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Research · Compact Cars

1997 Pontiac SunfireRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 201 owner complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire. Most complaints involve steering (42) and engine and engine cooling (33). The EPA rates it 23–26 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
23–26mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
9campaigns
Latest Oct 2008
Owner complaints
201
Top: steering
Fuel cost / yr
$2,450est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

9 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Steering

Free remedy

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

SteeringReported Oct 17, 2008NHTSA 08E063000

Fuel system

Free remedy

CERTAIN DELPHI AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERSED. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY (IDLE ROUGH AND/OR STALL) DUE TO AN OVERLY RICH FUEL BLEND OR THE VEHICLE'S EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CARBON CANISTER MAY LEAK FUEL.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Feb 26, 2007NHTSA 07E015000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported Mar 23, 2006NHTSA 06E026000
See all 9 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

201 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 1997 – Jan 2015
  1. Steering42
  2. Engine and engine cooling33
  3. Electrical system31
  4. Air bags27
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic22
  6. Visibility13
  7. Exterior lighting11
  8. Suspension10
  9. Fuel system, gasoline7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Sunfire model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996201
1997201
1998127
1999102
2000112
200177
200291
200385
200432
200568
Crashes reported
29
Fires reported
9
Injuries reported
20
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Steering

42 reports8 crashes2 fires
“TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE WIRES TO MELT TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2014Steering, Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10607304

Engine and engine cooling

33 reports1 crash
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOST TWO ENGINES DUE TO HIS ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT NOT ILLUMINATING AND WARNING HIM THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10373531

Electrical system

31 reports1 crash8 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS AND A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2015Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 10678592
All 1997 Sunfire problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl · 2.4L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd · Automatic 3-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Sunfire
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, (FFS) (MPFI), SIL · Front-Wheel Drive
223326$2,450342
Sunfire
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, (FFS) (MPFI), CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
223125$2,550355
Sunfire
Auto 3-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, (FFS) (MPFI), CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,700370
Sunfire
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, (FFS) (MPFI) · Front-Wheel Drive
203124$2,700370
Sunfire
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, (FFS) (MPFI), CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
192923$2,800386
Sunfire
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, (FFS) (MPFI), SIL · Front-Wheel Drive
203023$2,800386
  • Sunfire
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, (FFS) (MPFI), SIL
    22 city · 33 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, (FFS) (MPFI), CLKUP
    22 city · 31 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Auto 3-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, (FFS) (MPFI), CLKUP
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, (FFS) (MPFI)
    20 city · 31 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, (FFS) (MPFI), CLKUP
    19 city · 29 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, (FFS) (MPFI), SIL
    20 city · 30 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 3764Vehicle 3748
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1997 Sunfire questions

How many recalls does the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire have?

9 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1997 Pontiac Sunfire problems?

Owners filed 201 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (42), engine and engine cooling (33), electrical system (31). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire at 23–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026