Sign inCreate free garage
Research · Compact Cars

2002 Pontiac SunfireRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 91 owner complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire. Most complaints involve electrical system (26) and service brakes, hydraulic (15). The EPA rates it 21–25 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
21–25mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
2campaigns
Latest Oct 2008
Owner complaints
91
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,550est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

2 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 FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Fuel system, otherReported Mar 12, 2007NHTSA 07E021000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

91 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2002 – Oct 2016
  1. Electrical system26
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic15
  3. Engine and engine cooling13
  4. Steering11
  5. Visibility11
  6. Exterior lighting9
  7. Equipment9
  8. Power train7
  9. Structure5

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
8
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
7
Deaths reported
1
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

Electrical system

26 reports2 fires
“TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, GOT MY FUSES AND RELAY'S ALL CHECKED AND TURNED THE CAR ON THE NEXT MORNING, NOTHING ON MY DASH PANEL IS WORKING. NO MILEAGE, NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK, FUSES AND RELAYS ARE ALL GOOD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2015Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 10745149

Service brakes, hydraulic

15 reports3 crashes
“ON NOVEMBER 12, 2008 I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THAT I HAD PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 28, 2008. AS THE CAR AHEAD OF ME BEGAN TO BRAKE I BEGAN TO BRAKE AS WELL. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGHT THE BRAKES "GRABBED" CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE A BROKEN FOOT CAUSED FROM PUSHING ON THE BRAKES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 22, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10249575

Engine and engine cooling

13 reports
“THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. SINCE IT'S PURCHASE WE HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT LESS THAN 20,000 (IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THOUGH). MY POWER WINDOWS HAVE ALL STOPPED WORKING AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED (I'VE HAD TO BUY 7 DIFFERENT ONES), MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER FUSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, I HAVE ALSO HAD THE PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS AND THEY HAVE HAD SHORTS AND THE WIRING HAS NEEDED REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES, AND LAST FINALLY MY SWITCH ON MY DRIVER DOOR THAT TURNS THE DOME LIGHT ON AND THE RADIO OFF HAS NEEDED CHANGED 3 TIMES NOW! WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Visibility, Interior lightingODI 10260055
All 2002 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
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, 4 VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,550355
Sunfire
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213024$2,700370
Sunfire
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, 4 VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
213024$2,700370
Sunfire
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213024$2,700370
Sunfire
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192923$2,800386
Sunfire
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,050423
  • Sunfire
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, 4 VALVE
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    21 city · 30 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L, 4 VALVE
    21 city · 30 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L
    21 city · 30 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    19 city · 29 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Sunfire
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    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 2002 Pontiac Sunfire as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 4570Vehicle 4568
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

2002 Sunfire questions

How many recalls does the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire have?

2 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 2002 Pontiac Sunfire problems?

Owners filed 91 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (26), service brakes, hydraulic (15), engine and engine cooling (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire at 21–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026