IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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
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 reportsTHE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A SHORTED WIRE AT THE PULLEY. NLM
GENERATOR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. REAR AND FRONT BRAKES SQUEAK. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTIONS ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM SIDE WHERE CHILD WAS SITTING IN REAR PASSENGER'S SEATBACK FLEW BACK, AND CHILD FELL THROUGH AND OUT OF TRUNK ,AND DIED ON IMPACT. CHILD'S SHOES WERE LEFT IN CAR. DRIVER DIED ON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *…
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WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTIONS ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM SIDE WHERE CHILD WAS SITTING IN REAR PASSENGER'S SEATBACK FLEW BACK, AND CHILD FELL THROUGH AND OUT OF TRUNK ,AND DIED ON IMPACT. CHILD'S SHOES WERE LEFT IN CAR. DRIVER DIED ON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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
CONSUMER HAD USED CHILD SAFETY LOCK, BUT COULD NOT BE TAKEN OFF, AND DOOR STAYED LOCKED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED FOR CHILDREN INSIDE. *AK
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
WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGH VEHICLE WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY. WOULD HESITATE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP LIGHT/SIGN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK
MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THEY, BARNETT AUTO GROUP HAVE REPLACE THE BRAKES SYSTEM TWICE AND I AM NOW HAVING A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE KICKING IN ALMOST EVERY TIME I COME TO A SLOW STOP. I CAN HEAR THE ANTI-LOCK VALVE BEHIND THE DASH P…
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MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THEY, BARNETT AUTO GROUP HAVE REPLACE THE BRAKES SYSTEM TWICE AND I AM NOW HAVING A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE KICKING IN ALMOST EVERY TIME I COME TO A SLOW STOP. I CAN HEAR THE ANTI-LOCK VALVE BEHIND THE DASH POPING OFF AT THE TIME MY VEHICLE DOESN'T BRAKE IT KEEPS ON GLIDING LIKE IF IT WAS HYDROPLANING.
1998 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INSTALLED ON 1999 MODEL CAR, THREE (3) REPLACEMENT INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS NOT OPERATIONAL, CAR OUT OF SERVICE 25 DAYS AS OF THIS FILING, DEALER SAYS NO REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE, ATTEMPTING TO "REPAIR" DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - AWAITING PARTS, NO COMPLETION DATE GIVEN FOR REPAIRS
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.