1996 Pontiac Sunfire complaints

THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER 32,000 MILES WILL NO LONGER MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD MAKING IT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THAT SEAT. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO TAYLOR PONTIAC IN AKRON, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRACKING WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST AROUND $150.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 95 SUNFIRE. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS JUST A COINCIDENCE. MY CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE AND THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE HAPPENING. I HAVE NEVER FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT ANY CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED BUT I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED TWICE. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP CONCERNING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *AK

I HAD CONTACTED PONTIAC THROUGHOUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT PLEASED. I KNOW OF 3 OTHER 96 SUNFIRES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE 95'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

FUEL PUMP HAD TO REPLACE AFTER ONLY 56000 MILES. DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $600.00 OR MORE TO FIX. AFTER IT WAS FIXED IT STILL HESITATES WHEN YOU FIRST ACCELERATE. LOUD KNOCKING AND VIBRATION NOISE IN EXHUAST WHEN YOU ACCELERATE OR JUST IDLING. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUNFIRE. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF THIS ONE.

HARNESS OVERHEATS/MELTS AND SHORTS OUT SWITCH, MAKING HEADLIGHTS INOPERABLE. THIS IS MY SECOND REPAIR IN A YEAR. *AK

NO SUMMARY

NO SUMMARY

WAS TOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE BEHIND THE MOTOR HOME WHEN THE FRAME OF VEHICLE STARTED TO RIP APART NEAR TOWING BAR. HAD BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC WELDED PART BACK TOGETHER. DISTRICT MANAGER WAS SUPPOSE TO COME CHECK. HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING YET. *AK

WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR AIR BAG. DEALER STATED UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IS. ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE UNIT FOR $1100.

VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD GASKET WHICH IS CAUSING AN OIL LEAKAGE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT. ALSO, VEHICLE VIBRATES DUE TO THE GOVERNOR GEAR INSIDE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

LEFT FRONT AND REAR DOOR LATCHES BROKEN, COMINGAROUND A CORNER TWO SEPERATE TIMES PROBLEMS WITH THE DEALER TO REPLACE PART ALSO

NO SUMMARY

I WAS ON VACATION IN WV. WHEN I SLOWED TO TURN A CORNER I FELT A THUMP UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR LURCHED TO THE RIGHT. STEERING FELT AS IF THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. HAD TO PULL HARD RIGHT TO STRAIGHTEN CAR THEN LOST STEERING CONTROL ALTOGETHER. I OBSERVED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL SEEMED TO BE SLIDING OUTWARD WHILE THE RIGHT WHEEL REMAINED VERTICAL.. AT MECHANIC'S THE FOLLOWING DAY WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THE LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD FALLEN THROUGH IT. THE STEEL OF THE FRAME HAS RUSTED IN LAYERS - PAPER THIN LAYERS WITH HEAVY CORROSION ON ALL EDGES. I AM APALLED! I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE MUFFLER YET AND THE FRAME RUSTS THROUGH? VERY SCARY.

GOING AROUND A CURVE TOO FAST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE ONTO ENGINE, ENGINE RUSTED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. MJS

HEAD GASKET LEAKS AND ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING ONTO ENGINE. GASKET AND ANTIFREEZE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FIRST OWNER SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL, THEN THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT OWNER'S EXPENSIE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE SHAKES EXCESSIVELY. BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN GROUNDED DOWN 3 TIMES, AND STILL HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. DEALER SAYS IT'S NO DEFECT.*AK

THE POWER STEERING ACTUALLY HAD TWO INTERMITTENT INCIDENTS THE SAME DAY THAT INDICATED A PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP TWO TIMES, ONCE PULLING ME INTO A CURB AND THE SECOND TIME PULLING ME INTO A MEDIAN IN A PARKING LOT. EACH OF THESE TWO TIMES, THE POWER STEERING RELEASED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AGAIN. I, HOWEVER, HAD ABOUT 9 MILES TO GO TO GET HOME AND FELT THAT IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY HOME. I TURNED LEFT ONTO A STREET, WHERE OTHER CARS WERE ONCOMING, AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP AS I TURNED. FORTUNATELY, THE STEERING LOCKED AS I TURNED LEFT AND SUDDENLY PULLED ME TO THE RIGHT AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT MY STEERING NEVER RELEASED AGAIN. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WAS TOWED TO JK PONTIAC ON OGDEN AVENUE IN DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS. THEY INFORMED ME ON JULY 6TH THAT THE RACK AND PINION HAD GONE OUT OF MY CAR. I FEEL THAT MY CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR THIS TO HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE HAVING THEIR RACK AND PINION GOING OUT OF THEIR CAR, LET ALONE FOR IT TO GO OUT OF A CAR AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAD A PONTIAC GRAND AM IN THE SHOP WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT THAT HAD ALSO HAD THE RACK AND PINION GO OUT OF IT. THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT PONTIAC NEEDS TO GIVE ATTENTION TO. MY INCIDENT, FORTUNATELY, ENDED WITH NO ACCIDENT, INJURIES OR FATALITIES. HOWEVER, HAD THIS OCCURRED ONE DAY LATER, ON MY WAY TO WORK

CONSUMER HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED THREE TIMES, THIS IS THE FOURTH ONE THAT'S IN. PONTIAC SAYS CLUTCH SLIPPING CANNOT BE DUPLICATED.

