Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
2025–50K
1850–75K
1475–100K
6100–150K
0150K+
61 reports with mileage · 7 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 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
68 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2022
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
None of the gauges work properly Gm has not issued a recall despite the numerous complaints and it is a 500 to 800 dollar repair bill to replace the instrument cluster. 2005 Sunfire and the instrument cluster is malfunctioning. The gas gauge has stopped working altogether and the temp and rpm gauge work erratically. This is def…
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None of the gauges work properly Gm has not issued a recall despite the numerous complaints and it is a 500 to 800 dollar repair bill to replace the instrument cluster. 2005 Sunfire and the instrument cluster is malfunctioning. The gas gauge has stopped working altogether and the temp and rpm gauge work erratically. This is definitely a recall issue and has nothing to do with the maintenance of the vehicle. Gm wants me to have a dealer check the vehicle when they are well aware of this issue as there are multiple posting from owners of this issue online.
NHTSA ODI #11470553
130 miles · May 4, 2017
Electrical SystemSteering
GOING DOWN HILL, TURNED MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AND THE CAR KEEP GOING STRAIGHT. IT DID NOT TURN AT ALL. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC, BUT MY CAR HIT THE CURVE FIRST STOPPING AN ACCIDENT FROM OCCURRING I HAVE REPLACE WINDOW MOTOR TWICE AND THEY HAVE WENT OUT AGAIN NOW. AND I HAVE ALSO REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR BUTTONS FOR A …
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GOING DOWN HILL, TURNED MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AND THE CAR KEEP GOING STRAIGHT. IT DID NOT TURN AT ALL. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC, BUT MY CAR HIT THE CURVE FIRST STOPPING AN ACCIDENT FROM OCCURRING I HAVE REPLACE WINDOW MOTOR TWICE AND THEY HAVE WENT OUT AGAIN NOW. AND I HAVE ALSO REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR BUTTONS FOR A SECOND TIME IN THE PAST 3 YEARS
NHTSA ODI #10983596
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2016
Electrical System
RECALL NEEDED! INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS FAILED. STARTED WITH THE FUEL GAUGE MOVING IN WRONG DIRECTION INTO SPEEDOMETER. EMPTY IS AT 110MPH. SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 55MPH WHILE COMING INTO TOWN AND NEEDING TO REDUCE TO 35MPH WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME! WITH THE LINE OF TRAFFIC THAT WAS BEHIND ME IM GUESSING IT WAS STUCK THERE…
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RECALL NEEDED! INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS FAILED. STARTED WITH THE FUEL GAUGE MOVING IN WRONG DIRECTION INTO SPEEDOMETER. EMPTY IS AT 110MPH. SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 55MPH WHILE COMING INTO TOWN AND NEEDING TO REDUCE TO 35MPH WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME! WITH THE LINE OF TRAFFIC THAT WAS BEHIND ME IM GUESSING IT WAS STUCK THERE FOR A BIT BEFORE I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING MOTOR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES IT NOW GOES DOWN TO 45MPH AND INCREASES FROM THERE. RPM DIAL STOPPED WORKING MOMENTS AFTER SPEEDOMETER STUCK. HEAT GUAGE SEEMS INTACT BUT WHO KNOWS FOR SURE. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR I DON'T FEEL SAFE PUTTING MY CHILDREN IN AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX. YET ANOTHER CUT CORNER BY GM THAT THEY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE.
NHTSA ODI #10852336
40,000 miles · Jan 12, 2016
Electrical System
GAS GAUGE TEMP GAUGE RPM GAUGE ALL DONT WORK WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING
NHTSA ODI #10819679
75,000 miles · Feb 3, 2015
Electrical System
INSTRUMENT GAUGE (SPEEDOMETER) WENT FIRST THEN SLOWLY PROGRESSED INTO ALL OF THEM. THEY ARE SPORADICALLY ACCURATE, BUT MOST OF THE TIME REST AT THE LOW OR HIGH END AND OFTEN OFF INTO THE NEXT GAUGE. I PAID FIRESTONE A FEW YEARS BACK TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC HOPING ONE GAUGE WAS FAULTY CAUSING THE REST TO FAIL, BUT ITS THE CLUSTER. …
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INSTRUMENT GAUGE (SPEEDOMETER) WENT FIRST THEN SLOWLY PROGRESSED INTO ALL OF THEM. THEY ARE SPORADICALLY ACCURATE, BUT MOST OF THE TIME REST AT THE LOW OR HIGH END AND OFTEN OFF INTO THE NEXT GAUGE. I PAID FIRESTONE A FEW YEARS BACK TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC HOPING ONE GAUGE WAS FAULTY CAUSING THE REST TO FAIL, BUT ITS THE CLUSTER. COST FOR REPLACEMENT ~ $800. (FOR ME ABOUT 3 WEEKS PAY) SO RECENTLY I DECIDED I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE AND WENT SEARCHING FOR ALTERNATIVE PRICES AND LOOK WHAT I FIND, A BILLION SUNFIRE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. (OKAY BUT A LOT) AND THESE ARE JUST THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BOTHERED TO COMPLAIN. BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR YEARS, ITS NOW AT THE POINT I DESCRIBED ABOVE. I HAVE EMISSIONS AT THE END OF MARCH. SO LOOKS LIKE I'M OUT 1 WEEKS PAY (EARNING A BIT MORE, BUT NOT MUCH) BECAUSE GM WONT OWN UP TO THEIR CHEAPLY MANUFACTURED PARTS. BUY AMERICAN? GEE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT MENTALITY DIDN'T SURVIVE THE 80'S. MY NEXT CAR? FROM A MANUFACTURER THAT CARES ABOUT QUALITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10681027
1,000 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Electrical System
VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF, USUALLY WHEN IDLING OR STOPPED. CLOCK AND RADIO RESET. CAR CAN EASILY BE RESTARTED, BUT CLOCK AND RADIO MUST BE RESET. HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM ON SEVERAL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10650435
90,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Electrical System
THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL ANYMORE - THE GAUGE WAS AT HOT EVEN WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN OFF OVERNIGHT AND WAS COMPLETELY COOL. NOW IT IS ALL THE WAY AROUND UNDERNEATH THE GAUGE NEXT TO IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10639340
114,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT TO TURN A CORNER AND THE ENTIRE CAR DIED. I LOST ALL STEERING AND ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRIED TO BE RESTARTED THAT WAS A VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. ONCE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OIL IN THE VEHICLE. WAS ALSO TOLD THIS IS IDENTICAL…
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DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT TO TURN A CORNER AND THE ENTIRE CAR DIED. I LOST ALL STEERING AND ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRIED TO BE RESTARTED THAT WAS A VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. ONCE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OIL IN THE VEHICLE. WAS ALSO TOLD THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEMS OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10639339
105,000 miles · Aug 30, 2014
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT MY TACHOMETER GAUGE INDICATOR WAS ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT UNDER MY SPEEDOMETER INDICATOR. THEN A FEW HOURS LATER WHILE GOING TO THE STORE, I NOTICED THAT MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS SHOWING HOT AND NOT ACCURATE ALSO. THIS WAS DISCUSSED WITH MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMS ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROB…
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WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT MY TACHOMETER GAUGE INDICATOR WAS ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT UNDER MY SPEEDOMETER INDICATOR. THEN A FEW HOURS LATER WHILE GOING TO THE STORE, I NOTICED THAT MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS SHOWING HOT AND NOT ACCURATE ALSO. THIS WAS DISCUSSED WITH MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMS ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE COST TO FIX??? IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $500 -- I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A HANDICAPPED CHILD AND DO NOT LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK GM SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT-- WHY WAIT THAT LONG? BECAUSE IF IT IS ME OR MY CHILD-- I PROMISE IT WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR THEM! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10629548
98,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT START, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK THE CARE CLAIM TO RUN HOT WHEN THAT ISN'T THE CASE. THE WINDOW STOP WORKING, THE ENGINE SAY THAT IT NEED CHECKING HOWEVER WHEN I TAKE IT TO BE SERVICE THEY ALWAYS SAYS THIS MODEL HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD WIRES REPLACED, NEW STAR…
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THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT START, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK THE CARE CLAIM TO RUN HOT WHEN THAT ISN'T THE CASE. THE WINDOW STOP WORKING, THE ENGINE SAY THAT IT NEED CHECKING HOWEVER WHEN I TAKE IT TO BE SERVICE THEY ALWAYS SAYS THIS MODEL HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD WIRES REPLACED, NEW STARTER, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW MOTOR IN THE LEFT WINDOW. AND I HAVE HAD ALL THIS DONE TO FINE OUT THAT THERE IS ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I HAVE WASTED HUNDREDS WHEN ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS ADMIT THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND SUBMIT A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10616165
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.
2005 Pontiac Sunfire Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year