RoadVitals

2000 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.
17
Latest Jun 16, 2020
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.
18%
of 96 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.
1

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 2000 Pontiac Sunfire submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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

BrakesFuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2020

MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECT UNTIL 3 WEEKS AGO, IT HAS SINCE THEN WONT START BACK UP. THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SPARK, THEN TRIED SPARK PLUG WIRES, NEW BATTERY, CHECKED ALTERNATOR AND FUSES, COILS ALL GOOD. THEN I WAS LEAD TO MAYBE THE GAS THAT WAS IN IT. DROPPED GAS TANK, PUT NEW FUEL FILTER, CHECKED FUEL PUMP, GAS LINES, IT DID STAY RUNNING ONE TIME SINCE BUT WAS SHAKING ROUGHLY WITH A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WILL NOT RUN ANYMORE SINCE THEN. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS NOW AND IT IS MY ONLY CAR.. ALSO BEFORE THE CAR STARTED HAVING THE ABOVE PROBLEMS MY BRAKES KEPT GETTING TONS OF AIR ALSO LOSING A TON OF BRAKE FLUID, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND ALL BRAKE LINES ARE GOOD. IT'S DANGEROUS. ALSO HAVE BLED THE BRAKES. NOT MUCH HELP OTHER THAN TEMPORARILY. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329282
Incident
May 24, 2020
Mileage
160,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 30, 2004

LAST YEAR I TOOK MY 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE TO THE DEALER DUE TO IT'S LEAKING BREAK FLUID AND LOSS OF BREAKING POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BREAK LINE GOING TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CRACK IN THE LINE WAS DUE TO "OIL'S AND OTHER FLUIDS FROM DRIVING ON THE ROAD CAUSED IT TO CORRODE AND BRAKE. I WAS CHARGED APPROX. $250.00 FOR THEM TO REPLACE IT. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 30,000 MILE WARRANTY. ABOUT A WEEK AGO I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD MY SON WHO IS A MECHANIC, EXAMINE IT SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, (IT NOW HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT.) HE FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE IS NOW BROKEN DUE TO THE WAY THE LINE WAS ROUTED (BY THE FACTORY.) IT IS BROKEN JUST ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT, DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST PART OF THE STRUT MOUNT. IT SEEMS TO MY THAT A CARE WITH SO FEW MILES WHICH HAS BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF PROBLEM TWICE NOW IN ONE YEAR, ON TWO SEPARATE BRAKE LINES. I CHECKED YOUR RECALL LIST AND FOUND NOTHING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND ALL BELIEVE IT TO BE SOME SORT OF FACTORY DEFECT. DUE TO THIS INFORMATION AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, I AM FILING THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH YOU AND THE CA DMV. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS COMPLAINT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION. SINCERELY, INGRID C. TIPTON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10098036
Incident
Oct 23, 2004
Mileage
35,000 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system+3 more
Filed Sep 30, 2004

WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMY, I PURCHASED A USED 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN GEORGIA. THE CAR BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS ONLY 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE. LUCKILY, I FORCED THE DEALERSHIP TO PAY FOR A WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE 3 MAJOR REPAIRS WITHIN A 11/2 AFTER THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP, I DISCOVER NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMOBILE, INCLUDING THE RECALL. THIS CAR IS TRULY A LEMON! I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER WITH THIS DEFECTIVE CAR. I OWE OVER 3 TIMES THE VALUE OF THE CAR. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY GOOD CARE AND MAINTENANCE, NO ONE WILL TOUCH THIS CAR BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY OTHER DEFECTS BESIDES THE RECALL (FRONT END SUSPENSION ISSUES, FUEL TANK). I AM A DISABLED VETERAN NOW WITH ONLY A SMALL PENSION TO SUPPORT MYSELF AND TWO CHILDREN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND FIXING THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT GOING TO FIX THIS LEMON. I HAVE PUT OVER $3000 IN REPAIRS ON THIS CAR OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ASIDE FROM THE MONTHLY FINANCED PAYMENTS OF $282 X 3YRS=$10,152 AND I STILL OWE $7800. THE CAR IS ONLY VALUED AT $2150. AND WHEN DEALERS LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS BEHIND THIS CAR, THEY DON'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE ME $2000.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093379
Incident
Sep 24, 2001
Mileage
50,168 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Sep 28, 2004

THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ON ITS ON. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATE. THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED. *JB THERE WAS LEAKING BOILING UNDER THE DASH ON BOTH SIDES. *SC

NHTSA ID
10091503
Incident
Sep 7, 2004
Mileage
35,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 7, 2003

CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. BRAKES CHATTER, OVERHEATING, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, CD PLAYER AND SPEAKERS DID NOT WORK. NOW IT STALLS WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. STALLS AT 70 MPH GOING DOWN HIGHWAY. HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING 3 OR 4 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO DAYS. CHECKED OUT AT SERVICE STATION ON COMPUTER, AND SHOWS NO PROBLEMS. HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS HERE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. BAD FUEL PUMP OR SOMETHING IS CAUSING CAR TO STALL. THEN IT TAKES FROM 10 TO 15 MINUTES TO START AGAIN. SOME DAYS IT JUST WON'T START AT ALL. HAVE HAD CAR CHECKED MANY TIMES, AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ANYONE THAT CAN HELP HERE??? I THINK GMC OWES MANY, MANY CONSUMERS AN EXPLANATION AND REPAIR OF THIS VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM! *PH

