2005 Pontiac Sunfire Electrical Problems

None of the gauges work properly Gm has not issued a recall despite the numerous complaints and it is a 500 to 800 dollar repair bill to replace the instrument cluster. 2005 Sunfire and the instrument cluster is malfunctioning. The gas gauge has stopped working altogether and the temp and rpm gauge work erratically. This is definitely a recall issue and has nothing to do with the maintenance of the vehicle. Gm wants me to have a dealer check the vehicle when they are well aware of this issue as there are multiple posting from owners of this issue online.

NHTSA ID

11470553

Incident

Apr 1, 2022

GOING DOWN HILL, TURNED MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AND THE CAR KEEP GOING STRAIGHT. IT DID NOT TURN AT ALL. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC, BUT MY CAR HIT THE CURVE FIRST STOPPING AN ACCIDENT FROM OCCURRING I HAVE REPLACE WINDOW MOTOR TWICE AND THEY HAVE WENT OUT AGAIN NOW. AND I HAVE ALSO REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR BUTTONS FOR A SECOND TIME IN THE PAST 3 YEARS

NHTSA ID

10983596

Incident

Mar 16, 2016

Mileage

130 mi

RECALL NEEDED! INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS FAILED. STARTED WITH THE FUEL GAUGE MOVING IN WRONG DIRECTION INTO SPEEDOMETER. EMPTY IS AT 110MPH. SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 55MPH WHILE COMING INTO TOWN AND NEEDING TO REDUCE TO 35MPH WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME! WITH THE LINE OF TRAFFIC THAT WAS BEHIND ME IM GUESSING IT WAS STUCK THERE FOR A BIT BEFORE I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING MOTOR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES IT NOW GOES DOWN TO 45MPH AND INCREASES FROM THERE. RPM DIAL STOPPED WORKING MOMENTS AFTER SPEEDOMETER STUCK. HEAT GUAGE SEEMS INTACT BUT WHO KNOWS FOR SURE. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR I DON'T FEEL SAFE PUTTING MY CHILDREN IN AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX. YET ANOTHER CUT CORNER BY GM THAT THEY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE.

NHTSA ID

10852336

Incident

Mar 15, 2016

GAS GAUGE TEMP GAUGE RPM GAUGE ALL DONT WORK WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING

NHTSA ID

10819679

Incident

Nov 30, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi

INSTRUMENT GAUGE (SPEEDOMETER) WENT FIRST THEN SLOWLY PROGRESSED INTO ALL OF THEM. THEY ARE SPORADICALLY ACCURATE, BUT MOST OF THE TIME REST AT THE LOW OR HIGH END AND OFTEN OFF INTO THE NEXT GAUGE. I PAID FIRESTONE A FEW YEARS BACK TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC HOPING ONE GAUGE WAS FAULTY CAUSING THE REST TO FAIL, BUT ITS THE CLUSTER. COST FOR REPLACEMENT ~ $800. (FOR ME ABOUT 3 WEEKS PAY) SO RECENTLY I DECIDED I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE AND WENT SEARCHING FOR ALTERNATIVE PRICES AND LOOK WHAT I FIND, A BILLION SUNFIRE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. (OKAY BUT A LOT) AND THESE ARE JUST THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BOTHERED TO COMPLAIN. BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR YEARS, ITS NOW AT THE POINT I DESCRIBED ABOVE. I HAVE EMISSIONS AT THE END OF MARCH. SO LOOKS LIKE I'M OUT 1 WEEKS PAY (EARNING A BIT MORE, BUT NOT MUCH) BECAUSE GM WONT OWN UP TO THEIR CHEAPLY MANUFACTURED PARTS. BUY AMERICAN? GEE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT MENTALITY DIDN'T SURVIVE THE 80'S. MY NEXT CAR? FROM A MANUFACTURER THAT CARES ABOUT QUALITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10681027

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

75,000 mi

VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF, USUALLY WHEN IDLING OR STOPPED. CLOCK AND RADIO RESET. CAR CAN EASILY BE RESTARTED, BUT CLOCK AND RADIO MUST BE RESET. HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM ON SEVERAL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650435

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

1,000 mi

THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL ANYMORE - THE GAUGE WAS AT HOT EVEN WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN OFF OVERNIGHT AND WAS COMPLETELY COOL. NOW IT IS ALL THE WAY AROUND UNDERNEATH THE GAUGE NEXT TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639340

