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 42 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 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 reports0 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
42 reports
109,000 miles · Aug 9, 2006
Structure
JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN A GRINDING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR(94 PONTIAC SUNBIRD)IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,REAR OF CAR WAS SWERVING DANGEROUSLY,LOOKED UNDER THE CAR IN THE REAR, AND THERE WAS A GAPING HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE WHEEL WELL WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBER ATTACHES TO THE BODY,OPE…
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JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN A GRINDING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR(94 PONTIAC SUNBIRD)IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,REAR OF CAR WAS SWERVING DANGEROUSLY,LOOKED UNDER THE CAR IN THE REAR, AND THERE WAS A GAPING HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE WHEEL WELL WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBER ATTACHES TO THE BODY,OPENED THE TRUNK AND THE LEFT REAR SHOCK HAD BROKEN THROUGH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HOUSE, I PROCEEDED TO LOOK AT THE RIGHT SIDE AND THAT SIDE IS ABOUT READY TO BREAK THROUGH TOO, MAKING FOR A MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION, A BODY SHOP HAS STATED THAT IF THE OTHER HAD BROKE AT THE SAME TIME THE WHOLE REAR WOULD HAVE COME OUT, PROBABLY CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH, WITH TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NOW THIS CAR IS NOT A RUST BUCKET BY ANY MEANS AND HAS ONLY 109,00 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10165084
110,000 miles · Mar 10, 2006
Steering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 94V115000, REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES KNUCKLE SPINDLE ARM. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10152424
94,000 miles · Sep 5, 2003
Power Train
2.0L ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION--TRAMISSION (AFTER 2+ HOURS OF DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS) FAILS TO DISENGAGE FROM ELECTRONIC TORQUE CONVERTER/OVER-DRIVE DURING SLOWING TO A STOP AND STALLS ENGINE. *AK I HAVE COMPLAINED TO GMC DEALER--EVEN SPENT 400 DOLLARS FOR TUNE-UP SINCE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE STALL. A CHECK WITH L…
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2.0L ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION--TRAMISSION (AFTER 2+ HOURS OF DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS) FAILS TO DISENGAGE FROM ELECTRONIC TORQUE CONVERTER/OVER-DRIVE DURING SLOWING TO A STOP AND STALLS ENGINE. *AK I HAVE COMPLAINED TO GMC DEALER--EVEN SPENT 400 DOLLARS FOR TUNE-UP SINCE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE STALL. A CHECK WITH LOCAL 'SHADE-TREE' MECHANIC YEILDED THE FOLLOWING--- COMMON PLACE FOR THE ELECTRONIC TORQUE CONVERTER (ON 2.0 L MITUISHBISHI AUTOMATIC USED IN CHEVY; BUICK; AND PONITAC) NOT TO DISENGAGE. RECOMMENDS A OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER. WHILE THIS MAY NOT CAUSE A CRASH--THIS IS CAUSE FOR ALARM WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN BY TEENAGER(RELATIVE NEW DRIVER).
NHTSA ODI #10037301
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
AT 25MPH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SAID THAT SINCE SHE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE TIRE KINGDOM, TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD, …
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AT 25MPH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SAID THAT SINCE SHE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE TIRE KINGDOM, TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD, SO SHE HAD THEM FIXED AND SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE WORKED THE SAME SINCE. ALSO THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING (FOR THE PAST 2YRS)/FEELS CAR IS NOT SAFE.*SCC
NHTSA ODI #8013229
Mileage unknown · May 9, 2001
Power Train
DURING LEFT HAND TURNS AND ROADS WITH HARD LEFT CURVES DRIVERS RIGHT KNEE CAN DEPRESS SHIFTER DETENT AND PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, CAUSING ABRUPT LOSS OF SPEED/CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745126
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #744388
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE CAR EMITTS AN ANTIFREEZE ODOR & BURNING ODOR WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES. I RETURNED CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE ODOR. MECHANICS REPORT NO DEFECTS AFTER CHECKING THE LINES. ODORS STILL PERSISTS-SOURCE UNFOUNDED. BOTH SEATS PROJECT FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP @ANY SPEED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #736433
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Service Brakes, AirCrash
CAR WAS FOR DAUGHTER. SHE WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING. SHE CAME TO A CURVE AND PRESSED HER BRAKES BUT NO RESPONSE. THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED INTO A DITCH. SHE WAS VERY LUCKY THAT SHE WALKED AWAY AND THAT NO ONE ELSE IN CAR. POLICE AND DRIVER OF TOW TRUCK TRIED BRAKES AND BOTH CONFIRMED THAT …
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CAR WAS FOR DAUGHTER. SHE WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING. SHE CAME TO A CURVE AND PRESSED HER BRAKES BUT NO RESPONSE. THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED INTO A DITCH. SHE WAS VERY LUCKY THAT SHE WALKED AWAY AND THAT NO ONE ELSE IN CAR. POLICE AND DRIVER OF TOW TRUCK TRIED BRAKES AND BOTH CONFIRMED THAT BRAKES WERE OUT SO NO TICKET WAS GIVEN. INSURANCE HAD IT CHECKED OUT WEEKS LATER AND BRAKES WERE OK. CAR WAS TOTAL.
NHTSA ODI #730528
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Tires
CONSUMER WAS COMING OFF HIGHWAY, COMING TO A STOP SIGN, HEARD A HORRIBLE NOISE, IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE STARTING TO COME UP THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD OF VEHICLE, TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID A FRAME BROKE. CONSUMER FELT IF ON HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #869016
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Tires
TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-75 NEAR SARASOTA, I TOOK TO FIRESTONE AT EXIT 37 OFF I-75, SAID IT WAS NOT PART OF RECALL & MADE ME PAY FOR NEW TIRE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15 )
THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE TIRE-WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE DRIVE AXLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
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
1
PE94042 · Horn Button Falling Off
Opened May 23, 1994 · Closed Sep 29, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available
1994 Pontiac Sunbird Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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