NHTSA ID
10030998
Incident
Aug 5, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Feb 25, 2003

THE BRAKES AND THE SUSPENSION FAILED.*JB

NHTSA ID
10009250
Incident
Jan 20, 2003
Mileage
37,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 27, 2002

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION.*JB

NHTSA ID
567218
Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 2002

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH. ALSO THERE WAS VIBRATION AND PULSATION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
8012430
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+9 more
Filed Feb 12, 2002

EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT GETTING HOT MELTING THE CARPET AND PAINT INSIDE TRUNK, FUMES FILLED INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AT THIS TIME EXHAUST SYSTEM IS RUNNING JUST AS HOT AGAIN, DEALER STATED FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS BAD GAS MILEAGE, STARTER MOTOR SEIZED AND FAILED, POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM LEFT FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE, REPLACED RADIATOR, HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR AT IDLE, TRUNK LEAKS, HEAD LAMP IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, GLOVE BOX WILL NOT CLOSE, MUFFLER FELL OFF, KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WITH VEHICLE RUNNING, TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE, THERE WAS BRAKE PULSATION AT HIGH SPEED OR WHEN STOPPING, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, SPEAKERS INOPERATIVE, SEAT SPRING FAILED, SUSPECTED MOTOR OIL SMELL AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, POWER AND GROUNDS DISTRIBUTION REPLACED, WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY, FOUND WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, HAZARD LAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL WERE INOPERATIVE, REPLACED BLOWN FUSE, CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE, REPLACED BLOWN FUSE, TRACTION CONTROL INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, A/C HOSE LEAKING, REPLACED EVAPORATOR, HARD TO START AND ROUGH IDLE, ENGINE MAKE RATTLING NOISE AND QUIT RUNNING, REPLACED HEAD CYLINDER AND 02 SENSOR, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT, OVERFLOW BOTTLE MELTED AND 42 GOODYEAR TIRES BLEW OUT, ALSO THE HVAC WAS INOPERATIVE. *YD

NHTSA ID
8003978
Incident
Oct 29, 2001
Brakes
Filed Sep 27, 2001

THE FRONT AND BRAKE BRAKE LINE RUBBED THROUGH FROM RUBBING AGAINST THE LEFT TRANSMISSION MOUNT, BECAUSE A PART WAS NOT INSTALLED DURING PRODUCTION. HAD TO MAKE NEW BRAKE PIPES FROM BPMV BACK TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE RACN AND FROM THE BPMV TO THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON MY SON WAS ALMOST WITHOUT ANY BRAKES. HE WAS JUST GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR PHOENIX, AZ. IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED ON HIS TRIP, IT WOULD OF RESULTED IN HIS DEATH.

NHTSA ID
752637
Incident
Aug 29, 2001
Brakes
Filed Mar 7, 2001

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE WHEN NOT NECCESASARY. ON DRY PAVEMENT DURING NORMAL STOPPING PROCEDURE.*AK

NHTSA ID
742093
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Feb 15, 2001

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. DEPRESSED THEM TWICE TO NO AVAIL. SWERVED TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES. BUMPED VEHICLE IN FRONT. THEN, BRAKES FINALLY CAUGHT AND WORKED. TOOK TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
880702
Incident
Dec 20, 2000
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Feb 15, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH BRAKES BEFORE ACCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT. AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND SEATBELT RESTRAINT DIDN'T LOCK UP. CONSUMER HAD COMPLAINED ALMOST A YEAR ABOUT BRAKES. DEALER CLAIMED THEY HAD CHECKED BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY FOUND FACTORY SEALS STILL ON BRAKES. CONSUMER SUFFERED SOME SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
880626
Incident
Sep 24, 2000
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jan 22, 2001

SINCE PURCHASED IN APRIL 24 2000, HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET AND DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED, GRINDING NOISES WHEN CAR IS PARKED. ENTIRE TRANSMISSON HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT OF VEHICLE AND BRAKE FAILURE WITH IN THE 8 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID
739732
Incident
Jan 19, 2001
Brakes
Filed Dec 5, 2000

ABS SYSTEM GOING OUT AT 20 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES AND HEARD CLICKING SOUND, AND PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
875979
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 2, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
735637
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed May 4, 2000

THE BRAKES HAVE NOW FAILED A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES, 7 DAYS AFTER I HAS PURCHASED THE CAR THE BRAKE COMPUTER SYSTEM WENT OUT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED AT ALL. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP I HAVE TAKEN IT TO FOR ALL THE REPAIRS AND THEY TELL ME THEY DO NOT FIND ANYTHING AND ALL THE DOCUMENTATION I HAVE WILL NOT DUE UNTIL IT IS PROVEN BY SOMEONE ELSE THEY HAVE TO PLAY BY GM RULES I WAS ALSO TOLD. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AND AS A WOMEN FEEL VERY FRUSTRATED AS TO WAHT TO DO NEXT. CAN YOU HELP?*AK

NHTSA ID
722285
Incident
Sep 1, 1999

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .