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2004 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire are lower than the model-year median of 77.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

27 reports with mileage · 5 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Structure complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2020
Structure

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, I HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO STRAIGHT. I THOUGHT I MIGHT NEED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD FIRESTONE DEALER THAT NORMALLY WORKS ON MY CARS. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR, THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS RUST…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, I HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO STRAIGHT. I THOUGHT I MIGHT NEED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD FIRESTONE DEALER THAT NORMALLY WORKS ON MY CARS. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR, THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED OUT AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THEY GAVE ME PICTURES OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WHICH ALL READY HAD CRACKED APART DUE TO THE RUST. THEY SAID IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE OR ANYTHING IN THE ROAD THE FRAME COULD SPLIT APART AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED A BODY SHOP TO SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED AND THEY SAID IT WAS TO BIG OF A JOB.. THEY RECOMMENDED JUNKING THE CAR.. THIS CAR IS IN REAL GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THIS MAJOR DEFECT. THIS HAS FORCED ME TO BUY ANOTHER CAR.. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF YOUR PRODUCT. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11349088

92,000 miles · May 12, 2015
Structure

MY DAUGHTER LEFT HOME AND THE VEHICLE FRAME, OF THE 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE,BROKE IN TWO PARTS WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT BROKE DUE TO IT RUSTED INTO TWO PARTS. SHE WAS NOT INJURED BUT THE CAR OF COURSE WAS INOPERABLE. THERE WAS NO WRECK OR ACCIDENT FOR THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE TO DISINTEG…

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MY DAUGHTER LEFT HOME AND THE VEHICLE FRAME, OF THE 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE,BROKE IN TWO PARTS WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT BROKE DUE TO IT RUSTED INTO TWO PARTS. SHE WAS NOT INJURED BUT THE CAR OF COURSE WAS INOPERABLE. THERE WAS NO WRECK OR ACCIDENT FOR THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE TO DISINTEGRATE. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF SHE WAS TRAVELING AT MORE THAN 35 MPH AND ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY GAVE THIS A GM CASE NUMBER AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT YOU CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM TO MAKE OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS AWARE OF IT. THE SHOP THAT IS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE STATED HE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING A FRAME DUE TO THE FACT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN PONTIAC SUNFIRE VEHICLES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10716042

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2004
Structure

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN. THE FIRST DAY THAT CONSUMER GOT THE VEHICLE HE COULD NOT OPEN THE TRUNK . THEN ,WHILE DRIVING TRUNK WOULD OPEN ON ITS OWN. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE FROM THE REAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071687

Official recalls

1

04V300000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Jun 23, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.' THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH AN INCORRECT NUT AND BOLT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND INSTALL A NEW NUT AND BOLT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

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.