REAR WINDSHIELD IMPLODED, AIR CONDITIONING AND REAR DEFROSTER WERE ON. *AK
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 →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
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.
Visibility complaints
6 reportsTHE INSTRUMENT PANEL REFLECTS AT EYE LEVEL ON THE FRONT WINDOWSHIELD, I UNDERSTAND SOME REFLECTIONS COMES WITH ALL CARS, BUT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, YOU HAVE A VIRTUAL REALITY EFFECT. YOU CAN SEE THE COMPLETE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ESPECIALLY ON DARK UN-LITE ROADS. THE FINAL ANSWER FROM GROSSINGER MANAGER WAS TO TURN THE PANEL LIGHT…
Read full complaint
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REFLECTS AT EYE LEVEL ON THE FRONT WINDOWSHIELD, I UNDERSTAND SOME REFLECTIONS COMES WITH ALL CARS, BUT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, YOU HAVE A VIRTUAL REALITY EFFECT. YOU CAN SEE THE COMPLETE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ESPECIALLY ON DARK UN-LITE ROADS. THE FINAL ANSWER FROM GROSSINGER MANAGER WAS TO TURN THE PANEL LIGHT DOWN. THE MAN IS A COMPLETE FOOL, BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE NIGHT REFLECTION IS REDUCE THE PANEL LIGHT OFF. THE REFLECTION ALSO OCCURS DURING THE DAY, AT CERTAIN ANGLES THE SUN PLACES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RIGHT IN YOU FACE. A LITTLE HISTORY, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT REFLECT AT NIGHT, IF IT REFLECTED AT DAY, I DID NOT NOTICE IT, YOU ONLY SAW THE DEFROST VENT, A SOME OF THE DASH, NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I HAD THEM INSTALL AN ALARM SYSTEM. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEM STARTED. WHEN ASKED IF THE DASH WAS IN CORRECT, THE TOLD ME IT WAS PROPERLY ADJUSTED. WHEN ASKING ABOUT THE REFLECTION, THEY SAID PONTIAC SPECIALIST SAW THIS AS NORMAL, THE MOST A FLAW IN DESIGN, BUT NOTHING HARMFUL, AND NOTHING THEY CAN DO. GROSSINGER MAJOR COMMENT IS THAT WE ARE LIABLE FOR THE REFLECTION, THE ALARM WAS INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND THE PROBLEM BELONG TO PONTIAC. I LIVED WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR A YEAR, I RETURNED TO GROSSINGER TO HAVE WARRANTY WORK DONE, PLUS TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE WITH THE REFLECTION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PONTIAC PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NO SOLUTION. MY CONCERN IS WHAT IS THE TRUTH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD FAIL DURING OPERATION CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED. *MJS
REARVIEW MIRROR DESIGN IS NOT EFFICIENT AND CREATES A LARGE BLIND SPOT. MJS
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.
Official recalls
204V036000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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