2000 Pontiac SUNFIRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
63,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 96 complaints (10.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 21.9% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 15.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 15.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 9.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
Electrical System: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 62 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 13; 2001: 18; 2002: 14; 2003: 14; 2004: 13; 2005: 8; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2017: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 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 10004903 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
I HAVE A PROBLEM AND I DONT KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR ANSWERS ON MY CAR. I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE...WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH IT TILL I TOOK IT IN LAST WEEK FOR INSPECTION. THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED, BRAKES AND ROTORS AND 2 NEW TIRES.......THEN THE DAY I GOT IT, IT LEFT ME STRANDED ALONG THE ROAD, THE TEMP GAUGE KEPT GOING PASSED 265 AND THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND I HAD TO LET THE CAR SIT. I CALLED THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AT AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM.....THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR THE LAST 4 DAYS, DRIVING TO FIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009250 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
THE BRAKES AND THE SUSPENSION FAILED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004670 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE WOULD STALL, AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015410 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030504 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR BRAKE REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 3 1/2 YRS. AT LEAST 5-7 TIMES. MY CAR IS NOW EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH A PLUG UNDER THE HARNESS AND WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND WIRING. MY CAR WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEN IT WILL START, ONLY TO BREAKDOWN AGAIN WHEN IT HEATS UP. IT HAS ALSO CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY.IT HAS BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES IN THREE WEEKS FOR REPAIR DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS. I'VE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS AND NOTHING SEE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030998 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. BRAKES CHATTER, OVERHEATING, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, CD PLAYER AND SPEAKERS DID NOT WORK. NOW IT STALLS WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. STALLS AT 70 MPH GOING DOWN HIGHWAY. HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING 3 OR 4 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO DAYS. CHECKED OUT AT SERVICE STATION ON COMPUTER, AND SHOWS NO PROBLEMS. HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS HERE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. BAD FUEL PUMP OR SOMETHING IS CAUSING CAR TO STALL. THEN IT TAKES FROM 10 TO 15 MINUTES TO START AGAIN. SOME DAYS IT JUST WON'T START AT ALL. H…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039590 · 2003-09-26 (September 26, 2003)
2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE EXPERIENCING FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONS AT VEHICLE AGE OF 3.5 YRS. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO MULIPLE MECHANICS, ALL OF WHOM SUGGEST PUMP MALFUNCTION AND RECCOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND RELAY VALVE. MANUFACTURER WARRANTY OF 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES HAS EXPIRED FOR THIS VEHICLE. CAR INITIALLY TAKEN INTO PONTIAC DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION. ENGINE WOULD TURN BUT NOT FIRE RESULTING IN NO IGNITION. CAR OWNER PAID FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND RELAY VALVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095209 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 62000 MILES. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS DENIED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 62,088 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108387 · 2005-02-01 (February 1, 2005)
MY 2000 SUNFIRE AUTOMATIC CAR STOPPED MOVING ON DECEMBER 19, 2004 WITH 64,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP IN VIROQUA, WI ON MON., DEC. 21. THEY TOLD ME ON DEC. 22 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND THE PART WOULD BE IN AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY 2005. I CALLED THEM EVERY WEEK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH. I WAS TOLD "I WAS ON THE TOP OF THE HUNDREDS LIST TO GET THE PART." THEN THE DATE WAS MOVED TO THE END OF JAN. 2005. I CALLED THEM BACK ON FEB. 1, 2005 AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE PART WOULD BE MADE AND THEY HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038403 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE DRIVER LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086280 · 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)
DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR SO SHE PULLED AND JERKED THE WHEEL. IN DOING SO WHEN THE STEERING UNFROZE HER CAR ROLLED OVER TWICE. CAR WAS TOTALED. WE ADVISED GM, WHO TOLD US THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE. AT THIS TIME THEY ARE ADMITING TO FINDING NO PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086280 at NHTSA ↗