Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Pontiac Sunfire problems
Owners filed 77 complaints about the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire with NHTSA between Feb 2001 and Apr 2017. The most-cited component is electrical system (24).
Complaints
77
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system24
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Air bags7
- Tires6
- Visibility5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Exterior lighting4
- Suspension3
- Fuel system, other3
- Structure3
- Steering2
- Traction control system2
- Service brakes2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
10
16
7
12
10
4
4
4
1
0
1
1
1
4
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
24 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AND, AT TIMES, UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Engine and engine cooling
15 reports
“LEAK IN BOTH UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TWICE AND NOW VEHICLE STILL ISN'T RUNNING CORRECTLY.....COST OF $600.00 PLUS MANY HEADACHES.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
8 reports
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGES. THE ABS NORMALLY ENGAGED WHEN GOING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOES, PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE ABS ENGAGING. UPDATED 04/17/06. *JB”
Air bags
7 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCHED OFF INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED A FOUR VEHICLE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Tires
6 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES, SIZE P195/65R15. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND CAUSED THE SIDE SKIRT ON THE VEHICLE TO FALL OFF. THE TIRE FAILURE ALSO DAMAGED THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WELL. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NO PRIOR WARNING. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”
Visibility
5 reports
“AUTO REAR WINDOW FAILURE. BOTH REAR WINDOWS HAVE FAILED ON THIS CAR. THEY EACH CYCLED LESS THAN 10 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. THE LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I CLOSED THE REAR DOOR AND THE WINDOW FELL DOWN. *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.