We found the following complaints for PONTIAC SUNFIRE (1998)
Read complaints for PONTIAC SUNFIRE (1998)
Airbag light illuminates on the dashboard. Consumer has contacted dealer. Dealer statedairbag may not deploy when needed. Please provide further details.
Cars battery constantly ran down.battery was checked and was ok as it was three months old.repair station said the horn was shorted and the air bag is part of the horn switch and must be replaced.
Vehicle was rented from enterprise. Vehicle driven on interstate highway at night when it ran over some debris from prior accident on the road.debris struck undercarraige and the airbags on both sides deployed.injury caused to passenger who was looking in the glove box at the time of the incident. All occupants had seat belts on at the time. Car velocity at time of air bag deployment was 70 mph.after bag deployment the vehicle was driven to the side of the road and stopped by driver whose vison was badly obstructed by the airbag. No damage except to undercarraige and interior of the car was done.believe this isn't the way an air bag is supposed to work. I reported this to you earlier on a non standard form and when i reviewed your complaint list i didn't see it so i am resubmitting it on your own form. I was a section head of system safety at nwc china lake for 5 years and my professional opinion is that a single point failure caused the airbags to deploy and that the cause is very closely associated with the accelerometer system.i have done some research into it and have found accelerometer problems not only on this model but others. Matters of the accelerometer delaminating under environmental stress and the problem of stiction in the accelerometer elements are just two additional problems encountered with accelerometers put into automobiles by industry.compound that with an incomplete test/inspection and you have a disaster waiting to happen. I took the matter up with the current head of sytem safety at nwc, ken chirkis, and he agrees.in addition he suggested that we inform sato our travel people about the hazzard since the government rents this style of vehicle extensively and the 'fix' implemented for the 96 & 97 models apparent does't work for the 98.the navy has a requirement that for safety features a failure rate of 1x10e-6.this one failure alone would eliminate this vehicle. However it's also combined with another
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision of 25 mph inwhichpassenger's side air bag has deployed and shatteredfront windshield. Also, damageddashboard.dealer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.
While driving 25-30 mph there was a passenger's side front impact, and neither airbag deployed. $ amount of damageunknown.
Vehicle involved in a rear end collision, vehicle was traveling at 50 mph before driver applied brake and hit rear bumper of other vehicle. Both air bags did not deploy. Please feel free to provide any further details.
The vehicle rear ended another vehicle at 65 to 70mph and driver side airbag did not deploy.
While driving on a rural two lane road.consumerlost control of vehicle and was hit broadside on drivers side door by another vehicle. None of the vehicles airbags deployed resulting in a fatality.dealer has been contacted.please describe further. Ts
Consumer was in a front end accident that caused no damage to neither vehicle going about 10 mph and the air bag deployed and shattered the windshield. Dealer has been contacted.
Dealer(taylor chevrolet, lancaster, oh; phone# 740/653-2091) had installed an air bag on/off switch onwrong side, vehicle was involved in an accident during whichair bag ondriver's side deployed withswitch on the off mode. Dealer notified, and reimbursedconsumer.
While traveling at 30 mph on a gravel road bothpassenger's sideand driver's side airbags deployed. Causeunknown. Please provide any further information.
1998 pontiac sunfire gt anti-theft system won't disengage, car is dead. (when the anti-theft system is triggered, the fuel pump is shut off)it may have been triggered by using a copy of the original key.following manufacturer's instructions (turn on iignition for 10 min, turn off and turn on again) doesn't work.an internet search revealed that there are 1000s of people with the same problem with sunfire and other gm cars. I would like gm to acknowledge the problem and repair the faulty system.
When i bought the car used in october of 2000 it had to keep going back to the dealer for about 3 months because the engine in the car kept cutting out while driving around 55-60 mph. Dealer could not duplicate the problem. Finally after the 3rd month they found the main computer was bad. That was replaced.it ran fine until the next winter. The check engine light came on & car kept stalling when at stop signs/lights. Took to dealer had diagnostic ran which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor.... I replaced them myself. Check engine light went out till the next day. Took car back in for diagnostic which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor,egr ,coil packs,gas tank sensor.....had dealer work on it.... They could not see why all this stuff was popping up ....had it all replaced. Replacing it did not work. Check engine light came on again about 2 days later!!! i checked car over & found if you wiggled the main wiring harness connections the car ran fine & engine light went out! took to dealer to have wiring fixed. They took all the wiring apart & cleaned everything. They found no problem in the wiring. Check engine light came on next day.took to dealer again finally they said i needed a new battery..... Weather was nice again & had no problems with car.... Now that winter is here again the check engine light is on again , diagnostic stated tps sensor was bad... I again replaced it & check engine light went out for a couple hours & is back on again & car stalls when stopping & trying to go ....car is at dealer right now again. The whole time the check engine light is on i also have problems with the car stalling.................... Have had numerous problems from 2000 to now & still having problems.
I think you have a problem when you have a 2 year old car seems to be falling apart from the inside out.i originally owned my carfor 3 months when the temp. Gauge zeroed out from a shorted out fuse.the next problem was odometer went blank and showed me symbols in 05/1999, and the electrical cluster was replaced.later in 09/1999, my coolant system busted after a visit to the dealership, where i was told that cars are okay to reach the red line before it will overheat.most of the coolant system was replaced and tests done.i did not trust the work, and took it to another gmc dealer, to find that the coolant temp. Sensor needed replaced, just 2 days later.now in 08/2000, my odometer is showing the same old symbols, due to an electrical problem.my problem is electrical problems are right in front of me, and i am unaware of it.also, some dealerships don't care to find the bad things, when it is warranty work.wyatt johnson does not seem to be a people saving people establishment, if you cannot trust them to find their cars mistakes.
