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1998 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

32 reports with mileage · 88 unknown

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

32 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 N…

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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

NHTSA ODI #769541

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STARTING, TOOK SEVERAL CRANKS BEFORE ENGINE WOULD START OR NOT START AT ALL. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011449

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 PA…

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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.*AK

NHTSA ODI #761728

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

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.…

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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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757958

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 UNT…

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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.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747703

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

SEVERE ENGINE HESITATION AFTER ACCELERATING WITH A COLD ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747548

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 …

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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.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #743620

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 …

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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: )

NHTSA ODI #743619

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 …

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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. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #743618

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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 CAR FOR 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 …

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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 CAR FOR 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.

NHTSA ODI #729299

Official recalls

3

04V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jan 27, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

02V286000 · Steering:rack And Pinion

Nov 4, 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

97V219000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF ALL WHEEL NUTS AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN ANY THAT MAY BE BELOW REQUIRED TORQUE.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.