IllustrationCONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING NOTICE AIR BAG OPEN SLIGHTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
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
20–25K
525–50K
450–75K
575–100K
4100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
93 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT THE BATTERY LEAKED ACID, THAT COMPLETELY CORRODED THE POSITIVE TERMINAL POST. ACID DRIPPED ON WIRE THAT RELEASES HOOD NOW HOOD IS INOPERABLE. NLM
ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUCTIONED, EVERYTHING LOCKS UP AS IF VEHICLE WAS BEING STOLEN.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
EVER SINCE WE GOT THE CAR THE ODOMETER SCRAMBLES AND GOES OFF AND ON. USUALY IN COLD OR HOT WEATHER. WHEN IT COMES ON IT GOES BACK TO THE RIGHT MILEAGE. *AK
THE ORIGINAL BATTERY THAT CAME WITH MY CAR HAS FAILED. THE POSITIVE TERMINAL POST HAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND FELL OFF. ALSO THE CABLE THAT RUNS TO THAT POST HAS MELTED.*AK
THE BATTERY ACID ATE AT THE METAL BOLTS OF THE BATTERY CAUSING THE POSTIVE CONNECTOR TO COMPLETELY COME OFF ( BOLT, CABLE, AND ALL). (AC DELCO BATTERY). *MJ
THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND MAKE A NOISE, CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO SEE TIRE WAS RIPPED OF THE RIM. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ANOTHER TIRE BLOW OUT A FEW MONTHS LATER. (GENERAL TIRE P195/65R15, TUBELESS RADIAL) *YH
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE RECLINING MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE TWICE AND FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SEAT FRAME HAD CRACKED BUT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE OF THE SECOND TIME IT BROKE. *YH
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND ODOMETER SPEED IS 70MPH, IT WILL THEN DROP DOWN TO 65MPH ON ITS OWN, WHILE STILL TRAVELING 70MPH. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE BUSINGS WERE SLIPPING.*JB
TWO PARK PLUG WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 30000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRES, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
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.