1997 Pontiac Sunfire complaints

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON, AND INSIDE CAB THERE IS A SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. ALSO, AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY SHAFT BROKE IN HALF, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNDER NOMAL STOPPING CONDITIONS PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK REPAIR SHOP STATED THE BRAKES WERE WORN, CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK. *SLC

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REST IN A VERTICAL POISITION WHEN SHUT OFF.*AK

I WAS IN ACCIDENT AT 45 MPH. A VEHICLE TURNED IN LANE AND STOPPED, I HIT MY BRAKES, AND MY VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW. I HIT HIS CAR AND PUSHED IT APPX. 15 FEET. I DROPPED IT IN NEUTRAL AND THAT HELPED. THE ACCIDENT TOTALED MY VEHICLE. I FELT THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, AND THE BRAKES COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT OFF OF FREEWAY AND IMPACTED A CEMENT BARRIER. INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT INNER TIE ROD SHEARED OFF WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *THE MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP REFERRED TO 4 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WHICH RESULTED IN DEATHS BECAUSE OF THIS.*AK *JB

SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THUMPING AND CLANKING NOISES.. CAR STARTED TO STALL UNDER 1X RPM... ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POSSIBLE SOLUTION WAS CRANKSHAFT. THEN THEY SAID IT WAS POSSIBLY A BUSHING. I NOTICED IN YOUR FILES SOMEONE ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH PROBLEMS ON A CAR THAT IS PAMPERED AND LOW MILES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR ACCIDENT???*AK

HEAD GASKET HAS EXTERNAL WATER LEAK AT DRIVER SIDE, FRONT AREA. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE HAD STARTED UNDER HOOD. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN A VERY BAD SNOW STORM AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 40MPH AND COMING DOWN AN INCLINE. TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CAR WAS TOTALLED. SEAT BELT WAS BEING WORN AT THE TIME. CONSUMER SUFFERED CHEST INJURIES. NO RESPONSE FROM PONTIAC, THEY WERE COLLECTING INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE THREW A ROD.TALKED TO OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.EVEN ON MULTIPLE ENGINES. *AK

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE EVENING HOURS AND LIGHTS FAILED. THE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING AND FOUND OUT BY PUTTING SOMETHING BEHIND THE DIMMER SWITCH THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH IN APRIL 2000 HOWEVER IN DEC 2000 THE SAME SWITCH HAS FAILED AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE IT WAS MY RESPOSIBILITY TO REPAIR. DUE TO THE FACT THAT I PAID APPROXIMATELY $170.00 IN APRIL 2000 I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ABLE TO AID IN GETTING THIS REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO ME.

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. FAILS TO START WHEN COLD AND ALSO AFTER DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE IN FOUR DAYS. FUEL PUMP WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT TO BE THE PROBLEM. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES IN 7 DAYS AFTER THE $700 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. ALTHOUGH TECHNICIANS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP ME, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION, THE NHTSA SHOULD CONSIDER ANY VEHICLE THAT STOPS ON THE FREEWAY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU, IN ADVANCE, FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE..

STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO STEERING COLUMN BREAKING. ALSO, SEATBELT LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN. DEALER REPLACED SEATBELT, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH ANY PUDDLE MORE THAN 2-3 INCHES DEEP, POWER STEERING GOES OUT, BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND IF LIGHTS ARE ON THEY DIM DOWN ALMOST TO OFF. I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE IT RAINS A LOT EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IN MY AREA HAS STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL TO HIS DEALERSHIP (ATKINS KROLL, GUAM). THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

ENGINE HEAD PISTON BOLT BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN THE DAMAGE OF THE ENGINE PISTON. ALL MECHANICS I SPOKE TO SAID THAT IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN IF I WAS GOING AT SPEEDS OF EXCESS OF OVER 100 M.P.H. WHICH I WASN'T BECAUSE I STOPPED THE CAR QUICKLY ENOUGH TO STOP FURTHER PISTON DAMAGE. IF I DIDN'T, THE MECHANICS TOLD ME I MIGHT HAVE HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE OR SO THEY TOLD ME. PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THE ENGINE PISTON BOLT BREAKING IS A VERY, VERY RARE OCCURENCE AND THAT IT COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT SO I CAN BE ABSOLUTELY SURE IF IT WAS THE COMPANY'S FAULT OR MINE IN HAVING TO PAY $800.00 FOR SOMETHING I SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE PAID. THANK YOU.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW AND STAY THERE. THE WIPERS WOULD NOT PARK. I HAVE NOTICED 5 OTHER PONTIAC SUNFIRES ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEM LIKE I KEEP HAVING TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I REALLY THINK IT IS ODD THAT I SEE SO MANY OTHER SUNFIRES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL THERE WAS A LOUD RAMBLING NOISE. SHE LOOKED IN HER REARVIEW MIRRIOR AND SAW WHITE SMOKE THOUGH THE WINDOW. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF CAR AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. SHE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD. CAR WAS TURN OFF. SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AND LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED A BIG GIANT WHOLE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A PIPE WAS BUSTED, AND OIL WAS LEAK OUT FROM THE ENGINE.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONIC SENSOR MODULE FOR FUEL/AIR FLOW. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF THEM WITHIN A YEAR. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS REMAINS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING FRONT END COLLISON, INJURY FROM INCIDENT. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 40MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. CONSUMER HIT OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK

FRONT AND REAR STRUTS & MOUNTS FAILED &RATTLED PROBLEM STARTED IMMEIATELY, NOT PROPERLY IDENTIFIED UNTIL 60000, HAD TO PAY $700 TO FIX. FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. SEAT BELT SLIPS OUT OF ANCHOR AND IS PAINFUL TO REACH (SHORT DRIVER, SEAT MOVED UP). WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED STOPPING IN THE UP INSTEAD OF DOWN POSITION, BLOCK VISION.

WHILE DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH SHE HIT A GUARDRAIL AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

THIS CAR HAS BEEN MORE TROUBLE THAN IT IS WORTH. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE ALREADY AND NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN ALREADY. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I HAVE ANOTHER CRAKED HEAD GASKET, I REPLACED ONE TWO YEARS AGO JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED! *AK

THE INTAKE VALVE SPRING IN THE 3RD CYLINDER SNAPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

THE REAR HAZARD LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. A RECAL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON EARLIER MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

STEERING TO THE LEFT STARTED TO GET BAD AT 38,000 MILES. NOW THE CAR LOCKS UP AT ALL MOST EVERY LEFT HANDED TURN WAS ALMOST HIT 2 TIMES. NOT GOOD!

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN, THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHELL, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE'S, THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN THE BRAKES. ALSO, PANELS IN THE REAR ON BOTH SIDES KEEP COMING OFF. *AK

GM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ITS CONSUMERS. WHEN DRIVING MY 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THROUGH ANY WATER, EVEN A SMALL 3-5 FOOT WIDE PUDDLE OF ONLY 1-2 INCHES DEEP WATER, THE POWER STEERING BELT BECOMES WET AND STARTS SQUEALING LOUDLY. THE POWER STEERING THEN BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND VERY UNRESPONSIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR OVER A YEAR. DON BOHN AUTOPLEX SAYS THEY HAVE CONTACTED PONTIAC AND ALSO A GM MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE. DON BOHN REPORTS TO ME THAT PONTIAC AND GM DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME AND SAID NOTHING IS TO BE DONE. IT HAS BEEN SAID TO ME BY DON BOHN MANAGEMENT AND ALSO A PONTIAC REPRESENTATIVE ON THEIR 1-800 SERVICE NUMBER THAT THIS CONDITION OF THE POWER STEERING IS A 'CHARACTERISTIC' OF THE 1997 'J' BODY TYPE CARS OF GM AND THERE IS NO PRESENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOT ONLY WHEN IT RAINS BUT EVEN WHEN THERE IS A 'SMALL' PUDDLE ON THE HIGHWAY. EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE ONE YEAR LEFT ON MY MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY, PONTIAC AND GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHEN I MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT DON BOHN AUTOPLEX, EDDIE SATTLER (OR SADDLER) THAT I DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR HOME BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, HE GOT ANGRY AND THREATENED TO TOW MY CAR TO MY HOME IF I REFUSED TO TAKE DELIVERY. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND AM EXTREMELY DESPONDENT AND FRUSTRATED. PLEASE ADVISE OR HELP ME. THANK YOU. CARROLL ALBARADO