While driving the vehicle will shut down and the theft system light with start flashing will start again and but shut down againi was driving on a city street and had it at a dealer they replaced the ecu the gauges and the ignition they replaced the ecu 3 times with no avail this has happened to all 4 of my pontiacs
Vehicle was blowing 30 amp fuse going to rear defogger grid. Found melted insulation on 12 volt line and ground resulting in short circuit. Defogger grid still drawing enough current to melt insulation of 12 volt line. Disconnected rear defogger grid to prevent possible fire in dash.
Brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and rear defroster all stopped functioning.problem initially happened about 5 minutes after starting vehicle, but now is persistent and none of these items function posing a major safety hazard.
While driving about 15 mph vehicle stalled and battery light came on.
Horn relay failed.yh
When starting out, vehicle starts but when you push the accelerator it stalls, when you try to restart it keeps turning, it won't catch.it has also hesitated while driving at 30 mph and 60 mph.it has done this 15-20 times and been to the dealer at least 7 times.they say that there is nothing wrong, once they updated my computer, another time they replaced my computer,but it still stalls and hesitates.
Unable to remove key from ignition switch if steering column is not tilted or position in a certainway. Dealer was contacted. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.
Recall no. 04v036000, ignition switch:the dealer will not repair the recall because the vehicle is salvaged.since the dealer refused repair, vehicle doesn't start and can no longer be driven.*la
While trying to start vehicle and without warning steering component started to smoke. Vehicle was towed to dealers,mechanic informed consumer thatignition switch had melted ,no entry for key.
The ignition switch failed without warning.two months later a recall was issued and part repaired, however, the problem still existed.the consumer iwas concerned that the vehicle will catch fire.
I took my 98 sunfire in for service on a recall on the ignition switch.two days later i began to have problems with my starter.the dealer suggested a $400 replacement of my starter and an $855 replacement of my fly wheel.it seems very unlikely that this problem isn't related to their work on my car during the recall work.
Consumer's vehicle is not covered under the newmanufacturer's recall 02008concerning ignition switch, but it is expiriencing the same type of problem that recall states.
Was traveling 25mph andhad started smelling burning plastic.odor would come from an d through the vents. Had no cause of problem. Vehicle at dealership.
When vehicle was in parksteering column caught on fire, and could had caused injuries to consumer. Dealer notified.
Car is hazardous and unsafe to drive
My radio's lcd lighting is blurred and not properly lit with full digits. It blinks as though there is a short.it has been replaced 3 times already.the speakers also play inconsistantly even when balance is shown as equal setting.cd's will skip for no reason.the car will not start on first attempt after driving for a period of time or if it is extremely hot outside.in traffic, the car wants to overheat.the needle will rise to warning mark and car runs rough.sometimes a burning odor is detected.the left side front wheel sounds like metal on metal grinding.car feels wobbly.
Consumer states that vehicle had been shut off for about 4 hours, when suddenly the vehicle was filled with smoke.consumer states that the vehicles steering wheel melted.please provide any further information.
March 24, 2003dear sirs,i recently had a water pump failure on my 1998 sunfire convertible. The car has had a noise from the front of the engine for about a year, i thought it was an alternator bearing. The car has been in a gm dealer twice in that time for oil changes and of all the things the dealer has tried to sell me they never said anything was wrong with the water pump. On the night of friday, march 14th the car began leaking antifreeze and the noise increased.i live in south lyon, mi and the closest pontiac dealer is waldecker in brighton. I attempted to telephone waldecker several times on saturday, march 15th, but did not connect, because of a dead phone line at waldecker. I thought waldecker went out of business, since it is an oldsmobile dealer also. I later found, from the waldecker service manager ([xxx]) and the receptionist, that they were in fact having phone problems for several days. With no other pontiac dealers in the area, i refilled the radiator and took the car to walkers garage, the closest auto repair.the bill came to $700 parts and labor, i asked waldecker and they said it was a fair price.having to take the exhaust manifold off, access through the front cover of the engine, gear drive off the timing chain and the location above the cv joint is a poor design for a serviceable part. Vehicle description, 1998 sunfire convertible, currently: 42,000 milesvin# [xxx], 2.4 liter dohc engine.i called the pontiac 1-800 number and a representative told me the warranty was 3 years / 36,000 miles and the work was not performed by a pontiac dealer, so i had no recourse.i explain to no avail why the work was not done at a pontiac dealer.i am hoping you will reconsider this. Enclosed is the bill. Please contact me even if this claim is rejected. I expect better from the number 1 automate company in the world.sincerely, [xxx] , [xxx] phone:[xxx]*nlminformation redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I think you have a problem when you have a 2 year old car seems to be falling apart from the inside out.i originally owned my carfor 3 months when the temp. Gauge zeroed out from a shorted out fuse.the next problem was odometer went blank and showed me symbols in 05/1999, and the electrical cluster was replaced.later in 09/1999, my coolant system busted after a visit to the dealership, where i was told that cars are okay to reach the red line before it will overheat.most of the coolant system was replaced and tests done.i did not trust the work, and took it to another gmc dealer, to find that the coolant temp. Sensor needed replaced, just 2 days later.now in 08/2000, my odometer is showing the same old symbols, due to an electrical problem.my problem is electrical problems are right in front of me, and i am unaware of it.also, some dealerships don't care to find the bad things, when it is warranty work.wyatt johnson does not seem to be a people saving people establishment, if you cannot trust them to find their cars mistakes.
