Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling39
- Electrical system38
- Air bags33
- Service brakes, hydraulic24
- Power train20
- Steering19
- Exterior lighting15
- Visibility12
- Vehicle speed control10
- Suspension10
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 24 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 1996 Pontiac Sunfire failed the safety check 1.25% of the time — 15% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 116,082 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 9.6–10.5 L/100 km (about 22–25 mpg US), CO₂ 221–242 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunfire · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 7.2 | 9.6 |
| Sunfire · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.0 | 8.3 | 9.8 |
| Sunfire · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.3 | 8.1 | 9.9 |
| Sunfire · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 7.8 | 10.2 |
| Sunfire · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.5 | 10.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
11 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire.
| 2003162 24 Jun 2003 | Airbag Certain vehicles, after being exposed to substantial amounts of water, may experience deployment of either the driver or passenger front airbag without a crash.… |
| 2002199 5 Nov 2002 | Steering On certain vehicles, the lower pinion bearings retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between Janua… |
| 2002041 6 Mar 2002 | Electrical On certain passenger vehicles if the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows throu… |
| 2000109 28 Apr 2000 | Engine Note: Certain 1997-99 vehicles in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces and 1995-99 vehicles in all other provinces and territories. Moisture may enter t… |
| 1999016 15 Feb 1999 | Engine On certain vehicles located in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, Moisture entering the Powertrain Control Mod… |
| 1998247 22 Dec 1998 | Suspension Certain vehicles may have a condition which could result in one of the rear suspension trailing arm bolts breaking. If this were to occur while the vehicle was… |
| 1998136 15 Jul 1998 | Seats And Restraints BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG'S COMPUTER, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES TH… |
| 1998023 10 Feb 1998 | Electrical THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 101 - CONTROL LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION. THE INTERIOR LAMPS MAY TURN ON BY THEMSELVES, FIVE TO THIRTY MINUTES AF… |
| 1996208 30 Dec 1996 | Lights And Instruments THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING EQUIPMENT. VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (F… |
| 1996094 20 Jun 1996 | Emissions Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1105 - Evaporative Emissions. Fuel injectors may exhibit leakage of fuel vapour due to a stress of the plastic encaps… |
| 1995188 20 Oct 1995 | Engine THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED (KINKED) DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. A KINKED ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE MAY RESULT IN HIGH PEDAL EFFORT, STICKI… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BOLTS CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG'S SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE, AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE COULD HAVE BEEN KINKED DURING ASSEMBLY CAUSING HIGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFORT, STICKING ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, OR A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE.
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 1996 Pontiac Sunfire: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 628890 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON LEAKAGE OF A FEW DROPS OF COOLANT AFTER PARKING THEIR VEHICLE. *TT |
| 628053 | CUSTOMER CONCERN OF PREMATURE FOG LAMP FAILURE. *TT |
| 622945 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY WANT TO TOW THEIR VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH ALL FOUR TIRES ONT HE GROUND. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING RECREATIONAL (DINGHY) TOWING FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES INCLUDING THE 1996 THROUGH 2000 TOYOTA CAVALIER. *TT |
| 622716 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) REPLACEMENT. NLM |
| 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 |
| 619039 | THIS MESSAGE CONCERNS VEHICLES EXHIBITING A CLUNK NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CUSTOMERS MAY STATE THAT A CLUNK NOISE IS HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT |
| 615114 | PRODUCT RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM FASTENERS ON VEHICLES HAVING A CONDITION WHICH COULD RESULT IN ONE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BOLTS BREAKING. *TT |
| 614379 | EXHIBITING A RATTLE TYPE NOISE FROM GLOVE BOX DOOR OR KEY LOCK CYLINDER. *TT |
| 614376 | EXPERIENCING A RATTLE / SQUEAK IN RIGHT SIDE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL OR RIGHT FRONT DOOR TRIM PANEL SCRATCHED OR RIGHT SIDE END OF INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTACTING DOOR TRIM PANEL. *TT |
| 613594 | VOLUNTARY EMISSION CAMPAIGN INVOLVING VEHICLES EXHIBITING SYMPTONS RESULTING IN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. **MR |
| 613590 | INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR |
| 613584 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE A FAILURE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET LEADING TO EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAKS FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET TO ENGINE BLOCK JOINT. **MR |
| 612668 | VEHICLES EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS RESULTING IN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH (INSPECTION, CLEAN/REPLACE AND SEAL PCM, AND INSTALL PROTECTIVE PCM SHIELD ASSEMBLY). *MJS |
| 612655 | INFORMATION REGARDING ADDITIONAL CORRECTIONS FROM PRIVIOUS CAMPAIGN 99088, CONDITIONS THAT CONCERN ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION. MJS |
| 611973 | GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY EMISSION CAMPAIGN INVOLVING VEHICLES EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS RESULTING IN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. *TT |
| 609730 | CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER SHOWS WEAR OR PERMANENT DAMAGE IN VARIOUS AREAS. YD |
| 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 |
| 6088948 | ON SOME CONVERTIBLE MODELS, THE DOOR RATTLES WHEN CLOSING. *TT |
| 608373 | CONCERNS WITH THE LEFT HAND MANUAL MIRROR NOT ADJUSTING WHEN THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER IS MOVED. *TT |
| 607580 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO FRONT AND / OR REAR STABILIZER SHAFT SQUAWK / SQUEAK NOISE. *TT |
| 606701 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELT PLASTIC COVER WILL NOT STAY SNAPPED IN PLACE ON COUPE MODELS ONLY. *TT |
| 606544 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS A BULGE IN THE MATERIAL ON THE TOP BACKSIDE OF EITHER FRONT BUCKET SEAT. *TT |
| 606062 | CONDITIONS WITH WATER LEAK AT FRONT HEADER. *TT |
| 603835 | COMMENTS THAT A METALLIC NOISE OR COLD RAP HEARD ON COLD EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT |
| 603090 | REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) LID LATCH DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK / OPEN. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION
FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN AREA
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation