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2005 Pontiac Sunfire

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.

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How this year compares

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Electrical System complaints

60 reports
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65,000 miles · Jun 2, 2011
Electrical System

OWN A 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 …

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OWN A 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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10404147

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2011
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE RPMS AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES WERE TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER AND PREVENTING BOTH FROM MOVING. THE CONTACT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SPEED AT WHICH SHE WAS DRIVING DUE TO THE DEF…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE RPMS AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES WERE TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER AND PREVENTING BOTH FROM MOVING. THE CONTACT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SPEED AT WHICH SHE WAS DRIVING DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 48,909. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/20/11

NHTSA ODI #10383971

60,000 miles · Feb 13, 2011
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD HAVE COMPLETELY GONE BAD. I CANNOT EVEN ACQUIRE A PROPER SPEED READING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381732

100,000 miles · Jan 5, 2011
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR A LOCAL MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ONGOING FOR THREE MONTHS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR A LOCAL MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ONGOING FOR THREE MONTHS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10374825

35,000 miles · Dec 20, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE FAILED AND ARE MISREADING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER, BUT WHEN SHE CALLED THEM THEY INFORMED HER THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE M…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE FAILED AND ARE MISREADING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER, BUT WHEN SHE CALLED THEM THEY INFORMED HER THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10371850

135,000 miles · Dec 18, 2010
Electrical System

ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION AND FAILURE PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2005. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10371176

37,000 miles · Dec 10, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT STEADY DURING ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION THEN IT JUST STOPPED AT 55 TO 60 MPH. NEXT TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT WORK AT ALL UNTIL THE CAR GOT WARM AND ALL OF MY OTHER GAUGES STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. MY FUEL GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND AND JUST STOPPED AND MY RPM DOES NOT WO…

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SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT STEADY DURING ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION THEN IT JUST STOPPED AT 55 TO 60 MPH. NEXT TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT WORK AT ALL UNTIL THE CAR GOT WARM AND ALL OF MY OTHER GAUGES STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. MY FUEL GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND AND JUST STOPPED AND MY RPM DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND SAID THAT IT JUST NEEDS TO BE RESET AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, AFTER I GOT THAT FIXED I TOOK IT HOME AND 2 DAYS LATER IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT MIGHT BE A GAUGE CLUSTER THEY WERE NOT SURE AND THAT IT WOULD BE $500. I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AT THE TIME SO I DECIDED NOT TO GET IT FIXED SINCE THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE ME THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. MY SPEEDOMETER DOES WORK AS LONG AS IT IS WARM OUTSIDE. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR ANY INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL OR YEAR THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NOW A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM FOR THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369853

68,000 miles · Dec 2, 2010
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE COUPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED INTO THE RED ZONE. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, ALL GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE COUPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED INTO THE RED ZONE. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, ALL GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COULD BE REPLACED BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE YET THEY ALSO COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 03/16/11

NHTSA ODI #10368659

103,000 miles · Nov 27, 2010
Electrical System

PURCHASE A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN 2006. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A PROGRAM CAR. THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING DURING THE WINTER TIMES WHEN IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. AFTER THE CAR HAD WARMED UP THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD ,AGAIN, FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THIS MONTH, NOVEMBER 2010, THE VEHICLE'S FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER…

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PURCHASE A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN 2006. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A PROGRAM CAR. THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING DURING THE WINTER TIMES WHEN IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. AFTER THE CAR HAD WARMED UP THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD ,AGAIN, FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THIS MONTH, NOVEMBER 2010, THE VEHICLE'S FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER HAVE ALL MALFUNCTIONED AND ARE NOT CORRECTING AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS. THE FAILURES HAVE NOT CORRECTED AND ARE STILL MALFUNCTIONING TODAY, NOVEMBER 27,2010. GMC HAS CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT QUALIFIES CERTAIN OWNERS FOR A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT (SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT 07187A) TO THEIR STANDARD WARRANTY FOR ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETERS. THE COMMON CAUSE FOR ALL THESE ISSUES IS A FAULTY STEPPER MOTOR (XC5.168). THE MOTOR WAS USED THROUGHOUT GENERAL MOTOR'S ENTIRE PRODUCTION LINE FROM 2003 TO 2007. FOR THOSE WITH A TECHNICAL BENT, THIS INCLUDES THE GMT800, K20, GM360, AND GMX380 PLATFORMS. MODELS EFFECTED INCLUDE : * BUICK LESABRE * BUICK RENDEZVOUS * CHEVY AVALANCHE * CHEVY SILVERADO * CHEVY SUBURBAN * CHEVY TAHOE * CHEVY IMPALA * CHEVY TRAILBLAZER * CHEVY MONTE CARLO * GMC YUKON * GMC YUKON XL * GMC SIERRA * GMC ENVOY * GMC DENALI * CADILLAC ESCALADE * CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV * CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT * HUMMER H2 * PONTIAC SUNFIRE ON NOVEMBER 7, 2008, THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN SEATTLE GRANTED FINAL APPROVAL OF A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT FOR OWNERS AND LESSEES OF CERTAIN 2003 TO 2005 GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETERS. THOSE CERTAIN VEHICLES DID NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHY NOT! THOSE INCLUDED INCLUDE: CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, CHEVROLET SILVERADO ,CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, CHEVROLET TAHOE, GMC YUKON, GMC YUKON XL, GMC SIERRA, CADILLAC ESCALADE, CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV,CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT . SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367985

67,800 miles · Nov 17, 2010
Electrical System

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN 2006. IT HAD 13,000 MILES AT THAT TIME AND HAD BEEN A REALLY RELIABLE CAR. MY HUSBAND HAS CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE AS WELL AS THE AIR FILTER. IT STILL GETS 33 MPG ON THE FREEWAY AND THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 68,000 WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO GO…

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MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN 2006. IT HAD 13,000 MILES AT THAT TIME AND HAD BEEN A REALLY RELIABLE CAR. MY HUSBAND HAS CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE AS WELL AS THE AIR FILTER. IT STILL GETS 33 MPG ON THE FREEWAY AND THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 68,000 WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO GO BAD. IF THE GAUGES HADN'T STARTED TO MALFUNCTION ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO I WOULD HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED CLIMBING OFF THE CHARTS ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE ABOUT FORTY MILES FROM HOME. WE WE DRIVING 65 MPH. ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT STARTED. WE PULLED OFF AS SOON AS WE COULD TO CHECK THE MOTOR AND FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT OVERHEATED AT ALL AND WE HAD NO LEAKS IN SIGHT. I FEEL VERY BLESSES THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. WITH IN A MONTH THE GAUGE EVENTUALLY SPUN ALL THE WAY AROUND AND STARTED EFFECTING THE TACHOMETER. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE TACHOMETER. IF THE CLUSTER HAD BEEN DESIGNED WITH A BUMPER PIN TO STOP THE GAUGES FROM MAKING A COMPLETE 360 ROTATION, IT MIGHT HAVE NOT BURNED OUT SO SOON. OUR TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS MADE ABOUT 3 OR 4 REVOLUTIONS SO FAR MAKING THE OTHER GAUGES EVEN MORE INACCURATE. THE TACHOMETER IS ON IT'S SECOND TRIP AROUND THE GAUGE SO WE KNOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT FAR BEHIND. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH OUR CHOICE AT THIS TIME AND ARE CONSIDERING A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURE FOR OUR NEXT VEHICLE. MY FATHER WAS A DIESEL MECHANIC FOR FIFTY YEARS AND HE ALWAYS INSTILLED ON ME TO BUY AMERICAN WHEN IT CAME TO MY CARS. I ALWAYS HAVE AND DON'T PLAN TO CHANGE THAT BUT, I WILL DO MORE RESEARCH NEXT TIME. THIS PROBLEM WAS POSTED ON EVERY WEB SIGHT I FOUND AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. IT'S TIME TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS.

NHTSA ODI #10367410

Official recalls

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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

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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.