IllustrationPROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sunfire 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
30–25K
125–50K
1250–75K
675–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
120 reportsWHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH THERE WAS A PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT IMPACT, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. $ AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN. *AK
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. *AK (TIRESIZE: P19570R14)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 25 MPH IN WHICH PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG HAS DEPLOYED AND SHATTERED FRONT WINDSHIELD. ALSO, DAMAGED DASHBOARD. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
DEALER(TAYLOR CHEVROLET, LANCASTER, OH; PHONE# 740/653-2091) HAD INSTALLED AN AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH ON WRONG SIDE, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING WHICH AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED WITH SWITCH ON THE OFF MODE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REIMBURSED CONSUMER. *AK *SLC
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
SEVERE ENGINE HESITATION AFTER ACCELERATING WITH A COLD ENGINE. *AK
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: )
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: )
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: )
Official recalls
304V036000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.