1995 Pontiac SUNFIRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
76 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
92,022 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 76 complaints (32.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 11 | 14.5% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 13.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 25 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 25; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 64 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 9 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 16 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 9; 1996: 7; 2000: 16; 2001: 12; 2002: 16; 2003: 9; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10029217 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALL ABOUT STARTER. HAD FIRE (SMOKE) IN STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOT WORKING RIGHT. WINDOWS STUCK HALF WAY, BLINKING LIGHTS IN DASH AND HAD MOTOR REPLACED, BUT VERY BAD, DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL AND MOTOR FROZE. CAR IS IN DESTRUCTION MODE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222508 · 2008-03-27 (March 27, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING HER VEHICLE AND TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MELTED AND WAS LYING ON THE FLOORBOARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). PONTIAC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS U…
Owner-reported narrative. 157,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023685 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE REAR OF CAR SQUATS WHEN BRAKING I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED / ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES NHTSA ALREADY HAS THIS LISTED AS SERVICE BULLETIN 735018 I WOULD LIKE TO ADD OUR VEHICLE TO THIS COMPLAINT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072648 · 2004-05-15 (May 15, 2004)
1995 SUNFIRE, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1997. THE BRAKES LOCK-UP WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I HAVE TO STOP A A CORNER OR LIGHT. THIS USUALLY ONLY HAPPENS WHEN OR AFTER IT RAINS. IT IS VERY SCARY I ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OVER THE CAR.MY HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE ENGINE GAGE RISES ALMOST TO OVER HEATING WHEN IT IS HOTOUTSIDE, AND THE AIR DOES NOT WORK I HAVE TO GET IT CHARGED EVERY YEAR. IS THIS CAR A LEMON OR WHAT?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000286 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
IN FULFILLMENT OF RECALL 02008-S, A GM DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS WILL DESTROY THE TERMINAL ON THE SOLENOID, RESULTING IN THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH THE SOLENOID AND STARTER MOTOR. BOTH PARTS ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER BUT GM WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THIS DAMAGE, APPROX $260. IN SHORT, A RUSTY TERMINAL WILL PROBABLY BREAK WHEN REMOVED. FOR THIS, GM WANTS TO SELL A NEW STARTER WITH SOLENOID AT FULL PRICE. I HAVE CONFIRMED THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE DAMAGE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. GM REFUSED ME DIRECTL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005100 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING AND SPEED REACHED 40 MPH THE CAR VIBRATES, WHEN SPEED REACHED 60 MPH IT VIBRATES AGAIN. WHEN DECELERATING AFTER DRIVING FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND SPEED REACHED 10 MPH (WHILE DECELERATING) THE CAR VIBRATES VIOLENTLY, THEN SHUTS OFF. WHEN I RESTART THE ENGINE IT RUNS NOISILY WHILE STILL IN PARK, THEN SHUTS OFF AGAIN WHEN PUT IN GEAR. I HAVE TO WAIT A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE I START THE CAR AND PUT IT IN GEAR AND IT RUNS, UNTIL I DECELERATE AGAIN AND THE CYCLE STARTS OVER. I HAVE HAD MY HEAD GASKET REPAIRED/REPLACE BY JAY PONTIAC IN CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719750 · 2000-03-06 (March 6, 2000)
HAD HEADGASKET/ TRANSMISSION/ BOTH FRONTSPEAKERS/ REAR GLASS FOR REAR DEFOGGER, AND RADIO REPLACED ONCE THEY SAY IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, HAD ONE SPARK PLUG REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132798 · 2005-08-14 (August 14, 2005)
I SMELLED GAS AND LOSS OF FUEL. GAS LEAKING OUT FROM INJECTOR ONTO HOT ENGINE COULD CAUSE FIRE. HAD PART REPLACED- FUEL INJECTORS #2 AND 3. NOW ANOTHER IS LEAKING. HAVE TO TAKE IT IN, BUT MONEY IS AN OBJECT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8009184 · 2002-05-06 (May 6, 2002)
VEHICLE IS LEAKING WATER FROM HEAD GASKET. COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH. TOOK TO DEALER. ALSO THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V367000. *AK DEALER FOUND SMALL HOLE IN CYLINDER HEAD. ENGINE WILL NOT START AND IS OVERHEATING. VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT STOP. VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, HEAD GASKET, COOLANT, FAN BELT, PLUGS AND WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. FOUND FRONT HUB BEARING MAKING ROARING NOISE. A/C STOP WORKING. DEALER FOUND COMPRESSOR FAILED. THERE IS A STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN CRANKING VEHICLE. FUEL INJECTO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8009184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751761 · 2001-09-06 (September 6, 2001)
ANY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, EITHER COLD OR WARM START, THE MOTOR HAS A VERY IRRATIC IDLE, COMES CLOSE TO STALLING, AND GIVES OFF VERY STRONG EXHAUST FUMES. THE PROBLEM LASTS FOR 1-3 MINUTES, DURING WHICH THE CAR IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. UNTIL THIS TIME HAS ELAPSED, THE MOTOR IS UNRESPONSIVE TO ANY THROTTLE INPUT. IF I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE PROBLEM WORSENS, AND EVENTUALLY STALLS. AFTER NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN REACHED, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW, AND CAN NOT SEE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751761 at NHTSA ↗