THE ENGINE IN MY CAR HAS LITERALLY FAILED ON THE FREEWAY 2 TIMES. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT HELP ME AND THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT GM WILL NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. *AK

INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WIRING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN# *AK

WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE WINSHIELD TO BUST. WHEN LOOKING AT THE CAR THE WINDSHIELD IS PUSHED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG. WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THIS CASE?

ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DUE TO PCM FAILURE. PCM WAS REPLACED TWICE 12-4-98 / 4-5-99. *YC

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ABILITY AND HAD NOISES WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DURING RECENT SNOW STORM WIPERS STOP IN THE UPRIGHT POSTION. THEN CONTINUE TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN THE OFF SWITCH IS CLICKED. THEY DO WORK BUT WON'T LAY DOWN THEY STAY UP. ALSO HAVE SEEN ON THE ROAD OTHER SUNFIRES WITH SAME PROBLEM. WIPERS UP. TO GET THEM TO LAY DOWN MUST TURN THEM ON THEN PULL FUSE.

ON 01/30/1999 AFTER MAKEING A LEFT HAND TURN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO BROWNS TRANSMISSION SERVICE INC, 1035 WELLS AVE, NEWARK OH,43055; I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE OVER HAULED TO REPLACE THE TORC CONVERTER. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $960.00.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE SEEMS TO OCCUR WITH NO WARNING. THIS VEHICLE WAS 4 WEEKS PASSED THE 3- YEAR WARRANTY WHEN THE TRANSMISSIOM FLEW APART. PONTIAC WOULD NOT COVER ANY COST OF REPLACEMENT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD A DEFECTIVE PART, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. I HAVE OWNED GM PRODUCTS FOR OVER TEN YEARS. GM HAS NOW LOST A CUSTOMER. *AK

I HAVE CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. MAJOR DIFFICULTY STOPPING WHEN PAVEMENT IS WET. MY COMPLET BRAKE AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH LEAKS, RIGHT REAR WINDOW HAS BEEN REPLACED. PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION WHEN AT A STANDSTILL, ALMOST LOSING POWER. SMELL OF GAS FUMES. PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

WIPER SWITCH BROKEN.

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURY TO FACE AND HAND, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN HER VEHICLE STRUCK SIX COWS AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

THE CAR HAS HAD MULIPLE PROBLEMS BEGINNING WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HORN IN 1997. MANY OF THE SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, THE PARKING BRAKE STILL DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND I HAVE REPLACED MANY MAJOR PARTS ON THE CAR. PONTIAC FLATLY REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE ONLY OFFERED COURTESY TRANSPORTATION AFTER ENGAGING IN A SHOUTING MATCH & ALL THEY KNOW HOW TO SAY IS "SORRY, YOUR OUT OF YOUR MANUFACTURES WARRANTY & WE DO NOT PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION" I HAVE RECEIVED THE WORST SERVICE YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 9 TIMES IN UNDER TWO YEARS!

MY CAR IS BARELY THREE YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULDN'T OF HAPPENED.THE GARAGE WHERE I TOOK THIS TO SAID A WEEK AGO ANOTHER SUNFIRE WAS BROUGHT IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, A FRIENDS BROTHER LAST SUMMER TOOK HIS 95 SUNFIRE INTO THE DEALER ALSO WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE WHICH IS CAUSING THE PEDAL TO STICK, AND WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE ISN'T GETTING ANY SPEED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. *AKTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF THE THROTTLE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, THE PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WAS RECALL BUT THE CONSUMES VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE BRAKING DUE TO WARPED ROTORS, THE RIGHT FRONT SEATBELT WAS TWISTED, FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. *SB

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS. DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 12MPH, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECALL NUMBER 98V146000. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVELING 45 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK *ML

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON RESULTING WITH ENGINE JERKING AND MAKING NOISE.

ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIUATE TOO QUICKLY AND EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS.

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND DRIVE AXLES REPLACED TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR.

LEAKING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR VALVE.

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; THE ABS BRAKES LOCK UP ON WET PAVEMENT OR WHEN TRYING TO BREAK QUICKLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

RECALL 98V146000.98026 AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED 18-AUG-98. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T GO DOWN, BLOCKING DRIVER'S VISION.

ENGINE SPUN THE # 4 ROD BEARING, CAUSING THE ROD TO SNAP AND PUT AHOLE IN THE BLOCK THE SIZE OF AN ORANGE. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ENGIN EPISTONS/TIMING CHAIN AND SPROCKET.

RECALL 98V146000.98026. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE PONTIAC MANUFACTURER, AND THE CONTACT PERSON DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECALL ON AIRBAGS. SHE STATED THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE RECALL, AND SHE COULD NOT HELP HER WITH PROBLEM,SHE ALSO SHE DID NOT KNOW WHERE ANY OF THE INFORMATION CAME FROM REGARDING THE RECALL. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INPUT DRUM BROKE WHERE THE SHAFT AND THE DRUM WAS WELDED TOGETHER.

DEFECT IN HEADLIGHTS, WIRING KEEPS WEARING OUT. FIRST, CAUSING DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THEN NIGHT TIME HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS REDONE WIRING 6 TIMES, DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

TRAVELING 20MPH OVER GRAVEL ROAD. SUDDENLY BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AT THE TIME. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK