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1999 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →
93Owner complaints

Model-year median: 77

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
201
1996190
1997120
199893
199996
200066
200182
2002
Compare all Sunfire years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
21Engine And Engine Cooling
17Air Bags
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Power Train
8
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
7Exterior Lighting
6Steering
6Visibility
6Suspension
5Seats
4Structure
4Interior Lighting
2Seat Belts
2Service Brakes, Air
2Tires
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Engine
1Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

27 reports with mileage · 66 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED DOWN A HILL DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES LOCKED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE DUST WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DUST WAS REMOVED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN TWO WE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED DOWN A HILL DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES LOCKED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE DUST WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DUST WAS REMOVED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10368095

30,000 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES KEEP COMING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. WHEN I STOP OR HIT THE BREAKS JUST RIGHT THEY DON'T CATCH AND I TEND TO KEEP GOING FORWARD THEN STOP. ALMOST GOT IN A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS, BUT I GOT LUCKLY. TRIED CHANGING THE HARDWARE, STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BRAKES SQUEAL AND GRIND. IT'S NOT SAFE. TIRED OF FIGURING OUT WHAT D…

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REAR BRAKES KEEP COMING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. WHEN I STOP OR HIT THE BREAKS JUST RIGHT THEY DON'T CATCH AND I TEND TO KEEP GOING FORWARD THEN STOP. ALMOST GOT IN A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS, BUT I GOT LUCKLY. TRIED CHANGING THE HARDWARE, STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BRAKES SQUEAL AND GRIND. IT'S NOT SAFE. TIRED OF FIGURING OUT WHAT DO ABOUT THEM. IT'S BEEN ON GOING FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025348

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD WORE CONTINUOUSLY AND CAUSED A ROARING NOISE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019591

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUCTIONED, EVERYTHING LOCKS UP AS IF VEHICLE WAS BEING STOLEN.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016297

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

ROTORS IN THE FRONT FREQUENTLY HAVE TO BE CHANGED DUE TO FRONT HUBS BEING TOO SMALL. ORIGINAL LUGS WERE DAMAGED BECAUSE ROTORS DIDN'T FIT RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO SIDE AND MAKING A POPPING NOISE. DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE ON A BUMPY ROAD, AND DIDN'T HEAR THE POPPING NOISE. DEALER STATED NOISE WAS COMING FROM CONVER…

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ROTORS IN THE FRONT FREQUENTLY HAVE TO BE CHANGED DUE TO FRONT HUBS BEING TOO SMALL. ORIGINAL LUGS WERE DAMAGED BECAUSE ROTORS DIDN'T FIT RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO SIDE AND MAKING A POPPING NOISE. DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE ON A BUMPY ROAD, AND DIDN'T HEAR THE POPPING NOISE. DEALER STATED NOISE WAS COMING FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP.

NHTSA ODI #8001184

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745451

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

GENERATOR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. REAR AND FRONT BRAKES SQUEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740512

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE, A FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE CONNECTING THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROLLER WAS LEAKING FLUID WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE DEFECTIVE FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE WAS OBSERVED TO PERMIT BRAKE FLUID TO PASS THROUGH THE LINE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #558971

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI- LOCK BRAKES ARE VERY MESSED UP, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HAVE SEVERAL WRECKS, HAVE CONTACTED DEALER, SAYS THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES TO BE FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737989

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

BRAKES DON'T WANT TO WORK RIGHT, SOFT PEDAL; BAD ODOR WENT AIR OR FAN IS RUNNING;DOORS SQUEAK:UNGOING PROBLEM SINCE A MONTH AFTER I GOT THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #707873

Official recalls

2

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.

99V218000 · Interior Lighting

Aug 11, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING MAY NOT FUNCTION AFTER ADJUSTING THE INTERIOR LIGHT INTENSITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT LIT AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.

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.