When i bought the car used in october of 2000 it had to keep going back to the dealer for about 3 months because the engine in the car kept cutting out while driving around 55-60 mph. Dealer could not duplicate the problem. Finally after the 3rd month they found the main computer was bad. That was replaced.it ran fine until the next winter. The check engine light came on & car kept stalling when at stop signs/lights. Took to dealer had diagnostic ran which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor.... I replaced them myself. Check engine light went out till the next day. Took car back in for diagnostic which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor,egr ,coil packs,gas tank sensor.....had dealer work on it.... They could not see why all this stuff was popping up ....had it all replaced. Replacing it did not work. Check engine light came on again about 2 days later!!! i checked car over & found if you wiggled the main wiring harness connections the car ran fine & engine light went out! took to dealer to have wiring fixed. They took all the wiring apart & cleaned everything. They found no problem in the wiring. Check engine light came on next day.took to dealer again finally they said i needed a new battery..... Weather was nice again & had no problems with car.... Now that winter is here again the check engine light is on again , diagnostic stated tps sensor was bad... I again replaced it & check engine light went out for a couple hours & is back on again & car stalls when stopping & trying to go ....car is at dealer right now again. The whole time the check engine light is on i also have problems with the car stalling.................... Have had numerous problems from 2000 to now & still having problems.
Consumer prefers to send a more detailed description of the engine failure.*nlm
Coolant had been leaking for over 3 months off and on. Put in stop leak for a temp fix. However dexcool continued to eat away at my coolant system. Car has overheated on many occasions. Finally able to use jb weld to fix leak .
When vehicle reached a normal temperature it caused hesitation.vehicle has been in dealer's shop on two occasions, and had the clutch replaced between 1500-2000 miles. However, problem has reoccurred. Dealer wanted to replace the clutch again. Seeking help in nhtsa in this matter.
I think you have a problem when you have a 2 year old car seems to be falling apart from the inside out.i originally owned my carfor 3 months when the temp. Gauge zeroed out from a shorted out fuse.the next problem was odometer went blank and showed me symbols in 05/1999, and the electrical cluster was replaced.later in 09/1999, my coolant system busted after a visit to the dealership, where i was told that cars are okay to reach the red line before it will overheat.most of the coolant system was replaced and tests done.i did not trust the work, and took it to another gmc dealer, to find that the coolant temp. Sensor needed replaced, just 2 days later.now in 08/2000, my odometer is showing the same old symbols, due to an electrical problem.my problem is electrical problems are right in front of me, and i am unaware of it.also, some dealerships don't care to find the bad things, when it is warranty work.wyatt johnson does not seem to be a people saving people establishment, if you cannot trust them to find their cars mistakes.
The coolant light has continuously flashed for the past few days. The vehichle was returned to dealership in order to fix. The manual states that coolant should only be replaced at 155,000 miles or every 5 years. This is the thirdincident, which leads me to believe that the vehicle has a major malfunction. The previous incident, the oil was in the coolant and the coolant was in the oil. I am in the process of discussing this situationwith the military legal services about my options. My vehichle should be ready this afternoon if the problem is fixed.
The temperature guage flutters from time to time. Then it will go all the way down to 0.when it starts to flutter again the engine seems to be racing. The tach. Guage will bounce about 200-300 prm. I also noticed that when the car is in park and you idle the engine up to about 3000 rpm, it acts like there is a rev limiter. It has never done that untill a few months ago. The check engin light has never come on until today. I changed plugs and plug wires and it didnt help at all.
Coolant had been leaking for over 3 months off and on. Put in stop leak for a temp fix. However dexcool continued to eat away at my coolant system. Car has overheated on many occasions. Finally able to use jb weld to fix leak .
Vehicle would stall out for no reason while driving about 40mph. Had vehicle towed 4 times to dealer for engine. No reason found for stalling. Problem not duplicated. Speed would vary when stalling occurred.
This problem has occured several times since original incident, almost everyday.the vehicle turns over many times before starting, and has stalled at intersections twice.it has been to the dealer two times in the past year for this problem, and each time they stated that they were unable to duplicate the problem.there are no certain conditions that this tends to happen in, they vary everytime.this is not necessarily a safety hazard, but more of a hassle to have a new car and these sort of problems.......
Car stalls at any speed while driving. Dealer serviced 3 times and still not fixed.dealer states they don't have any idea what else it could be.no error codes from modules.dt
Ongoing/intermittent problem with engine stalling during low/high speed from a stop position while turning; etc. Vehicle been in/out of dealer shop on several occasions, andproblem still reoccurring.
Vehicle stalls multiple times in reverse.normally does this when cold or has been sitting overnight.also has rough idle condition.sometimes vehicle malfunctions when wet also.took to dealership, they were unable to duplicate the problem, even when they allowed it to sit overnight.after taking car from dealership and parking it for about two hours, vehicle again stalled two times in reverse, and was also very hard to start.also, transmission growls when engine is running and parked on a incline.acellerator cable has stuck 3 times when i pass vehicles as well.
Severe engine hesitation after accelerating with a cold engine.
Consumer experiencing vehicle hesitation at random when vehicle is being used. Vehicle been/out of dealer shop more than three times and condition cannot be corrected.
