1994 Pontiac Sunbird

Routine

Owners filed 42 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip8
202
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner4
102
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Tires › Tread/Belt2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
101
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner2
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Arm1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm94V115000
Filed Jun 24, 199465 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE TIRE-WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE DRIVE AXLE.

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed Aug 9, 2006109,000 milesWI

JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN A GRINDING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR(94 PONTIAC SUNBIRD)IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,REAR OF CAR WAS SWERVING DANGEROUSLY,LOOKED UNDER THE CAR IN THE REAR, AND THERE WAS A GAPING HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE WHEEL WELL WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBER ATTACHES TO THE BODY,OPENED THE TRUNK AND THE LEFT REAR SHOCK HAD BROKEN THROUGH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HOUSE, I PROCEEDED TO LOOK AT THE RIGHT SIDE AND THAT SIDE IS ABOUT READY TO BREAK THROUGH TOO, MAKING FOR A MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION, A BODY SHOP HAS STATED THAT IF THE OTHER HAD BROKE AT THE SAME TIME THE WHOLE REAR WOULD HAVE COME OUT, PROBABLY CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH, WITH TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NOW THIS CAR IS NOT A RUST BUCKET BY ANY MEANS AND HAS ONLY 109,00 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *JB

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
Filed Mar 10, 2006110,000 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 94V115000, REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES KNUCKLE SPINDLE ARM. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Torque Converter
Filed Sep 5, 200394,000 milesGA

2.0L ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION--TRAMISSION (AFTER 2+ HOURS OF DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS) FAILS TO DISENGAGE FROM ELECTRONIC TORQUE CONVERTER/OVER-DRIVE DURING SLOWING TO A STOP AND STALLS ENGINE. *AK I HAVE COMPLAINED TO GMC DEALER--EVEN SPENT 400 DOLLARS FOR TUNE-UP SINCE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE STALL. A CHECK WITH LOCAL 'SHADE-TREE' MECHANIC YEILDED THE FOLLOWING--- COMMON PLACE FOR THE ELECTRONIC TORQUE CONVERTER (ON 2.0 L MITUISHBISHI AUTOMATIC USED IN CHEVY; BUICK; AND PONITAC) NOT TO DISENGAGE. RECOMMENDS A OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER. WHILE THIS MAY NOT CAUSE A CRASH--THIS IS CAUSE FOR ALARM WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN BY TEENAGER(RELATIVE NEW DRIVER).

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 2, 2002FL

AT 25MPH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SAID THAT SINCE SHE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE TIRE KINGDOM, TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD, SO SHE HAD THEM FIXED AND SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE WORKED THE SAME SINCE. ALSO THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING (FOR THE PAST 2YRS)/FEELS CAR IS NOT SAFE.*SCC

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 9, 2001OH

DURING LEFT HAND TURNS AND ROADS WITH HARD LEFT CURVES DRIVERS RIGHT KNEE CAN DEPRESS SHIFTER DETENT AND PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, CAUSING ABRUPT LOSS OF SPEED/CONTROL. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 22, 2001IN

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 16, 2000NY

THE CAR EMITTS AN ANTIFREEZE ODOR & BURNING ODOR WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES. I RETURNED CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE ODOR. MECHANICS REPORT NO DEFECTS AFTER CHECKING THE LINES. ODORS STILL PERSISTS-SOURCE UNFOUNDED. BOTH SEATS PROJECT FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP @ANY SPEED.*AK

Service Brakes, Air › AntilockCrash
Filed Sep 6, 2000NC

CAR WAS FOR DAUGHTER. SHE WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING. SHE CAME TO A CURVE AND PRESSED HER BRAKES BUT NO RESPONSE. THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED INTO A DITCH. SHE WAS VERY LUCKY THAT SHE WALKED AWAY AND THAT NO ONE ELSE IN CAR. POLICE AND DRIVER OF TOW TRUCK TRIED BRAKES AND BOTH CONFIRMED THAT BRAKES WERE OUT SO NO TICKET WAS GIVEN. INSURANCE HAD IT CHECKED OUT WEEKS LATER AND BRAKES WERE OK. CAR WAS TOTAL.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 29, 2000NY

CONSUMER WAS COMING OFF HIGHWAY, COMING TO A STOP SIGN, HEARD A HORRIBLE NOISE, IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE STARTING TO COME UP THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD OF VEHICLE, TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID A FRAME BROKE. CONSUMER FELT IF ON HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.*AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 28, 2000FL

TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-75 NEAR SARASOTA, I TOOK TO FIRESTONE AT EXIT 37 OFF I-75, SAID IT WAS NOT PART OF RECALL & MADE ME PAY FOR NEW TIRE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15 )

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 15, 2000NY

WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A WARRANTY, AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK *ML

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Oct 15, 1999FL

DRUVER'S SIDE DOOR OUTSIDE PANEL DEATACHES FROM FRAME AND JAMS DRIVER'S DOOR ,WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO OPEN DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER HAS REGLUED IT TWICE, BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle AssemblyCrash2 injured
Filed Apr 21, 1999OH

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LOCKED UP IN HEAD-ON COLLISON, THEN IT UNLOCKED & THE DRIVER WENT AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. PASSENGER SEAT FAILED TO STAY LOCKED IN PLACE UPON IMPACT. PASSENGER WENT FORWARD INTO DASHBOARD. DRIVER & PASSENGER WERE INJURED/HOSPITALIZED. *AK

Suspension
Filed Mar 24, 1999WA

SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, RECALL ON SYSTEM HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO VIN #.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Mar 16, 1999WA

ALTERNATOR BELT CONTINUALLY BECOMES LOOSE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 28, 1998CT

CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF ENGINE ALUMINUM HEAD CRACKED ,CAUSING THE PRESSURE TO BACK UP INTO RADIATOR AND BLOW UP. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST WENT TO CONSUMER.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 23, 1998MS

ABS FAILED TWICE.

Power Train › Axle Assembly
Filed Apr 4, 1998CD

REAR WHEEL HAD A BAD LEAN DUE TO REAR AXLE RUSTING THROUGH, COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 25, 1997ME

BRAKING FAILURE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 22, 1997IN

ABS MALFUNCTION, CAR GOES INTO ANTILOCK MODE TO OFTEN, REPLACE BOTH FRT. WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, BRAKE PULSATES AND SEEMS TO LOCKUP, TURNED 2 FRT ROTORS, CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, TURN 2 REAR DRUMS,.

20 of 42 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20003000Routine
19993000Routine
19982000Routine
19974000Routine
19964000Routine
19951000Routine
1994 — this page42200Routine
199337340Routine
199230410Routine
199127430Routine
199011210Routine

Compare every Sunbird year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.