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT TO TURN A CORNER AND THE ENTIRE CAR DIED. I LOST ALL STEERING AND ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRIED TO BE RESTARTED THAT WAS A VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. ONCE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OIL IN THE VEHICLE. WAS ALSO TOLD THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEMS OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639339

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

114,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT MY TACHOMETER GAUGE INDICATOR WAS ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT UNDER MY SPEEDOMETER INDICATOR. THEN A FEW HOURS LATER WHILE GOING TO THE STORE, I NOTICED THAT MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS SHOWING HOT AND NOT ACCURATE ALSO. THIS WAS DISCUSSED WITH MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMS ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE COST TO FIX??? IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $500 -- I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A HANDICAPPED CHILD AND DO NOT LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK GM SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT-- WHY WAIT THAT LONG? BECAUSE IF IT IS ME OR MY CHILD-- I PROMISE IT WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR THEM! *TR

NHTSA ID

10629548

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT START, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK THE CARE CLAIM TO RUN HOT WHEN THAT ISN'T THE CASE. THE WINDOW STOP WORKING, THE ENGINE SAY THAT IT NEED CHECKING HOWEVER WHEN I TAKE IT TO BE SERVICE THEY ALWAYS SAYS THIS MODEL HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD WIRES REPLACED, NEW STARTER, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW MOTOR IN THE LEFT WINDOW. AND I HAVE HAD ALL THIS DONE TO FINE OUT THAT THERE IS ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I HAVE WASTED HUNDREDS WHEN ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS ADMIT THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND SUBMIT A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10616165

Incident

May 13, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ODOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES FLUCTUATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10585529

Incident

Nov 11, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

DAUGHTER CALLED DURING LATE NIGHT DRIVE FROM UNIVERSITY, TEMP GAUGE HAS GONE TOO HIGH! HAD TO GET OFF FREEWAY AND DRIVE THROUGH BAD PART OF TOWN BACK TO UNIVERSITY DETROIT MERCY. CALL FOR RIDE HOME. MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE TOWED TO SHOP. TEMP GAUGE NOT WORKING AT ALL NOW. SHOP SAYS THAT THE WHOLE GAUGE PANEL NEEDS REPLACEMENT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10583834

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

ALL GAUGES IN THE VEHICLE HAVE STOPPED WORKING (I.E. SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL, AND TEMP GAUGES). TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH PONTIAC SUNFIRE MODELS FROM YEARS 2003-2005. ALSO, WITH THE CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2003-2005, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME CAR. GM CHANGED SUPPLIERS FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THESE YEARS. INSTRUMENT FAILURE IS CAUSED BY THE INFERIOR PARTS USED BY GM, AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ONE CAN NOT BLAME INSTRUMENT FAILURE ON A LACK OF MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE OWNER. ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE THAT TRAVELS ROUGHLY 5,000 MILES A YEAR. SUCH AN ISSUE IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEIR USE OF SUB-PAR MATERIALS. HAVE CHECKED FUSES, AND HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED (I.E. IT'S NOT A SHORT TO GROUND PROBLEM). THESE ARE NOT THE RESULT OF THE GAUGES FAILING. TOLD THE COST WOULD BE OVER $500 FOR A NEW INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY GM FOR THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577019

Incident

Mar 24, 2014

Mileage

41,312 mi

SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 60MPH WILL GO UP FROM THAT BUT NOT DOWN. I SEE A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE! CAN GM SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF !! *TR

NHTSA ID

10566398

Incident

Feb 27, 2014

Mileage

67,247 mi

INSTRUMENTCLUSTERINOP,SPEEDOMETER,&TEMPERATUREGAUGEFAILING.RPMGAUGEFAILING,RANINTOSPEEDOMETER&EFFECTINGTHESPEEDOFTHECAR.VERYUNSAFE,MULTIPLECOMPLAINTSONDEFECTIVEINSTRUMENTCLUSTER.WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM.$500.00REPAIR,PONTIAC/GMHASNORECALLSONTHEISSUE.MULTIPLEOWNERSOFTHEVEHICEHAVESAMECOMPLAINTSOFTHISSAMEPROBLEM.DONTKNOWTHETEMPERATUREOFTHEVEHICLE,DONTKNOWTHESPEEDI'MDRIVING.SPEEDOMETERISGLITCHING.PROBLEM&DEFECTISAPPARENTLY,PROBLEMWITHSTEPPERMOTERSAREFAILINGINCLUSTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558362

