1999 Pontiac Sunfire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR CAP FAILS EACH TIME IT IS TURNED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVEN TIMES AND HE HAS REPLACED IT EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HE FEELS THAT SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED IF THE CAP BLOWS OFF THE RADIATOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 170,000. UPDATED 11/03/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2007 WITH ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES SHREDDED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER ON THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER WORKED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,598.

MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT STAY ON. THEY TURN OFF WHEN I USE MY TURN SIGNAL, OR IF I HIT A BUMP. THE HI-BEAMS AND DRL'S ARE FINE, IT'S JUST THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS. ALSO MY ENGINE SHOWS THAT IT IS OVERHEATING ON MY TEMP. GUAGE, BUT DOES NOT ACT LIKE IT. WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON, IT RETURNS TO A NORMAL LEVEL. ANOTHER THING IS MY AIRCONDITIONING LINE HAS A HOLE IN IT FROM ANOTHER HOSE RUBBING UP AGAINST IT. I THINK IT'S EITHER MY STEERING HOSE OR RADIATOR HOSE. WHEN I TURN LEFT MY CAR MAKES AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED THEN IT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE ONLY VEHICLE IN MOTION WAS THREE CARS BACK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE IMPOUND LOT BY THE POLICE. NO ONE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN THE MOUTH AND CHEST AND SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION, FACIAL BRUISING, CHEST PAINS, HEADACHE, AND DIZZINESS. *AK (12/08/05) THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *SC

THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR PUMP (A/C PUMP) COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE (1999) OEM LOWER RADIATOR HOSE (HOSE), DENTING THE HOSE AND WEARING A HOLE IN THE HOSE OVER TIME. THIS CONDITION IS WORSE WHEN FRONT STRUTS AND/OR ENGINE MOUNTS BECOME WORN. INITIAL LEAK OF COOLENT IS ONLY DETECTABLE BY LOW FLUID LEVEL OVER EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (APPORXIMATELY 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR): NO WETNESS ON THE HOSE OR POOLING OF COOLENT FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE IS DETECTABLE PRIOR TO A LARGER HOLE BEING WORN INTO THE HOSE. PRIOR TO LARGER HOLE BEING WORN INTO HOSE, COOLENT LOSS IS IN VAPOR FORM, BUT NOT IN A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT TO BE SEEN. ONCE THE HOLE IN THE HOSE BECOMES LARGE ENOUGH TO BE DETECTED BY FLUID POOLING UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE COOLENT FLUID WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND CAUSE FAILURE OF THE PCM. THE PCM CONTROLS MAJOR ENGINE AND BRAKING FUNCTIONS. A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PCM WILL CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL (VIA ABS) AND SHUT DOWN OF ENGINE (CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL). THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING A ELECTRIC SHORT IN THE 12 VOLT CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A FIRE. PLEASE NOTE THAT "AFTER MARKET" MANUFACTURERS REPLACEMENT HOSE IS REDESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN A/C PUMP AND THE HOSE. AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE OEM HOSE HAS BEEN REDESIGN TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE A/C PUMP.

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE ODOMETER BLINKS AND SCRAMBLES AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND WHEN IT IS WORKING THE MILEAGE IS CORRECT. ALSO, WHENEVER I TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR AWHILE. LASTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURN LEFT, OR ACCELERATE UPHILL AND I HAVE HAD 3 MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND TAKEN IT TO 3 DEALERS AND 2 AUTO SHOPS AND NOBODY CAN SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM!