Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 120 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 120 · page 1 of 5
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WITH START FLASHING WILL START AGAIN AND BUT SHUT DOWN AGAIN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND HAD IT AT A DEALER THEY REPLACED THE ECU THE GAUGES AND THE IGNITION THEY REPLACED THE ECU 3 TIMES WITH NO AVAIL THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALL 4 OF MY PONTIACS
CARS BATTERY CONSTANTLY RAN DOWN. BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND WAS OK AS IT WAS THREE MONTHS OLD. REPAIR STATION SAID THE HORN WAS SHORTED AND THE AIR BAG IS PART OF THE HORN SWITCH AND MUST BE REPLACED.
BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PROBLEM INITIALLY HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, BUT NOW IS PERSISTENT AND NONE OF THESE ITEMS FUNCTION POSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE EQUIPPED WITH DOUGLASS X-TRAC A-W TIRES, SIZE 205/55R16 (NA). THE CONTACT PURCHASED ONE TIRE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 AND ANOTHER IN JANUARY OF 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAL-MART IN FEBRUARY OF 2014, WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE LEAKING. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN UPDATED 7/23/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THREE TIRES WERE PURCHASED A DIFFERENT TIMES AND HAD LEAKS. UPDATED 07/28/15*BF...UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 12/21/12 *CN UPDATED 1/14/2013 *JS
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING. WHEN TRYING TO USE THE BRAKE THE CAR STILL WILL NOT STOP. *TR
APPARENTLY, THEIR IS A KNOWN ISSUE W/THE 98 PONTIAC SUNFIRE STEERING RACK AND PINION GEAR MAKING IT FEEL LIKE THEIR IS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING, EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JANUARY OF 2011 OFF A LITTLE OLD LADY, WHO KEPT IT IN A GARAGE AND BARELY DROVE IT, THE CAR ONLY HAD 51,000 MILES ON IT. SHE ADVISED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY RECALLS, SO SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT IN FOR ANY OF THE RECALL REPAIRS. I HAVE CHECK THE NHTSA WEBSITE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER REPUTABLE SITES AND HAVE FOUND THEIR HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, UPON CALLING PONTIACS RECALL HOTLINE, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THESE RECALLS ON YOUR WEBSITE NEVER EXISTED FOR MY 98 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND WENT ON TO SAY THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE EVERY THING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET (HOW FUNNY, YOUR AVERAGE MORON COULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT). BUT REGARDLESS, IT APPEARS THAT PONTIAC IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THESE RECALLS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW IF MY CONCERNS ARE LEGITIMATE. I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR A REPAIR, WHEN THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER THEIR RECALL. THANKS. *TR
1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WON'T DISENGAGE, CAR IS DEAD. (WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS TRIGGERED, THE FUEL PUMP IS SHUT OFF) IT MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY USING A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL KEY. FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS (TURN ON IIGNITION FOR 10 MIN, TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN) DOESN'T WORK. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THERE ARE 1000S OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SUNFIRE AND OTHER GM CARS. I WOULD LIKE GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR THE FAULTY SYSTEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. THE CONTACT VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT HAD TO REVERSE AND REPOSITION THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN A DAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
VEHICLE WAS BLOWING 30 AMP FUSE GOING TO REAR DEFOGGER GRID. FOUND MELTED INSULATION ON 12 VOLT LINE AND GROUND RESULTING IN SHORT CIRCUIT. DEFOGGER GRID STILL DRAWING ENOUGH CURRENT TO MELT INSULATION OF 12 VOLT LINE. DISCONNECTED REAR DEFOGGER GRID TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FIRE IN DASH. *TR
LOST BRAKES IN MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WHEN BRAKING ON AN EXPRESSWAY EXIT RAMP. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION, BUT WAS ABLE TO AVERT A COLLISION. THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE (HYDRAULIC) CORRODED THROUGH AND CAUSED A LARGE LEAK, LEAVING MARGINAL BRAKES.*TR
I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DAYTIME LIGHTS STAYING ON EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED TO HAVE THE NIGHT TIME HEADLIGHTS ON. IT GOES BACK AND FORTH FROM DAY TO NIGHT LIGHTS AND WILL NOT STAY ON NIGHT WHEN DRIVING. *TR
1998 SUNFIRE BEGAN TO MAKE CLUNKING NOISES ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE. UPON VISUAL INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME COMPONENT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND SEPARATED. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCE. I HAVE SENT DIGITAL FILES TO YOUR WEBMASTER EMAIL TO SHOW EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY , AS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER. *TR
COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS OFF AND ON. PUT IN STOP LEAK FOR A TEMP FIX. HOWEVER DEXCOOL CONTINUED TO EAT AWAY AT MY COOLANT SYSTEM. CAR HAS OVERHEATED ON MANY OCCASIONS. FINALLY ABLE TO USE JB WELD TO FIX LEAK . *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS AGO, WHEN TURNING LEFT, A POP WAS HEARD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SINCE THAT TIME, THE STEERING HAS BEEN HARDER TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE MAKING A RIGHT TURN 30 MPH WHEN ALL WHEEL LUG BOLTS BROKE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND WHEEL CAME OFF. WHEEL GOT STUCK UNDER CAR. NO STEERING AND BRAKING WAS LIMITED. CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD. WITH THE HELP OF THE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR WAS STOPPED. FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES. DAMAGE TO DISK BRAKE, LARGE DENT IN FENDER AND BUMPER. NHTSA RECALL 97V219000 INDICATES SIMILAR PROBLEM FOR 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHEEL HOLES WERE PERFECTLY ROUND INDICATING THE WHEEL NUTS WERE NOT LOOSE. CAR FRONT WHEELS HAD BEEN SERVICED 6 MONTHS EARLIER FOR NEW BRAKES. WHEN I CALLED PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737 THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR INVOLVING WHEEL LUG BOLTS AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *NM
I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE FAILURE IS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. .. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK FINE, BUT AT NIGHT, WHEN I TWIST THE LEVER TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON, ONLY MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY HEADLIGHTS REMAIN AT ABOUT 1/2 BRIGHTNESS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR STAYS ON. (IN OTHERWORDS, NO CHANGE IN THE BEAMS...) BUT THEN WHEN I EVER SO SLIGHTLY PULL THE LEVER BACK TO GO TO FLASH MY HEADLIGHTS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR DISAPPEARS AND MY HEADLIGHTS BRIGHTEN TO "NORMAL, NIGHTTIME BRIGHTNESS, THEN IF I PULL LEVER BACK TOWARDS ME EVEN FARTHER, THE HIGHBEAMS COME ON)... BUT THE PROBLEM IS... THE LEVER WON'T STAY ON EITHER NIGHTTIME OR HIGH BEAM MODES AT ALL. ONCE I LET GO OF THE LEVER IT RETURNS TO DAYTIME RUNNINGLIGHTS, EVEN WITH THE LEVER TWISTED ALL THE WAY TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON.... I STILL ONLY GET THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL)... . ON OCCASION THE HEADLIGHTS WORK OK TO BEGIN WITH, BUT AS I AM DRIVING THE "NORMAL" LIGHTS CLICK BACK OFF AND ITS ONLY THE DRL THAT ARE ON. ITS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE NIGHTIME TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT ON WHEN THE DRL ARE ONLY ON. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 97 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER DRL/ AND HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE NOT YET CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, AND I HAVE RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET AND OTHERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.
A CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TWICE, AND RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE GREASED, OTHERWISE THE CONSUMER COULD LOSE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE NOISE WAS THE SOUND OF METAL ON METAL. GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V286000; GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A STEERING ASSEMBLY RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. BUT AT CERTAIN TIMES THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN MAKING TURNS, MAKING THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.*AK VEHICLE POWER STEERING PERFORMS LIKE IT HAS NO POWER STERING , JUST LIKE RECALL DESCRIBES. DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE ACTION CAUSE VIN IS NOT IN LOT OF #'S RECALLED. *BF
WITHIN THE LAST 10,000 MILES FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. EVERY 2500 TO 3000 MILES THE PUMP WILL MALFUNCTION. CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
IN MY 98 SUNFIRE GT I HAVE SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH YET I STILL OWN THE CAR. A LITTLE BIT AGO IT SEEMS LIKE MY EXHAUST PIPE FALLS OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE FLANGE. WITH CAUSING YOUR CAR TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS A DRAG RACER. WELL I WENT TO PONTIAC AND FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME A PRETTY PENNY $500 SOME ODD DOLLARS. AND THE FUNNY THING IS THAT THIS HAS NOT JUST HAPPENED TO ME. IT HAS HAPPENED TO A FEW OF MY FRIENDS AS WELL. I DON'T HOW KNOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE GOTTEN LETTERS ABOUT THE FAULTY EXHAUST FLANGES. *JB
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER OF 2000 IT HAD TO KEEP GOING BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IN THE CAR KEPT CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING AROUND 55-60 MPH. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY AFTER THE 3RD MONTH THEY FOUND THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS BAD. THAT WAS REPLACED. IT RAN FINE UNTIL THE NEXT WINTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & CAR KEPT STALLING WHEN AT STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS. TOOK TO DEALER HAD DIAGNOSTIC RAN WHICH READ FAULTY GAS CAP, TPS SENSOR.... I REPLACED THEM MYSELF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT TILL THE NEXT DAY. TOOK CAR BACK IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC WHICH READ FAULTY GAS CAP, TPS SENSOR,EGR ,COIL PACKS,GAS TANK SENSOR.....HAD DEALER WORK ON IT.... THEY COULD NOT SEE WHY ALL THIS STUFF WAS POPPING UP ....HAD IT ALL REPLACED. REPLACING IT DID NOT WORK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER!!! I CHECKED CAR OVER & FOUND IF YOU WIGGLED THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS CONNECTIONS THE CAR RAN FINE & ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT! TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE WIRING FIXED. THEY TOOK ALL THE WIRING APART & CLEANED EVERYTHING. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM IN THE WIRING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON NEXT DAY.TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN FINALLY THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY..... WEATHER WAS NICE AGAIN & HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR.... NOW THAT WINTER IS HERE AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN , DIAGNOSTIC STATED TPS SENSOR WAS BAD... I AGAIN REPLACED IT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT FOR A COUPLE HOURS & IS BACK ON AGAIN & CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPING & TRYING TO GO ....CAR IS AT DEALER RIGHT NOW AGAIN. THE WHOLE TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STALLING.................... HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM 2000 TO NOW & STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *AK
MY CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE REPAIR WAS IN 2002 AT A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY ONLY GUARANTEE WORK DONE FOR A YEAR, WHICH LEAVES ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED GMC AND THEY WILL NOT HELP COVER ANY CHARGES, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I WILL NEED THIS SAME PROBLEM FIXED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS "SHAFT" PROBLEM SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF EITHER BY THE DEALERSHIP OR GMC. BY READING THE OTHER REPORTS HERE, IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. SO WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? WHY AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT WHEN IT'S A MANUFACTURER ISSUE?
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING COLUMN. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, IT MAKES A BUMPING NOISE. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. NOW IT HAS GONE OUT AND THE RECALLS R THE SAME BUT THEY SAY IT DOES NOT COVER MY CAR I NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE FIXED. *AK
THERE WAS A PLASTIC PIECE ON THE BUCKLE THAT KEPT THE LAP BELT IN PLACE WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT PLASTIC PIECES BROKE UPON FASTENING THE SEAT BELT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE LAP BELT SLID FREELY BACK AND FORTH AND FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS. *AK *SC *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .