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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

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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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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50,000 miles · Nov 1, 2010
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2 DOOR COUPE; SERIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE...ALL DASH COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK AND SHOPS THAT WE TAKE CAR TO TRY TO FIX PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, TACH, AND TEMP GAUGES...NOT FIXED; THEN AC GOES OFF AND ON SOMETIMES WORKS/SOMETIMES DOES NOT. HAVE SPENT OVER 2K IN REPAIRS, STILL NOT FIXED AND NOW THE TRUNK LATCH…

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2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2 DOOR COUPE; SERIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE...ALL DASH COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK AND SHOPS THAT WE TAKE CAR TO TRY TO FIX PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, TACH, AND TEMP GAUGES...NOT FIXED; THEN AC GOES OFF AND ON SOMETIMES WORKS/SOMETIMES DOES NOT. HAVE SPENT OVER 2K IN REPAIRS, STILL NOT FIXED AND NOW THE TRUNK LATCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. CAR DIES IN EXTREME HEAT. SHOPS SAY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS A LOT ON THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363527

78,000 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING 35 - 40 MPH SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD. SHE STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERATURE, GAS GAUGE ALL STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. SHE STATED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING 35 - 40 MPH SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD. SHE STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERATURE, GAS GAUGE ALL STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. SHE STATED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE USED IN 2009. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,334.

NHTSA ODI #10360305

27,600 miles · Aug 13, 2010
Electrical System

2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE..INSTRUMENT GAUGES ERRATIC....TEMP GAUGE PEGS ALL THE WAY TO RPM GAUGE AND SOMETIMES RPM GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349143

35,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Electrical System

2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 36000 MILES, MFG DATE 2-2005 BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY UNRELIABLE TO THE POINT OF TOTAL FAILURE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMPOUNDED BY HIGHER TEMPERATURES AS IT IS WORSE WHEN CAR GETS HOT FROM SITTING IN SUN AND LESS SO WHEN AMBIENT TEMPS ARE COOLER AS IN…

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2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 36000 MILES, MFG DATE 2-2005 BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY UNRELIABLE TO THE POINT OF TOTAL FAILURE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMPOUNDED BY HIGHER TEMPERATURES AS IT IS WORSE WHEN CAR GETS HOT FROM SITTING IN SUN AND LESS SO WHEN AMBIENT TEMPS ARE COOLER AS IN THE MORNING. AS A LOT OF MY DRIVING IS DONE IN CITY AND IN LOWER SPEED LIMIT AREAS, THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346100

40,000 miles · May 30, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

THE GAS GAUGE IS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE. THE GAS GAUGE WILL GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO THE SPEEDOMETER. NOW IT IS STUCK ON THE DASH AND WILL NOT MOVE. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER GETTING STUCK. IT WAS TELLING ME I WAS DOING 100MPH WHILE I WAS STOPPED. THIS IS EXTRE…

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THE GAS GAUGE IS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE. THE GAS GAUGE WILL GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO THE SPEEDOMETER. NOW IT IS STUCK ON THE DASH AND WILL NOT MOVE. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER GETTING STUCK. IT WAS TELLING ME I WAS DOING 100MPH WHILE I WAS STOPPED. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I AM NOT ABLE TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE IN MY TANK AND HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS ITEM REALLY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10333882

65,000 miles · Jan 18, 2010
Electrical System

2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GAS GAUGE & SPEEDOMETER HAS FINALLY STOPPED WORKING, AFTER MANY SPORADIC FAILURES. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST CAR IS GOING - CAN'T JUDGE WHEN CAR MAY RUN OUT OF GAS. DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKES THIS ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS. HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE 2003 MODEL AND HAD TO REPLACE FULL COMPONENT. THIS IS OBVI…

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2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GAS GAUGE & SPEEDOMETER HAS FINALLY STOPPED WORKING, AFTER MANY SPORADIC FAILURES. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST CAR IS GOING - CAN'T JUDGE WHEN CAR MAY RUN OUT OF GAS. DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKES THIS ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS. HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE 2003 MODEL AND HAD TO REPLACE FULL COMPONENT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS AND ONGOING DEFECT IN SUNFIRES AND PONTIAC NEEDS TO RECALL & CORRECT. TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN MODELS SHOWS A TOTAL LACK OF SAFETY CONCERN ON THE AUTO MAKERS PART. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10300166

83,000 miles · Jul 30, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TACHOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE METER WOULD RISE AND FALL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE CHANGING SPEED. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE OTHER GAUGES WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TACHOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE METER WOULD RISE AND FALL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE CHANGING SPEED. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE OTHER GAUGES WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10278764

33,250 miles · Jul 28, 2009
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING DURING DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278540

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2009
Electrical System

AT FIRST MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUST STICK OCCASIONALLY, BUT NOW IT NEVER WORKS AT ALL. IT IS ALWAYS EITHER AT 0 OR STUCK ON SOME RANDOM NUMBER. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH 2005 SUNFIRE'S HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. I HAVE YET TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WAS WILLING TO LOOK AT MY C…

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AT FIRST MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUST STICK OCCASIONALLY, BUT NOW IT NEVER WORKS AT ALL. IT IS ALWAYS EITHER AT 0 OR STUCK ON SOME RANDOM NUMBER. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH 2005 SUNFIRE'S HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. I HAVE YET TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WAS WILLING TO LOOK AT MY CAR AND ATTEMPT TO PULL THE DASH APART TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277594

33,000 miles · Jul 20, 2009
Electrical System

2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SPEEDOMETER & TACHOMETER QUIT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. GAUGES RAN INTO EACH OTHER - NO OTHER PROBLEMS JUST OCCURRED OUT OF THE BLUE. ONLY 33,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277503

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.