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

89,721 mi

I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2007 AND THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER NEXT TO DRIVING WHEEL WAS NOT WORKING. CAR WAS IN STORAGE FOR OVER A YEAR AND AROUND MAY 2010 THE DRIVERS WINDOW STOPPED "ROLLING UP" SO WE GOT THE WINDOW MOTOR CHANGED AS THEY SAID IT WAS BURNT. WINDOW WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN IT TURNED OUT TO BE ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAVING TO DO WITH THE SWITCH CONTROLLING THE WINDOWS. AROUND APRIL 2011 A NEW ISSUE, HIGH BEAMS STOPPED WORKING ON AND OFF. THEY EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING AND LEADING TO NO BEAMS AT ALL, NOT SIGNALS AND NO LIGHT IN DASHBOARD. ANOTHER PART HAD TO BE REPLACED. MAY 2013 - STEREO LIGHT IS NOT WORKING, BUT STEREO IS OPERATING. JULY 2013 - TRUNK WILL NOT LOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525951

Incident

Dec 20, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514386

Incident

May 30, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL (I.E. SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE, RPM GAUGE) CEASED TO FUNCTION ONE BY ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507291

Incident

Apr 5, 2011

Mileage

45,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2007 WITH 27,000 MILES. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, THE GAUGES STARTED QUITTING ONE BY ONE. IT'S BEEN ALMOST THREE YEARS SINCE ANY OF MY GAUGES WORKED IN ANY CAPACITY. AFTER READING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, I REALLY FEEL ITS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER. MINE QUIT BEFORE I HIT 50,000 MILES! *TR

NHTSA ID

10491928

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

39,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT DISPLAY A READING. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 11/13/12 *CN UPDATED 12/03/12

NHTSA ID

10475861

Incident

Aug 18, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 85-90 MPH. *JS

NHTSA ID

10457163

Incident

Feb 13, 2012

Mileage

64,000 mi

THE FUEL GAUGE SHOW DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN IT, ERRATIC SHOWS FULL THEN HALF THEN YOU OUT OF GAS. RIGHT ELECTRIC WINDOW GOES DOWN BUT ONLY GOES UP AN INCH AT A TIME, AND IT TAKES ALONG TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436472

Incident

Oct 3, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

AT FIRST THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FREEZE AND NOT WORK. SOMETIMES IT WOULD; HOWEVER, I DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS ACCURATE. THEN THE FUEL GAUGE AND OTHER GAUGES WOULD RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF. THIS CAR WAS INTENDED FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, BUT I CANNOT LET HER DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR AND MINE IS JUST LIKE THEIRS. WHEN IS GM GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10432484

Incident

Oct 4, 2010

Mileage

61,000 mi

THE SPEEDOMETER VARIES IN IT'S POSITION. IT'S SOMETIMES OK, THEN IT WILL FREEZE AT MAYBE 50 MPH, THEN GO UP TO OVER A HUNDRED MPH. NEXT TIME IT MAY FREEZE AT 20 MPH, ETC. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING, AND DON'T WANT TO GET A TICKET FOR SPEEDING. I'M TRYING TO USE MY ODOMETER, BUT DISTRACTS ME TO TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT. I DON'T SEE A RECALL, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT'S TIME GM OWNS UP TO IT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS, NOT, AT THE OWNERS COST. MY RESEARCH SHOWS ME THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. I AM TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT IT IS THE CLUSTER, WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I AM RETIRED AND LOVE THIS CAR, BUT DON'T HAVE THE MONEY MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10428817

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

Mileage

95,000 mi

IN LOOKING UP WHAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR I HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL OTHER CARS SEEM BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. MOST DAYS THE ONLY INSTRUMENT THAT IS WORKING IS THE SPEEDOMETER. GENERALLY I USE A GARMIN TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM AT THE CORRECT SPEED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND THE TACHOMETER IS NO LONGER WORKING. RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICE THAT THE LIGHTS IN THE RADIO ARE NOT ALL LIGHTING UP. SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE HANDLING FOR THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I AM FINDING ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423780

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi