAT DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. IF THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PART WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO FIX IT? *AK

NHTSA ID

10186002

Incident

Jan 7, 2007

Mileage

121,010 mi

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH A SAFETY RECALL PROBLEM**CC THE VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR EITHER REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10182664

Incident

Nov 30, 2006

Mileage

131,746 mi

TILT STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK INTO PLACE ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY UP AND TO THE LEFT. DANGEROUS FOR STEERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND IN PARTICULAR IF EVASIVE SAFETY MANEUVERS ARE NEEDED. FIXED AT REPAIR SHOP BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE PIVOT UNIT MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A VERY HIGH COST. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177064

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2001. THE '97 SUNFIRE WAS PRETTY RELIABLE VEHICLE, I HAD GOT REPAIRS OCCASIONALLY FOR THIS AND THAT. HOWEVER, I NEVER KNEW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS PAST JUNE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED AND CONSULTING A MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP THE IGNITION WIRES AND IT WOULD COST ME 5-6 HUNDRED TO REPAIR. I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROBLEM AND IF THE RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172140

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

91,000 mi

MY NAME IS [XXX], MY DAUGHTER, [XXX] BOUGHT A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. IN ABOUT 2/06 SHE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE STEERING THE CAR. THE STEERING WAS MUCH HARDER IN ONE DIRECTION, AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER ASSIST. FINALLY IN MAY 06, SHE BROUGHT IT TO ME AND I LOOKED AT YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEMS SHE IS HAVING WITH THE CAR. I TOLD HER TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO 'GRAND PONTIAC' IN THORTON CO., AND AFTER 3 DAYS, THEY CALLED HER AND TOLD HER THE CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND GAVE HER A VERBAL ESTIMATE OF 2100.00, OR GAVE HER AN OPTION TO TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER CAR. I THEN GOT INVOLVED, AND WAS TOLD THE SAME, I REQUESTED AN ESTIMATE AND WAS FAXED A HAND WRITTEN UNREADABLE PIECE OF NOTHING. 2 DAYS LATER, THE SERVICE MGR.([XXX]) AT GRAND PONTIAC CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE GM AREA VEHICLE MANAGER ([XXX]) WOULD NOT APPROVE THE REPAIR. [XXX] THEN TOLD ME TO CALL PONTIAC CONSUMER AFFAIRS. I DID THAT ON 6/14/06, AND GAVE THEM THE STORY. ON 6/15, A GM REP NAMED [XXX] CALLED ME AND SAID THE CAR WAS NOT COVERED GOING BY THE VIN. I TOLD HER THAT RICK DUNCAN SAID IT WAS, AND THAT NHTSA SHOWED IT TO BE. SHE CALLED [XXX], AND CALLED ME BACK AND SAID SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO FURTHER RESEARCH AND CALL BACK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 02V286000, BULLITIN# 02049 THE CAR IS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 4 DR, 2.2, AUTO. 99634.99K MILES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP US IF POSSIBLE. MY KID NEEDS HER CAR BADLY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE GM JUST DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10159944

Incident

Jun 15, 2006

Mileage

99,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT OF ANY KIND, OR WARNING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150667

Incident

Feb 19, 2006

Mileage

125,500 mi

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE FAILED TO START. TURNED IGNITION OFF REMOVED KEY, CAR STEERING COLUMN BURST INTO FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10149526

Incident

Jan 23, 2006

THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 5 MPH.

NHTSA ID

10118824

Incident

Apr 29, 2005

Mileage

11,000 mi

AS OF 2 DAYS AGO(4-11-05) SOMEONE CAME TO LOOK AT MY CAR,FOR POSSIBLE PURCHASE, AND TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, UPON RETURNING SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T GET THE DRIVERS WINDOW TO ROLL UP. HAVING POWER WINDOWS, I CHECKED THE FUSE, THE PASSENGER WINDOW GOES UP AND DOWN JUST FINE, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE ROLLS UP IN SPURTS, I HIT THE BUTTON, IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING UP JUST FINE, AND JUST STOPS. I TALKED TO ANOTHER OWNER OF A SUNFIRE, AND HE SAID THAT HE KNEW OF A BIG COMPLAINT ABOUT THE POWER WINDOW PULLING TOO MUCH POWER AND BASICALLY WEARING THE MOTOR OUT. THAT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT I HAVE NOTICED. I WENT AHEAD AND CHANGED THE FUSE JUST IN CASE AND CHECKED THE WIRING FOR ANY SURGES, NOTICED NOTHING FURTHER, BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEM W/WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116848

Incident

Apr 11, 2005

Mileage

90,600 mi

THE DAYTIME RUNNING HEAD LIGHT WERE INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CORROSION BUILD UP AROUND THE WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA ID

10113564

Incident

Mar 2, 2005

Mileage

67,996 mi

TRIED TO START THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULD'T, WHICH WAS REALLY ODD CONSIDERING MY CAR HASN'T GIVEN ME ANY REAL TROUBLE. I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND IT TRIED TO START WITHOUT THE KEY. I WENT IN THE HOUSE TO CALL A RIDE TO WORK AND HEARD THE RADIO GOING. I LOOKED OUT TO SEE WHO IT WAS AND SAW A FIRE GOING IN MY CAR. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. AFTERWARDS, THEY SAID THAT MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED INTO THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10108351

Incident

Jan 23, 2005

Mileage

110,000 mi