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2002 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

59 reports with mileage · 23 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2005
Seat Belts

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LOCKS AND HAS TO BE UNBUCKELED- RECOILED- AND RELATCHED, THUS LEAVING THE PASSENGER UNPROTECTED. THE DEALER STATES THE BELT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. I FEEL THIS IS AN USATISFACTORY AND DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEATBELT MECHANISM AND FURNISHED THE SEAT…

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WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LOCKS AND HAS TO BE UNBUCKELED- RECOILED- AND RELATCHED, THUS LEAVING THE PASSENGER UNPROTECTED. THE DEALER STATES THE BELT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. I FEEL THIS IS AN USATISFACTORY AND DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEATBELT MECHANISM AND FURNISHED THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER, HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT STILL LOCKS AND HAS TO BE REMOVED AND REBUCKELED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LEAVING THE PASSENGER UNPROTECTED. *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #10126734

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2004
Electrical SystemEquipmentSeat Belts

UNSURE OF THE DAY IN APRIL OF 2002 THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. THE PROBLEMS ARE WITH THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, BRAKES, ALL SEAT BELTS, WINDOWS, ROOF LEAKS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND RADIO. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT, HAD TO BE REPAIRED. PROBLEMS CONTINUED WITH THE HEATIN…

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UNSURE OF THE DAY IN APRIL OF 2002 THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. THE PROBLEMS ARE WITH THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, BRAKES, ALL SEAT BELTS, WINDOWS, ROOF LEAKS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND RADIO. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT, HAD TO BE REPAIRED. PROBLEMS CONTINUED WITH THE HEATING/AIR SYSTEM SO I TOOK IT IN AGAIN. IT STILL WASN'T REPAIRED PROPERLY. ONE VENT OVER THE RADIO DOES NOT BLOW THE AIR OUT EFFECTIVELY LIKE THE VENT NEXT TO IT. WHEN THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF THE AIR CONTINUES TO BLOW AIR OUT THE FLOOR VENTS THAT INCREASES WITH ACCELERATION.THE CAR DOESN'T COOL PROPERLY UNLESS THE RECIRCULATING AIR IS ON. THE WINDOW OF THE CD PLAYER/RADIO BECAME TOO HOT TO TOUCH.I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE RADIO. SINCE THIS TIME,1/2 OF THE WINDOW DISPLAY IS FADED.THE ELECTRICAL WINDOWS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE PASSENGER HAS PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THE DRIVER WINDOW BUT IT DOESN'T OCCUR CONTINUOUSLY AS IN THE DRIVER'S WINDOW.IN ORDER TO ROLL THE WINDOW UP, THE OPERATOR HAS TO WAIT FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES, DEPRESS THE BUTTON,THE WINDOW WILL ROLL UP LESS THAN 1/2 AN INCH. THIS PROCESS CONTINUES UNTIL THE WINDOW IS UP. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE MOTOR IS OVERHEATING , HAS TO COOL DOWN IN ORDER TO OPERATE PROPERLY AGAIN. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN FIXED ONCE BUT NOW THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON ALL SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEEK AT TIMES. THE ROOF LEAKS WHERE THE REAR WINDOW MEETS THE ROOF. WHEN GOING UP A HILL THE CAR HAS DIFFICULTY AT 20 - 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE DEALERSHIP STATED I SHOULD HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY FOR A CAR, AND NOT BOUGHT A CHEAP ONE. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO DEALERSHIPS WITHOUT ANY LUCK. I ALSO HAVE CONTACTED THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST ME IN LOCATING A DEALERSHIP WITH THE PROPER STAFFING, ALL THEY WILL PROVIDE IS A LIST OF DEALERSHIPS. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR INVESTIGATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10073003

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2003
Seat Belts

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POSITIONING GUIDE TO POSITION THE SHOULDER BELT AWAY FROM A CHILD'S NECK IN THE REAR SEATS, HOWEVER THE POSITIONING GUIDE DOESN'T HOLD THE SHOULDER BELT AWAY FROM THE CHILD'S NECK. *AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10040102

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.