Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1993 Pontiac Sunbird, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Electrical system6
- Seat belts5
- Visibility4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Structure2
- Seats2
- Suspension2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1993 Pontiac Sunbird failed the safety check 2.00% of the time — 67% more often than the average 1993 passenger car (1.20%). Median odometer at inspection: 119,146 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1993 Pontiac Sunbird.
| 1994055 15 Mar 1994 | Engine ON VEHICLES WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINES, WATER MAY FREEZE IN THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT DURING COLD WEATHER. THIS WOULD CAUSE HIGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFO… |
| 1993156 24 Nov 1993 | Engine ON VEHICLES WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINES, WATER MAY FREEZE IN THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT DURING COLD WEATHER. THIS WOULD CAUSE HIGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFO… |
| 1993099 16 Jul 1993 | Brakes THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 106 - HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES. REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSES ON CIERA AND CE… |
| 1992150 24 Nov 1992 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: FOUR DOOR VEHICLES WITH 2-WAY MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTERS. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 210 - SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES. VEHICLES MAY HAVE… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VERY COLD WEATHER, WATER THATN ENTERS THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT FREEZES AND CAUSES THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO DEVELOP A HIGH EFFORT OR BINDING CONDITION.
THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Pontiac told its dealers about the 1993 Pontiac Sunbird: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 615073 | SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT |
| 613590 | INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR |
| 6089996 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT |
| 54419 | COMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC |
| 52339 | SQUAWK NOISE COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA (INSTALL ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR TAPE). *TW |
| 45881 | GRINDING AND/OR GROWLING NOISE IN PARK ON INCLINE.*SD |
| 43034 | UNKNOWN |
| 43030 | UNKNOWN |
| 43021 | UNKNOWN |
| 37924 | GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT SOME 1992-93 PONTIAC SUNBIRD MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L ENGINE MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT COOLANT PUMP. COOLANT MAY LEAK PAST THE INTERNAL COOLANT PUMP SEAL AND INTO THE PUMP BEARINGS. THIS MAY CAUSE PREMATURE BEARING FAILURE RESULTING IN A COOLANT PUMPING NOISE. IF NOT REPAIRED, THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A LOOSE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING, DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S COOLANT PUMP AND REPLACE THE PUMP IF NECESSARY. *TW |
| 37843 | CRUNCH NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE DASH AREA WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TW |
| 37840 | BUZZING SOUND WHEN REAR DEFOGGER IS ON. *TW |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10009220 | VEHICLES MAY SET ANYONE OR A COMBINATION OF FRONT-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CODES AS INTERMITTENT OR HARD FAILURES. GM VOICEMAIL EXPRESS. *TT |
| 10007816 | ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT |
| 10007293 | ABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)