Problem with car stalling, hesitating, and idling rougly.started about a year ago.was having this problem and received technical bulletin # 00032.took car in.one spark plug wire was replaced.a month later same problem.another spark plug wire was replaced.now, about eight months later...same problem except seems to be more extreme.replaced all spark plug wires on my own, but still having problems.this has been an on going problem for over a year and the dealership still has not been able to fix the problem.have become very disgusted with the dealership and no longer want to take my car there.this also seems very dangerous to me because i never know when my car might stall or hesistate.please give me some information on how i can fix this problem.obviously, this is in other cars to or they would not have sent out the technical bulletin.and plus, i read many complaints of the same problems on your complaint page.any assistance will be well appreciated.thanks.( dot number:)
This car has been stalling intermitantly.it has happened on most ocassions when making a slow turn (like from a stand still and turning at a light).it has had a tune up and still continues to do this.it has been to the dealers for about 2 weeks and they can find nothing wrong or recreate the problem.in my search on the net i have found numerous 1998 sunfire owners with the same problem.when the engine stalls the power stearing is affected and the car is dangerous.my daughter has this car in ga while attending college and has had to rent a car for the past 2 weeks.i hope this can be resolived soon.dt
While driving about 15 mph vehicle stalled and battery light came on.
Stalls intermittently. Manufacturer can't duplicate the problem. Been i to dealer 4 times.
The vehicle stalls at low speeds or stop and go traffic. *et
First this clicking/popping sound started coming from the steering wheel when you turn it at low speed. The mechanic said its the inner tie rods that need to be replaced. But to replace them you have to replace the whole steering assembly because there made as one piece. Then one month ago the car started shacking at idle speed. If you are in drive or nuetruel at a stop light standing still you could feel it shacking a little. The dealer said it could be anything from electric problems to coil problems. But just yesterday i was driving at night on the freeway going about 60mph when i saw smoke behind my car. I got on the shoulder and saw smoke comming out of the engine. Then i tried starting the car but it won't start. So i had it towed to my house. At my house i checked the engine with a flashlight and found a big hole (3-4 in diameter) in the engine by the dipstick. It seems that something got loose in the engine that made the car shacking and when it got lose it just flew out. Luckly it didn't when tru the hood. If anyone could help me please in finding maybe theres like a service bulletin or a recall for this problems. Also i will never buy any stupid pontiacs and won't reccomend one for anyone.
Problem with car stalling, hesitating, and idling rougly.started about a year ago.was having this problem and received technical bulletin # 00032.took car in.one spark plug wire was replaced.a month later same problem.another spark plug wire was replaced.now, about eight months later...same problem except seems to be more extreme.replaced all spark plug wires on my own, but still having problems.this has been an on going problem for over a year and the dealership still has not been able to fix the problem.have become very disgusted with the dealership and no longer want to take my car there.please give me some information on how i can fix this problem.obviously, this is in other cars to or they would not have sent out the technical bulletin.and plus, i read many complaints of the same problems on your complaint page.any assistance will be well appreciated.thanks.( dot number:)
The oil pressure switch went bad and pumped all the oil out of the engine ruining it within minutes with no warning to the operator.the pontiac dealer said there was no way for me to know what happened until it was too late.if i was not pulled over by a police officer telling me the car was smoking i would not have known until i stopped that i was smoking.i am alarmed pontiac has refused any blame for engineering an engine part to fail and ruin the engine without any prior indication.i had no option to try and prevent this problem.it is a defect in manufacturing to happen at 44,000 miles and ruin my engine.
Engine doesn't start all the time, i've had it in 3 times to be checked, they cannot duplicate problem.
When starting out, vehicle starts but when you push the accelerator it stalls, when you try to restart it keeps turning, it won't catch.it has also hesitated while driving at 30 mph and 60 mph.it has done this 15-20 times and been to the dealer at least 7 times.they say that there is nothing wrong, once they updated my computer, another time they replaced my computer,but it still stalls and hesitates.
Problem with car stalling, hesitating, and idling rougly.started about a year ago.was having this problem and received technical bulletin # 00032.took car in.one spark plug wire was replaced.a month later same problem.another spark plug wire was replaced.now, about eight months later...same problem except seems to be more extreme.replaced all spark plug wires on my own, but still having problems.this has been an on going problem for over a year and the dealership still has not been able to fix the problem.have become very disgusted with the dealership and no longer want to take my car there.this also seems very dangerous to me because i never know when my car might stall or hesistate.please give me some information on how i can fix this problem.obviously, this is in other cars to or they would not have sent out the technical bulletin.and plus, i read many complaints of the same problems on your complaint page.any assistance will be well appreciated.thanks.( dot number:)
Ongoing problem with engine starting, took several cranks beforeengine would start or not start at all. Dealer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.
Consumer noticed a very bad odor within the passenger compartment, causing the occupant to become sick. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer unable to determine the cause. Please provide any further details.
Consumer was having problems with the egr valve. Dealer notified.while driving the egr valve became stuck in the open position which caused the engine to rough or stall without warning.*ph *nlm
In my 98 sunfire gt i have some major problems with yet i still own the car. A little bit ago it seems like my exhaust pipe falls off from the exhaust manifold from the flange. With causing your car to sound like it was a drag racer. Well i went to pontiac and figured out that it was going to cost me a pretty penny $500 some odd dollars. And the funny thing is that this has not just happened to me. It has happened to a few of my friends as well. I don't how know many times you have gotten letters about the faulty exhaust flanges.
Seat belts have never fit properly.engage neck area rather than shoulder area of any size adult(we are average 5"8")-parking brake repaired in first six months of ownership asmaking strange twanging noises.problem returned recently (defective design?)and when changing tires recently we realised that the drivers side wheel would spin with brake "on"----the stereo display fails consistantly in hot weather.gm reman wait list is excessive(at least 6 months) for admitted defect by dealer personnel.
My radio's lcd lighting is blurred and not properly lit with full digits. It blinks as though there is a short.it has been replaced 3 times already.the speakers also play inconsistantly even when balance is shown as equal setting.cd's will skip for no reason.the car will not start on first attempt after driving for a period of time or if it is extremely hot outside.in traffic, the car wants to overheat.the needle will rise to warning mark and car runs rough.sometimes a burning odor is detected.the left side front wheel sounds like metal on metal grinding.car feels wobbly.
Brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and rear defroster all stopped functioning.problem initially happened about 5 minutes after starting vehicle, but now is persistent and none of these items function posing a major safety hazard.
I own a 1998 pontiac sunfire and have a problem with the daytime lights staying on even when the switch is turned to have the night time headlights on.it goes back and forth from day to night lights and will not stay on night when driving.
Problem with headlights and the daytime running lights intermittently switching back and forthwhile driving at night.dealer was contacted. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.
I own a 1998 pontiac sunfire.the failure is with the headlights/daytime running lights... The daytime running lights work fine, but at night, when i twist the lever to turn the headlights on, only my daytime running lights stay on and my headlights remain at about 1/2 brightness and the daytime running lights indicator stays on. (in otherwords, no change in the beams...) but then when i ever so slightly pull the lever back to go to flash my headlights, the daytime running lights indicator disappears and my headlights brighten to "normal, nighttime brightness, then if i pull lever back towards me even farther, the highbeams come on)... But the problem is... The lever won't stay on either nighttime or high beam modes at all. Once i let go of the lever it returns to daytime runninglights, even with the lever twisted all the way to have the headlights on.... I still only get the daytime running lights (drl)... . on occasion the headlights work ok to begin with, but as i am driving the "normal" lights click back off and its only the drl that are on.its very dangerous because the nightime tail lights are not on when the drl are only on.i also have a friend with a 97 pontiac sunfire and she is having the same problem with her drl/ and headlights.i have not yet corrected the problem, and i have researched it on the internet and others seem to be having the same problem.
Consumer states while driving vehicle the turn signals lights and the head lamp not working properly. Dealer replaced the dimmer switch four times and the problem is reocurring. Please provide further information. Ts
1998 pontiac sunfire gt anti-theft system won't disengage, car is dead. (when the anti-theft system is triggered, the fuel pump is shut off)it may have been triggered by using a copy of the original key.following manufacturer's instructions (turn on iignition for 10 min, turn off and turn on again) doesn't work.an internet search revealed that there are 1000s of people with the same problem with sunfire and other gm cars. I would like gm to acknowledge the problem and repair the faulty system.
Within the last 10,000 milesfuel pump was replaced four times. Every 2500 to 3000 miles the pump will malfunction. Contacted the dealer. However,problem recurred.
This concerns the fuel system on'98 (and similar year) pontiac sunfires.on december 29, 2003 this vehicle was taken in for replacement of the in-line fuel filter.the vehicle had been losing acceleration and has 78,000 miles on it.it was taken to a pontiac dealer for the service.the filter is connected to the fuel line with a'snap' fitting.upon trying to service the filter, either the dealer broke the snap fitting or the previous owner had damaged it (vehicle was purchased with 45,000 miles on it, and there were no leaks so i suspect that it wasn't damaged).also, there was a fair amount of corrosion on and in the fitting.in the end, the filter could not be replaced without correcting the 'snap'fitting.to my surprise the fuel line could not be replaced as a separate piece, you have to purchase the entire fuel delivery module.this cost (with the technician time) was $ 425 vs. $50 for a filter replacement. It would seem to me that since the filter is a critical part of the system (a clogged filter could result in vehicle stalls and/or no starts, emission issues etc.) that it should have some sort of reasonable way to replace it without paying for an entire module that was not needed.the filter is a recommended service item.
After air conditioner is cut off the speedometer gets fogged up.
When i bought the car used in october of 2000 it had to keep going back to the dealer for about 3 months because the engine in the car kept cutting out while driving around 55-60 mph. Dealer could not duplicate the problem. Finally after the 3rd month they found the main computer was bad. That was replaced.it ran fine until the next winter. The check engine light came on & car kept stalling when at stop signs/lights. Took to dealer had diagnostic ran which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor.... I replaced them myself. Check engine light went out till the next day. Took car back in for diagnostic which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor,egr ,coil packs,gas tank sensor.....had dealer work on it.... They could not see why all this stuff was popping up ....had it all replaced. Replacing it did not work. Check engine light came on again about 2 days later!!! i checked car over & found if you wiggled the main wiring harness connections the car ran fine & engine light went out! took to dealer to have wiring fixed. They took all the wiring apart & cleaned everything. They found no problem in the wiring. Check engine light came on next day.took to dealer again finally they said i needed a new battery..... Weather was nice again & had no problems with car.... Now that winter is here again the check engine light is on again , diagnostic stated tps sensor was bad... I again replaced it & check engine light went out for a couple hours & is back on again & car stalls when stopping & trying to go ....car is at dealer right now again. The whole time the check engine light is on i also have problems with the car stalling.................... Have had numerous problems from 2000 to now & still having problems.
Consumer was traveling about 25mph on a side streetengine check lightcame on,brakes became stiff, andpanel board light was very dim.
My 1998 pontiac sunfire convertible, hinges have created holes in the inside top, rear of the car.
Seat belts have never fit properly.engage neck area rather than shoulder area of any size adult(we are average 5"8")-parking brake repaired in first six months of ownership asmaking strange twanging noises.problem returned recently (defective design?)and when changing tires recently we realised that the drivers side wheel would spin with brake "on"----the stereo display fails consistantly in hot weather.gm reman wait list is excessive(at least 6 months) for admitted defect by dealer personnel.
While driving the vehicle will shut down and the theft system light with start flashing will start again and but shut down againi was driving on a city street and had it at a dealer they replaced the ecu the gauges and the ignition they replaced the ecu 3 times with no avail this has happened to all 4 of my pontiacs
The contact owns a 1998 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the shift cable was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 101,000.updated 12/21/12updated 1/14/2013
Problems have ranged from ets buttom light on, passanger window failure to close (3times), transmission (4 times), water leakage into the interior due convertible top, acceleration and\or decceleration driving dow hill, the first transmission problem was before the vehicle reached the 30,000 miles.mr
Transmission design allows for the vehicle to roll when releasing brake pedal on inclines. Transmission replaced for this problem and slipping out of gear, however continues to roll.
The coolant light has continuously flashed for the past few days. The vehichle was returned to dealership in order to fix. The manual states that coolant should only be replaced at 155,000 miles or every 5 years. This is the thirdincident, which leads me to believe that the vehicle has a major malfunction. The previous incident, the oil was in the coolant and the coolant was in the oil. I am in the process of discussing this situationwith the military legal services about my options. My vehichle should be ready this afternoon if the problem is fixed.
Major slipping in 2nd to 3rd gear, sluggesh in first gear.no warning.
When vehicle reached a normal temperature it caused hesitation.vehicle has been in dealer's shop on two occasions, and had the clutch replaced between 1500-2000 miles. However, problem has reoccurred. Dealer wanted to replace the clutch again. Seeking help in nhtsa in this matter.
Consumer complains of the driver side seat belt.the retainer broke apart and separated from the buckle.*jg
I was using the cinching latch plate to keep my child's car seat tightened.fortunately, the day it broke we were looking at cars.we traded in our sunfire that day.i am terrified to think what would have happened had we been in an accident!i had re-installed the car seat, tightened it, and wiggled the seat once to make sure it was secure.i heard a pop and the seat moved a foot.my front passenger's seat belt had the same problem, but it wasn't as big of a deal to me--it wasn't holding a car seat secure!nlm
Seat belts have never fit properly.engage neck area rather than shoulder area of any size adult(we are average 5"8")-parking brake repaired in first six months of ownership asmaking strange twanging noises.problem returned recently (defective design?)and when changing tires recently we realised that the drivers side wheel would spin with brake "on"----the stereo display fails consistantly in hot weather.gm reman wait list is excessive(at least 6 months) for admitted defect by dealer personnel.
There was a plastic piece on the buckle that kept the lap belt in place when the seat belt was fastened. Both front seat belt plastic pieces broke upon fastening the seat belt.when this occurred the lap belt slid freely back and forth and failed to restrain the occupants.*sc
The rear seat belts when car is cold will not come out. This has been an ongoing issue, with small children that need to be seatbelted.
Consumer called complainingabout having problem with the vehicle seat back collapse. Dealer has been notified. Tsvehicle was rear-ended and seat backs were thrown forward then collapsed into recline position. Driver and passenger sustained injuries.
The design of the head rest causes a blind spot and will not stay when raised.
Brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and rear defroster all stopped functioning.problem initially happened about 5 minutes after starting vehicle, but now is persistent and none of these items function posing a major safety hazard.
When applying brakes the vehicle continued to coast, as a result the vehicle experienced extended stopping distance.
Lost brakes in my 1998 pontiac sunfire when braking on an expressway exit ramp.this was a very unsafe condition, but was able to avert a collision.the left rear brake line (hydraulic) corroded through and caused a large leak, leaving marginal brakes.
While applying the brakes there is vibration which may cause loss of vehicle control.dealer cannot determine the problem. Please provide further information.
My abs brake module went out, along with my regular brakes as well. If my car goes over 30 miles per hour, the car skids to a stop and my tires lock up.my car is just out of warranty andi know gm has a"code a" that covers repair if the vehicle is out of warranty, but the car doesn't yet have 60,000 miles on it.only a gm dealership can fix it, but they won't cover it under code a.i took it to another repair shop and they told me that something in my car's system caused the abs brake module go out, so there techinically is something wrong with my car, it isn't just that the part went out.i have talked to pontiac repeatedly for over the past month, and although they admit this shouldn't happen to my car with only 48,00 miles on it, they refuse to repair it for me under code a.obviously there is a defect in my car, however, they won't do anything about it.i don't want to give any more money to gm because they obviously are of no help, but i can't even get my car repaired by a regular mechanic because only the dealership can fix the abs brake module.i would like to report gm for not repairing a defect in my car, because i literally have no brakes left in my car, and they refuse to do anything about it.my car is just out of warranty, and i don't understand why they won't own up to the fact that my car is defective if it is my car's system causing the highly priced abs brake module to go out, it's not just "normal wear and tear."i think my car, as well as ohter pontiacs are defective, and i would like for something to be done about it.thank you.
My daughter was driving my 1998 pontiacsunfire and had a collision with another car.she reported that the brakes failed and would not stop the car at all.we have also reported to the dealer on multiple occasions that the gas pedal getsstuck. This may have also contributed to the collision. *nlm
When applying the brakes on wet pavement brakes failed, causing extended stopping distance.the vehicle has been taken to the dealer, but no problem has been found. *ml
Rear brakes lock up after getting wet.we have had the car to the dealership three times for the same problem.the first two times they said it was brake dust, cleaned and adjusted brakes.the third incident they could not duplicate the problem so as far as they are concerned it does not exist.
