1997 Pontiac Sunfire complaints

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, THE CONSUMER HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT AND THE DEALER REFUSED. *MR PH *JB

UNKNOWN REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE REAR AXLE AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED, SO THAT THE ORIGINAL BROKEN COMPONENT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON LEVEL GROUND AT ABOUT 60 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND DID NOT ENGAGE THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM, YET THE REAR END OF THE CAR SWERVED WILDLY, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO HIT A HIGH CURB, SEVERELY DAMAGING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, AXLE, AND SUSPENSION.*AK

THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN LEFT, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS BINDED AND LEAKED AT THE STEERING SHAFT, ALSO THE PRESSURE HOSE LEAKED. LATER, RECALL#02V286000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE TECHNICIAN NOT SPECIFYING (LOWER PINION BEARING SEPARATION), WHICH WAS NOT THE ACTUAL CAUSE. MR SCC *JB

THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHICH PREVENTED THE CONSUMER FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. *NLM PH

WHILE THE DRIVER MADE A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FALL INTO A DITCH. *NLM

THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVE RECALL REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DEALER NOT HAVING THE TOOL. (RECALL #02V286000/STEERING RACK AND PINION) THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING LEFT. THE CONSUMER HAS DEMANDED REIMBURSEMENT OF THE VEHICLE AT BLUE BOOK VALUE AND THE TOWING FEE. MR SCC

CONSUMER DISSATISFIED WITH RECALL REPAIRS OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM. HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK BECAUSE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PART FOR THE RECALL. *SC

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE HEAD LIGHTS TURNED OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

POWER STEERING GEAR DEFECT RECALL TO REPLACE THE LOWER PINION BEARING. DEALER NEEDED TO HAVE VEHICLE FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS IN ORDER TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. RECALL STATED REPAIRS WOULD TAKE FROM 30 MINUTES TO 2-1/2 HOURS. CONSUMER FOUND DEALER'S REPAIR TIME FRAME UNACCEPTABLE. *TT *NLM

I AM FURIOUS ABOUT THE WAY THE RECALL SERVICE HAS BEEN HANDLED ON MY 97 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC. I SCHEDULED FOR THE RECALL SERVICE (RACK & PINION/BEARINGS) TO BE REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER ALL DAY, I WAS TOLD LATE THAT AFTERNOON THAT THE RECALL PART NEEDED TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE IN FOR 1 TO 2 WEEKS (CLOSER TO 2 WEEKS). I WAS ALSO TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT IT WAS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, DUE TO DANGER REASONS THAT I DID NOT OPERATE THIS VEHICLE, BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED IN THE RECALL AREA. THEY EVEN SAID, THAT MOST OF THE BEARING BALLS WERE GONE OR DAMAGED. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT EVEN KNOW IF THEY COULD RELEASE MY VEHICLE BACK TO ME IN THIS CONDITION. AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, THE PONTIAC DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE A LOANER OR RENTAL VEHICLE TO ME. THIS IS INSANE. THIS SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW. THEY SENT OUT RECALL NOTICES THAT STATED THAT WE HAVE CARS SERVICED BY THE DEALER ASAP, BUT THEY WON'T FULLY STAND BY THERE PRODUCT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CUSTOMER SAFE AND SATISFIED. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY CHILDREN NOR MYSELF TO BE ENDANGERED DUE TO THE FAULT THEY THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE. *NLM

THE RACK AND PINION FAILED, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO TURN.*JB

A TICKING SOUND IN THE FRONT WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN COVER IS.I HAVE CHANGED THE CHAIN-SPROCKETS-TENSIONER- 3 TIMES-THE FIRST WHEN THE TENSIONER BROKE.I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST TIME I CHANGED IT.*JB

THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB *TS

AFTER RECALL 02V286000 REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION WAS PERFORMED, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING RACK AND PINION.*JB

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCT 1999 SINCE I HAVE HAD 3 RECALLS.NONE OF THOSE ARE THE OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED OR REPAIRED ALREADY. IN 2000 I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL BEEARING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS IN BAD CONDITION,IN 2001 I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS BECASUE THE WERE DRIED AND CRACKED, I MONTH AGO MY WIPERS BROKE A PIN AND CLIP BROKE AND THEY STOP IN THE UP POSITION. NOW MY WINDOW ON MY DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. MY DAUGHTER IN LAWS RACK AND PINION JUST WENT OUT IN HER 96 SUNFIRE AND SHE DIDNT RECIEIVE A RECALL BUT I DID. I LOVED THIS CAR WENE I GOT IT BUT I WILL NEVER RECOMEND IT TO ANYONE OR PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE

THE PARTS FOR THE POWER STEERING RECALL 02 V 286 000 IS NOT AVIALABLE. THE DEALERSHIP RAMSEY PONTIAC GMC;MAHWAH NJ;201-512-0002. PH

LOST CONTROL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A FAULTY RACK AND PINION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON 02/01/03. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TR

ENGINE STALLS. MY CAR WILL RUN GREAT 2-3 DAYS BUT WITHOUT NOTICE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING. I DOES THIS QUITE OFTEN AND THE MECHANICS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, THEY CANNOT DETERMINE IF IT IS SPARK RELATED OR FUEL RELATED DUE THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE. I DO ALOT OF HIGHWAY MILES ON MY COMMUTE AND I CONSIDER THIS VERY UNSAFE. (I HAVE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY NUMEROUS TIMES.)

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE ALL OF A SUDDEN, WOULD NOT TURN LEFT AND I HIT A POLE, COME TO FIND OUT THE RACK AND PINION SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE RACK AND PINION REPLACED, THIS IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS, DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HEARD OF NO PROBLEMS WITH RACK AND PINION, AND WERE OF NO HELP AT ALL. *JB

CONTACTED THE DEALER SAID THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED BATTERY CABLE TO MELT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATE AFTER TURNING WINDSHIELD WIPER OFF WIPERS WOULD NOT LIE DOWN IN THE OFF POSITION. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN CONSUMER SAYS MAY HAVE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE, AND BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, VEHICLE MAY HAVE HIT A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, SUDDENLY BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER NOTICED PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, RADIO, ODOMETER, AND PANEL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WILL REPLACE RELAY KIT FREE OF CHARGE, BUT WILL CHARGE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO STARTER IN THE PROCESS OR MAKING RECALL CHANGES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

CONSUMER STATES WHEN STARTED THE CAR SMOKE START COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, STATES THAT THE RELAY KIT CAUGHT FIRE. NLM

AS A RESULT OF HITTING A DEER AT 55 MPH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED.AK

AT LOW SPEEDS 5-25 MPH STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKS UP WHEN TURNING LEFT #EA02-003. *AK

RECALL 02V070000/ IGNITION SYSTEM; THIS RECALL INTERACTED WITH DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT WOULD STAY ON AND DRAIN THE BATTERY. OWNER HAS HAD VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THIS MODIFICATION WAS PERFORMED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

MY POSER STEERING HAS SUDDENLY BECOME DIFFICULT AT SLOW SPEEDS. UNABLE TO TURN LEFT/RIGHT AT CORNERS UNTIL SPEED IS INCREASED. TURNING WHILE SLOWING IS VERY DIFFICULT. BRAKE FLUID CHECKED FINE. MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH PUMP OR RACK/PINION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED DO TO WEAR, THE WRONG TIRES HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CAR, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION WAS MENTIONED. *YD

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AT ALL SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT. TOOK TO REPAIR, WAS TOLD THAT RACK & PINION GEAR WAS COMING APART QUICKLY & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON DOING MORE RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER NHTSA # EA02-003. IT APPEARS I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. COST TO REPLACE WILL APPROACH $900, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED IN A RECALL BY GMC. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER SERVICED VEHICLE; HOWEVER, LIGHT IS STILL ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD.*AK

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION KEY WOULD TURN, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED VEHICLE NEEDED A STARTER AND A BATTERY,BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, THEN, MECHANIC STATED IT WAS STARTER SOLENOID, REPLACED IT, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE, ALSO THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED AND THE DEALER NOTIFIED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER HAD NOT FIXED FOR LACK OF PARTS. *YH

DEVICE THAT KEEPS SEAT BELT TIGHT AFTER BEING FASTENED IS INOPERATIVE, MAKING IT EASIER FOR SEAT BELT TO COME UN LOCKED IN A CRASH. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SOMETIMES ITS HARD AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T START. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL AUTOMATICALLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT SIDE,AND CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL 02V070000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008, AND DEALER INDICATED CAN'T GET PARTS UNTIL MAY OR JUNE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT ONLY 70000 MILES, GARAGE OPINION IS THAT IT IS DUE TO FAULTY COMPONENTS AND COOLANTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE. GM CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL FOR 1996 IN A SPECIAL POLICY.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP OPERATING IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD WHILE RAINNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *YH

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED COMPLETELY BACKWARD, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, STEERING WHEEL STARTED SMOKING. VEHICLE REFUSES TO START. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE IGNITION BEGAN TO SMOKE AFTER VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED, IGNITION SWITCH BURNED AND MELTED AND BURNED OUT THE BATTERY, CONSUMER HAS IGNITION SWITCH FOR INSPECTION. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL NOT PARK. IT IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. *AK

I AM LOOKING TO SEE IF THESE RECALLS HAD BEEN FIXED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. NO SFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK