TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DETECTED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THAT THE DAMAGE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,690. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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.
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
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.
Structure complaints
5 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CLOSED THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY PONTIAC THAT MY SUNROOF SHOULD BE SERVICED YEARLY TO PREVENT LEAKS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD GM HAS NO RECOMMENDED SERVICE YET EVERYWHERE I HAVE ASKED HAS TOLD ME IT NEEDS SERVICED OR YOU WILL HAVE LEAKS. DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. NOW I HAVE CLOGGED …
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WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY PONTIAC THAT MY SUNROOF SHOULD BE SERVICED YEARLY TO PREVENT LEAKS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD GM HAS NO RECOMMENDED SERVICE YET EVERYWHERE I HAVE ASKED HAS TOLD ME IT NEEDS SERVICED OR YOU WILL HAVE LEAKS. DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. NOW I HAVE CLOGGED DRAIN LINES AND HAVE WATER LEAKING INTO MY TRUNK, AND THE WATER HAS DAMAGED MY BACK SPEAKERS. ALSO, I AM VERY UPSET WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SHIFTER LIGHT. I HAVE CALLED AROUND AND THE ONLY PLACE I CAN HAVE IT FIXED AT IS THE DEALER AND I AM LOOKING AT $130.00 JUST IN LABOR FOR A BAD LIGHT BULB. I THINK IT IS UNFAIR TO YOUR CUSTOMERS TO HAVE A PART, SUCH AS A LIGHT THAT WILL BURN OUT, UNREPLACEABLE BY ANYONE BUT THE DEALERS WHO THEN IN TURN CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS PRICES TO DO THE REPAIRS. SO NOW I HAVE WATER IN MY TRUNK NO BACK SPEAKERS AND CAN'T SEE WHAT GEAR I AM IN AT NIGHT ON A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH 42000 MILES ON IT. I ALSO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE LOOKS WRECKED AND I AM HAVING TO REPLACE FRONT STRUTS AND MOUNTS AS WELL AS RACK AND PINION. I NEVER WRECKED THIS VEHICLE AND NO ONE ELSE DRIVES MY CAR! *NM
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
SERVICE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY, AND DESTROYED THE ROTORS AND OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS. *AK THE BRAKES SQUEALED AND MADE A GRIND NOISE, THE LEFT (DRIVER FRONT) HUB CAP RATTLED/SHAKED, WATER LEAKED IN THE BACK SEAT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE METAL BRAKES DIDN'T HAVE PADS. THE FRONT END STEERING SHAKED, THE ROTOR(S) …
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SERVICE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY, AND DESTROYED THE ROTORS AND OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS. *AK THE BRAKES SQUEALED AND MADE A GRIND NOISE, THE LEFT (DRIVER FRONT) HUB CAP RATTLED/SHAKED, WATER LEAKED IN THE BACK SEAT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE METAL BRAKES DIDN'T HAVE PADS. THE FRONT END STEERING SHAKED, THE ROTOR(S) HAD WORN OUT, THE RIGHT INSIDE DOOR PANEL WAS LOOSE, THE SPEAKER HAD GONE OUT, THE POWER STEERING SQUEAKED PER INVOICE, THE AC CHIRPED, AND A WIND NOISE HAD COME FROM THE FRONT DOORS. *SCC *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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