IllustrationI HAVE A 1993 PONTIAC SUBNBIRD, 2.2 L,AT,AC. I AHVE WENT THROUGH 3 BATTERIES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE ALTENATOR CHECKED AND IT CHECKED OUT GOOD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. *AK
1993 Pontiac Sunbird
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sunbird years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 37 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
6 reportsWHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A SHORT IN WIRING BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX AND A FIRE HAD STARTED. THE FIRE JUST BURNED THE WIRING AND SOME SMALL AREAS AROUND THE GLOVE BOX. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE RELAY SWITCH FOR THE AUTO LOCK SYSTEM WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE GLOVE BOX CAUSED THE FIRE. THE LOCK SYSTEM STARTED GIVING CONSUMER …
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WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A SHORT IN WIRING BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX AND A FIRE HAD STARTED. THE FIRE JUST BURNED THE WIRING AND SOME SMALL AREAS AROUND THE GLOVE BOX. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE RELAY SWITCH FOR THE AUTO LOCK SYSTEM WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE GLOVE BOX CAUSED THE FIRE. THE LOCK SYSTEM STARTED GIVING CONSUMER PROBLEMS A MONTH PRIOR TO FIRE, THEN STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF BEFORE THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER HAD SEEN SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN PULLED THE GLOVE BOX OUT AND SAW THE WIRES ON FIRE. *SCC
SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE.
CONSUMER CALLED AAA BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AAA JUMPED THE BATTERY, SAID THAT SOMETHING IS DRAINING, THE BATTERY THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT, BUT ASKED HER TO LET THE VEHICLE RUN ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER AAA LEFT, THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, THE FIRE WAS I…
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CONSUMER CALLED AAA BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AAA JUMPED THE BATTERY, SAID THAT SOMETHING IS DRAINING, THE BATTERY THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT, BUT ASKED HER TO LET THE VEHICLE RUN ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER AAA LEFT, THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, THE FIRE WAS IN THE DASH AREA. AFTER PUTTING FIRE OUT, THEY DISCOVERD A BOX OF WIRES UNDER DASH BEHIND GLOVE BOX, THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
HORN; FAILURE ON THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE HAD TO REPLACED TWO TIMES. *AK
ELECTRIC WIRING BURN UP. TT
Official recalls
293V190000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Nov 22, 1993
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VERY COLD WEATHER, WATER THATN ENTERS THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT FREEZES AND CAUSES THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO DEVELOP A HIGH EFFORT OR BINDING CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, LOSS OF NORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL CAN RESULT, OR THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, CAUSING POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL ASSEMBLY.
93V121000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jul 21, 1993
THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.