Abs brakesfailed 50% of the time when the brake pedal was depressed. When this failure occurred, vehicle slowed down, but then the front brakes released,and vehicle continued to roll forward.rear brakeswere the only brakes stopping the vehicle. Dealership serviced the vehicle several times for this issue, but only performed a brake adjustment. The problem still exists.
Consumer was traveling about 25mph on a side streetengine check lightcame on,brakes became stiff, andpanel board light was very dim.
Whenever it rains, and a couple of days, rear brakes/abslockup. Consumer will not drivecar because of this situation, dealer could not duplicateproblem, andwon't repair it.
Consumer states that while drivingabs light would come on. Dealer notified.
Vehicle involved in a rear end collision, vehicle was traveling at 50 mph before driver applied brake and hit rear bumper of other vehicle. Both air bags did not deploy. Please feel free to provide any further details.
While going 15mph applied brakes & vehicle would jerk, and would fail to stop. Whenever turning, vehicle would be thrown 10 feet to white marking when using brakes. Taken to dealer 5 times for problem which was suppose to have been repaired. Problem still exists.
The contact owns a 1998 pontiac sunfire. While driving less than15 mph, the contact was unable to turn left. The contact vehicle became difficult to steer. The contact had to reverse and reposition the vehicle to make the turn. The contact called the dealer who referred him to the manufacturer. The contact referenced recall 02v286000 (steering: rack and pinion) but the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included. The failure occurred several times in a day. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 97,000.
Vehicle experienced the same defect with its steering as stated in recall 02 v 286 000. But thisvehicle was not included in recall due to vin.
While driving the vehicle will shut down and the theft system light with start flashing will start again and but shut down againi was driving on a city street and had it at a dealer they replaced the ecu the gauges and the ignition they replaced the ecu 3 times with no avail this has happened to all 4 of my pontiacs
Apparently, their is a known issue w/the 98 pontiac sunfire steering rack and pinion gear making it feel like their is a total loss of power steering, even though the power steering pump is working properly. I purchased this car in january of 2011 off a little old lady, who kept it in a garage and barely drove it, the car only had 51,000 miles on it. She advised that she didn't know of any recalls, so she didn't take it in for any of the recall repairs. I have check the nhtsa website as well as several other reputable sites and have found their have been several recalls on this vehicle. However, upon calling pontiacs recall hotline, they are telling me that these recalls on your website never existed for my 98 pontiac sunfire and went on to say that you can believe every thing you read on the internet (how funny, your average moron could have figured that out). But regardless, it appears that pontiac is saying that they will not fix these recalls. Please investigate and let me know if my concerns are legitimate. I don't want to pay for a repair, when the car should have been fixed under their recall. Thanks.
A clicking noise was coming from the steering column. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs twice, and results indicated that the steering column needed to be greased, otherwise the consumer could lose steering while driving.the noise was the sound of metal on metal.gm was aware of the problem. *sc
Steering wheel is loose and tilt steering mechanism has slipped out of position while driving. Also, accelerator stuck while driving at 40 mph.
Nhtsa recall campaign 02v286000; general motors issued a steering assembly recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin.but at certain times the power steering failed when making turns, making the ability to maneuver the vehicle difficult, andincreasing the risk of a crash.vehicle power steering performs like it has no power stering , just like recall describes. Dealer refused to take action cause vin is not in lot of #'s recalled.
Dt*: the contact stated six to eight months ago, when turning left, a pop was heard in the steering column.since that time, the steering has been harder to maneuver.the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined the rack and pinion and power steering hose needed to be replaced.
First this clicking/popping sound started coming from the steering wheel when you turn it at low speed. The mechanic said its the inner tie rods that need to be replaced. But to replace them you have to replace the whole steering assembly because there made as one piece. Then one month ago the car started shacking at idle speed. If you are in drive or nuetruel at a stop light standing still you could feel it shacking a little. The dealer said it could be anything from electric problems to coil problems. But just yesterday i was driving at night on the freeway going about 60mph when i saw smoke behind my car. I got on the shoulder and saw smoke comming out of the engine. Then i tried starting the car but it won't start. So i had it towed to my house. At my house i checked the engine with a flashlight and found a big hole (3-4 in diameter) in the engine by the dipstick. It seems that something got loose in the engine that made the car shacking and when it got lose it just flew out. Luckly it didn't when tru the hood. If anyone could help me please in finding maybe theres like a service bulletin or a recall for this problems. Also i will never buy any stupid pontiacs and won't reccomend one for anyone.
This is an ongoing problem with my steering column.when i turn my steering wheel to the right or left, it makes a bumping noise.it happens every time the wheel is turned to the right or left.it sounds like something is knocking.
Dt*: the contact stated six to eight months ago, when turning left, a pop was heard in the steering column.since that time, the steering has been harder to maneuver.the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined the rack and pinion and power steering hose needed to be replaced.
On 9/5/02 my car was involved in an accident which totally destroyed it. Accident was caused when i was slowly making a left turn, suddenly i experienced loss of power making it very hard to maneuver car due to high resistance. I was going south, and when i started to make left turn, north bound was free and clear, but because the length of time i spent trying to control my vehicle, another car going north approached the intersection where i was and could not avoid hitting the other car causing the crash. I spent my entire savings to purchase this car from a pontiac dealer, and this accident that left me without transportation, caused the lost of my job and many other hardships. Then on january 2003, pontiac decides to send me a recall letter, which was too late for me. My question is what took pontiac such a long time to issue the recall notice? if they had done it earlier, i would have never purchase this used vehicle in 2002. Four years is a long time and i am sure there must have been numerous accidents, hope they were as lucky as me who is alive to tell the story. Now for my rights..... What are they in this situation? as i said before, this "minor mistake of gm" left me without car, without savings and without a job. I strongly believe that gm should compensate me with an equal car or the equivalent for me to purchase another car, it is only fair. Iftheproblem was made publicin 1999 or 2000 i would not be in this predicament. Please present my complaint to the manufacturer and advise me on how to proceed in order to be reimbursed for the damages this "minor defect"had caused me. I desperately need a car to be able to get to a job. Please help me! thank you.(by the way, it took me a while to find you) (don't know what eom means, i checked no, but don't know the answer).*nlm
This is an ongoing problem with my steering column. When i turn my steering wheel to the right or left, it makes a bumping noise. It happens every time the wheel is turned to the right or left. Now it has gone out and the recalls r the same but they say it does not cover my car i need to know how this is going to be fixed.
Recall #02-v-286-000 the recall regarding the rack and pinion failed, after the recall was performed.
Considerably leaky; leaving outrageous mildew smells; constitutesa safety problem.
She was involved in a accident where the lady hit her on the drivers side of the car. I have seen on tv where this car has a very bad side impact rating, and also on this website. The woman who hit her got two broken legs, the driver of the pontiac sunfire died. She suffered a broken brain stem, pelvis, arms, and femur. *la
The coolant light has continuously flashed for the past few days. The vehichle was returned to dealership in order to fix. The manual states that coolant should only be replaced at 155,000 miles or every 5 years. This is the thirdincident, which leads me to believe that the vehicle has a major malfunction. The previous incident, the oil was in the coolant and the coolant was in the oil. I am in the process of discussing this situationwith the military legal services about my options. My vehichle should be ready this afternoon if the problem is fixed.
My 1998 pontiac sunfire convertible, hinges have created holes in the inside top, rear of the car.
1998 sunfire began to make clunking noises on front right side.upon visual investigation, it was found that the frame component was completely rusted through and separated.this could be a very dangerous problem under the right circumstance.i have sent digital files to your webmaster email to show exactly what has happened as i feel that there should be a recall immediately , as this is a serious safety matter.
Anytime when making a turn the steering wheel is making an awful grinding noise.has been to the dealer at least 5 times.
The vehicle's suspension makes a dull clunking sound when driven on gravel road surfaces.when brought to the attention of the dealer, other new sunbirds were tested and same problem was found.
Wqhile drivingat 60 pmh driver heard noise from rear left tire. Consumer pulled over in noticed a blown tire.
Seat belts have never fit properly.engage neck area rather than shoulder area of any size adult(we are average 5"8")-parking brake repaired in first six months of ownership asmaking strange twanging noises.problem returned recently (defective design?)and when changing tires recently we realised that the drivers side wheel would spin with brake "on"----the stereo display fails consistantly in hot weather.gm reman wait list is excessive(at least 6 months) for admitted defect by dealer personnel.
Tire blowout on rt. 287, clearr road.there is a slice on sidewall of left rear tire . We questioned its safety and have not been given any help.there was no road hazard involved.(tiresize: p19570r14)
Consumer was traveling about 25mph on a side streetengine check lightcame on,brakes became stiff, andpanel board light was very dim.
While driving vehicle accelerator stuck while braking for a stop on two occasions,dealer claim the problem was a faulty cruise control cable on an aftermarket cruise control they installed at the time of delivery.*et
The accelerator pedal stuck while driving. When trying to use the brake the car still will not stop.
Steering wheel is loose and tilt steering mechanism has slipped out of position while driving. Also, accelerator stuck while driving at 40 mph.
When depressinggas pedal consumer has to push to floorboard very hard to gain speed. Please provide further information.
My daughter was driving my 1998 pontiacsunfire and had a collision with another car.she reported that the brakes failed and would not stop the car at all.we have also reported to the dealer on multiple occasions that the gas pedal getsstuck. This may have also contributed to the collision. *nlm
Intermittently when accelerating the vehicle will idle and won't move,and suddenly take off. The dealer has not been able to duplicate the problem.
Accelerator stops while in the middle of driving, at any given speed. The vehicle won't cut off, but there is no power to accelerate when this happens. Sometime acceleration comes back after the gas pedal has been released and reapplied.dealer can't find the problem.
Consumer went to open passenger's door when the passenger's side window exploded , shattering glass inside and outside of vehicle, causing injuries.
The driver side wheel lock up causing a accident.please fill in additional information. Dealer is aware of the problem.ph
1998 pontiac sunfire making a right turn 30 mph when all wheel lug bolts broke on right front wheel and wheel came off. Wheel got stuck under car. No steering and braking was limited. Car went off the road.with the help of the rear emergency brake the car was stopped. Fortunately no injuries. Damage to disk brake, large dent in fender and bumper. Nhtsa recall 97v219000 indicates similar problem for 1998 pontiac sunfire.wheel holes were perfectly round indicating the wheel nuts were not loose.car front wheels had been serviced 6 months earlier for new brakes. When i called pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 they indicated there was no recall for this car involving wheel lug bolts and said there is nothing they can do.
Consumer states that the wheels studs are so flimsy,that they break very easily when being tighten. Had 6 studs replaced.nlm
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