WHILE DRIVING PRIMARILY DOWN HILLVEHICLE ACCELERATES INDEPENDENTLY ABOUT 65 MPH. CONSUMER SAYS WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATES. *AK

NO SUMMARY

ENGINE SEIZES AT LOW SPEEDS ABOUT 40-45MPH, AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING AND ENTERING SLOWING OR STOPPED TRAFFIC. *ET

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY CAUSING THEM TO ENGAGE ALMOST EVERYTIME VEHICLE STOPS OR SLOWS DOWN. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND KICKED IN BUT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO SLIDE INTO AN INTERSECTION. NLM

TIRES COMPLETEY EXPLODED AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE RIMS, AND SINCE THE THIRD TIME I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. I HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF BRAKES PUT ON, WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR. I AM NOW HAVING TO FACE PAYING OVER $1000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, THE HEADLIGHTS HAD PROBLEMS NOT EVEN A MONTH AFTER I GOT THE CAR. THE RADIATOR HAD A WHOLE IN IT FROM A SCREW THAT CAME LOOSE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT WAS SHOT BACK UP INTO THE RADIATOR, THEY GOODWILLED THIS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL GM DEALER FOR ITS FIRST FRONT END ALIGNMENT AFTER PURCHASE. SERVICE CHECK BY DEALER FOUND LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER A FRAMES AND THE STABLIZER LINKS PLUS BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE AN ALIGNMENT COULD BE DONE. EST COST $350. UPON INVESTIGATION WHEN SPEAKING WITH MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A HIGH FAILURE ITEM. THE PERSONEL INFORMED ME THAT THEY REPLACED THESE CONTROL ARMS ALL THE TIME. THEY KNOW IT IS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH CUSTOMERS. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AS TO DATE CONCERNING THIS ITEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE CAN REPLACE JUST THE BUSHING , BUT THAT WOULD NOT LAST BUT A SHORT TIME AND THAT I WOULD BE BACK AGAIN. I HAVE EXAMINED THE CAR MYSELF AND I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE DESIGN OF THIS CONTROL ARM. I DO AGREE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT IS A POORLY DESIGNED CONTROL ARM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR PROPER REDESIGN AND REPAIR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 40MP SUNROOF SHATTERED. NOTHING HAD HIT IT. HAD HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE SUNROOF WAS NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. MANUFACTURER SENT OWNER TO AUTOMOBILE SUNROOF TO HAVE ONE INSTALLED (SKYMATE #H035765). *AK

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER A PARKING BARRIER AND INTO BUSHES WHERE THE OCCUPANT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. DEALER COULD NEITHER IDENTIFY NOR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. OWNER DID NOTE HOWEVER, THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS ON WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURED. *AK *ML

DAPHNE FERGUSON, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY TO RIGHT (DOMINANT) HAND WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING ACCIDENT

PASSENGERS MAIN SEAT SUPPORT BROKE, CAUSING THE METAL ROD TO PUNCH THROUGH THE BACK SEAT. NLM

ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED TWICE IN TWO MONTHS. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ON ICE ABOUT 40-45 MPH, BRAKES APPLIED, HITTING A PATCH OF ICE. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT A METAL MEDIUM HEAD-ON. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN ACCIDENT. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

LEASED 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE NEW IN DECEMBER 1996. HAVE HAD CONSISTENT LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT/OVERHEATING (EVEN IN -40C WEATHER), STRONG STENCH OF COOLANT IN CAR, CAUSING HEADACHES AND NAUSEA, SINCE CAR WAS FIRST PURCHASED. REPEATED VISITS TO DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR. NOW DEALER SAYS HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE. MAY NOT BE COVERED BY GM WARRANTY. *AK

CONSUMER HAS ABS BRAKES. WHILE SLOWING DOWN, BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. ALSO CAUSING STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

COMING TO A STOP ,APPLYING BRAKES LIGHTLY,THE BRAKES WILL SQUEAL AND LOCK UP. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING DEFECT. *AK

ENGINE SURGES INTERMITTENTLY, NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND DURING REPAIR DATES.