1999 Pontiac Sunfire Owner Complaints

I WAS PURCHASING THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY 3 TIMES. THE CAR WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY SHUT OFF, THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED AND MULTIPLE TIMES THIS HAPPENED. I LOST ALLOT OF MONEY I PUT ON THE CAR AS IT BECAME OBVIOUS THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AND I HAD TO LET THEM TAKE IT BACK WITH NO REFUND TO ME.........THEY SAID AT THE DEALER THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631179

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST AFTER I PURCHASED IT AND BECAME COLD SO I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS SMOKE FILLED THE CAR. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING OIL OR GAS. I CALLED DELPHI ABOUT RECALLS AND BEFORE I COULD FINISH A SENTENCE THE MAN CUT ME OFF SAYING THAT THE ONLY RECALL ON MY CAR WAS FOR THE O RING ON THE FUEL. HE SAID IF I HAVE A 1999 AND THAT WAS DEFECTIVE I WOULD BE SPEWING FUEL EVERYWHERE. I DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED AND HE JUST CUT ME OFF. MY BROTHER PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER FOR OVER 3,000 DOLLARS AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE ODOMETER IS SUPPOSE TO BE BECAUSE HE SAID THE DEALER TOLD HIM TO BRING IT BACK AND HE WOULD FIX IT. AFTER HE PAID THE DEALER HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT HE WILL CONTACT MY BROTHER WHEN HE CAN FIX IT. ACCORDING TO THE ODOMETER IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 23,000 MILES. I ALSO NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT AND THERE IS YELLOW HOT WIRE HANGING OUT OF THE FUSE BOX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501229

Incident

Nov 14, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10466611

Incident

Jul 15, 2012

Mileage

86,000 mi

THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ON MY 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE RECENTLY STARTED FUNCTIONING ERRATICALLY I.E. GAUGES (GAS GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER) WOULD START FLUCTUATING WILDLY. LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A DEFECTIVE (OR BURNED OUT) INSTRUMENTAL PANEL CLUSTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS COMPONENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY TYPE OF LIFETIME WARRANTY AND THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $472.31. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS TO BE SYSTEMIC AMONG LATE 1990 TO EARLY 2000 PONTIAC VEHICLES. FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, IT IS A DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCE TO BE DRIVING 70-75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND TO HAVE YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL START MALFUNCTIONING. PONTIAC SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTERS AND REPAIR THEM AT NO CHARGE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10446306

Incident

Oct 22, 2011

Mileage

92,700 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED DOWN A HILL DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES LOCKED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE DUST WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DUST WAS REMOVED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10368095

Incident

Nov 15, 2010

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 4DR, 2.2 LITER ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE WIRING HARNESS AT THE DRIVERS DOOR FRAME, AT THE CONNECTION OF THE UNDERDASH HARNESS AND THE REAR OF VEHICLE HARNESS SHORTED, CAUSING THE INSULATION TO CATCH FIRE. THIS SITUATION SHORTED OTHER CIRCUITS IN THE HARNESS CAUSING BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED SAFELY, AND THE DRIVER, WITH GOOD SAMARITAN ASSISTANCE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. FIRE RENDERED THE HOOD LATCH INOPERATIVE. THIS PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY GROUND CABLE, TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE AND/OR FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346427

Incident

Mar 9, 2010

Mileage

238,000 mi

1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *BF WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER FELT A THUMP AND BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. ONCE THE CONSUMER STOPPED, HE NOTICED FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0699-90.*JB UPDATED 04/14/10 *BF

NHTSA ID

10321990

Incident

Jul 24, 2009

I HAVE 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. ONE IS THAT I HAVE NO HIGHBEAMS AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER DRIVING IT FOR AWHILE,THE DRIVERSIDE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF FROM TIME TO TIME I HAVE TALKED TO A MECHANIC ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS. I WENT TO THE LOCAL JUNK YARD GOT A HARNESS AND IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM BUT JUST RECENTLY IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298920

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

102,100 mi

I HAD A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF RESIDENCE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS WAS A FEW YEARS AGO APPROXIMATELY AROUND JULY OF 2006. PONTIAC DID NOT ACCEPT FAULT. THEY SAID THE FIRE DESTROYED ANY EVIDENCE OF A DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277533

Incident

Jul 27, 2006

Mileage

623,766 mi

MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE REPLACED THE COMBINATION SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE. EACH TIME THE LIGHTS WILL WORK FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THEN THEY QUIT. THE DEALER SAID THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT WIRING HARNESS BUT A NEW HARNESS IS $600. I BELIEVE GM HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR DESIGN AND SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245339

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR CAP FAILS EACH TIME IT IS TURNED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVEN TIMES AND HE HAS REPLACED IT EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HE FEELS THAT SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED IF THE CAP BLOWS OFF THE RADIATOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 170,000. UPDATED 11/03/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10244158

Incident

Aug 4, 2008

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2007 WITH ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES SHREDDED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER ON THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER WORKED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,598.

NHTSA ID

10189975

Incident

Feb 19, 2007

Mileage

116,598 mi

MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT STAY ON. THEY TURN OFF WHEN I USE MY TURN SIGNAL, OR IF I HIT A BUMP. THE HI-BEAMS AND DRL'S ARE FINE, IT'S JUST THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS. ALSO MY ENGINE SHOWS THAT IT IS OVERHEATING ON MY TEMP. GUAGE, BUT DOES NOT ACT LIKE IT. WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON, IT RETURNS TO A NORMAL LEVEL. ANOTHER THING IS MY AIRCONDITIONING LINE HAS A HOLE IN IT FROM ANOTHER HOSE RUBBING UP AGAINST IT. I THINK IT'S EITHER MY STEERING HOSE OR RADIATOR HOSE. WHEN I TURN LEFT MY CAR MAKES AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE.

NHTSA ID

10185467

Incident

Jan 4, 2004

THE INDICATOR LIGHT BULB IN THE DASH BOARD MODULE CANNOT BE REPLACED AFTER BURNING OUT. THIS RENDERS THE ODOMETER INOPERATIVE AND UNREADABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162175

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHTS HAVE BEEN LIT FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR AND LOCAL DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM OR FIX. VEHICLE RECENTLY HIT A BUMP AND DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. SPEED ABOUT 30 MPH WITH ANOTHER ADULT IN PASSENGER SEAT AND INFANT IN REAR-FACING SEAT IN REAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160955

Incident

Jun 21, 2006

Mileage

95,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED THEN IT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE ONLY VEHICLE IN MOTION WAS THREE CARS BACK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE IMPOUND LOT BY THE POLICE. NO ONE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN THE MOUTH AND CHEST AND SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION, FACIAL BRUISING, CHEST PAINS, HEADACHE, AND DIZZINESS. *AK (12/08/05) THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *SC

NHTSA ID

10140362

Incident

Oct 18, 2005

Mileage

155,000 mi

THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR PUMP (A/C PUMP) COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE (1999) OEM LOWER RADIATOR HOSE (HOSE), DENTING THE HOSE AND WEARING A HOLE IN THE HOSE OVER TIME. THIS CONDITION IS WORSE WHEN FRONT STRUTS AND/OR ENGINE MOUNTS BECOME WORN. INITIAL LEAK OF COOLENT IS ONLY DETECTABLE BY LOW FLUID LEVEL OVER EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (APPORXIMATELY 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR): NO WETNESS ON THE HOSE OR POOLING OF COOLENT FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE IS DETECTABLE PRIOR TO A LARGER HOLE BEING WORN INTO THE HOSE. PRIOR TO LARGER HOLE BEING WORN INTO HOSE, COOLENT LOSS IS IN VAPOR FORM, BUT NOT IN A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT TO BE SEEN. ONCE THE HOLE IN THE HOSE BECOMES LARGE ENOUGH TO BE DETECTED BY FLUID POOLING UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE COOLENT FLUID WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND CAUSE FAILURE OF THE PCM. THE PCM CONTROLS MAJOR ENGINE AND BRAKING FUNCTIONS. A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PCM WILL CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL (VIA ABS) AND SHUT DOWN OF ENGINE (CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL). THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING A ELECTRIC SHORT IN THE 12 VOLT CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A FIRE. PLEASE NOTE THAT "AFTER MARKET" MANUFACTURERS REPLACEMENT HOSE IS REDESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN A/C PUMP AND THE HOSE. AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE OEM HOSE HAS BEEN REDESIGN TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE A/C PUMP.

NHTSA ID

10133509

Incident

Jul 4, 2005

Mileage

133,700 mi

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE ODOMETER BLINKS AND SCRAMBLES AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND WHEN IT IS WORKING THE MILEAGE IS CORRECT. ALSO, WHENEVER I TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR AWHILE. LASTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURN LEFT, OR ACCELERATE UPHILL AND I HAVE HAD 3 MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND TAKEN IT TO 3 DEALERS AND 2 AUTO SHOPS AND NOBODY CAN SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM!

NHTSA ID

10121423

Incident

Jul 15, 2000

Mileage

11,000 mi

IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL EVENTS REGARDING 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS NO SERVICE DEALER NEAR HIS HOME TO GET THE RECALL TAKEN OF. ( RECALL #04V036000). *JB

NHTSA ID

10119173

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

NO AIRBAG RELEASE . *AK

NHTSA ID

10096353

Incident

Oct 17, 2004

Mileage

63,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094254

Incident

Sep 12, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE IDLE PULLEY FAILED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE BLEW OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091885

Incident

Sep 10, 2004

Mileage

102,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IT HIT A STEEL MAIL BOX TRYING TO KEEP FROM HITTING AN ANIMAL. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087287

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA 99V21800 REGARDING INTERIOR LIGHTING. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK LIGHTING MAY NOT FUNCTION AFTER ADJUSTING THE INTERIOR LIGHT INTENSITY. DEALER STATED SORRY THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072232

Incident

May 6, 2004

WE HAVE A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH 32445 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION, 3RD & 4TH GEARS, HAVE GONE BAD. I WOULD EXPECT TO RECIEVE MORE MILEAGE THAN THIS OUT OF A PROPERLY SERVICED TRANSMISSION. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN 220 MILES OF HAVING THE FLUID REPLACED IN HTE TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10067654

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

Mileage

32,445 mi