2001 Pontiac SUNFIRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 66 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 10.6% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 10.6% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.0% |
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 | 9 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
Electrical System: 9; Air Bags: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Tires: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2
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 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2001: 8; 2002: 15; 2003: 7; 2004: 11; 2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10014141 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING OR BRAKING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021080 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
I WENT TO LOOK AT MY BRAKES AND FOUND THAT INSIDE MY TREADS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE MY TREADS THE RUBBER IS CRACKING. THE TIRES ARE JUST OVER A YEAR OLD WITH 25,000 MILES ON THEM. PLACE OF PURCHASE WAS CONTACTED BUT DUE TO A MOVE I AM UNABLE TO GET TO DEALER HAVE TO FIND CLOSER DEALER THAT SERVICES THE TIRES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046542 · 2003-11-07 (November 7, 2003)
UPON PULLING HOOD RELEASE LATCH INSIDE THE VEHICLE THE HOOD FAILED TO OPEN TO SECONDARY LATCH. THE MECHANISM WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING ONTO HOOD RELEASE CABLE, CORRODING IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138782 · 2005-10-06 (October 6, 2005)
ODOMETER DISPLAY IS VISIBLE WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR. AS SOON AS YOU BEGIN TO DRIVE, THE ODOMETER READING BEGINS TO FLICKER. DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE GIVING AN ACCURATE READING EITHER. SHOP STATED THAT NEW DASH ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT ISSUE SINCE ACCESS TO WIRING WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078684 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
1.)THE "TRAC OFF" LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND THE VEHICLE TURNS OFF. 2.) THE FUEL GAUGE GIVES INCORRECT READING. 3.) BOTH REAR POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131370 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
2001 PONTIAC - AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSES TOTAL WRECK JUNE 28, 2005, CA. 1130 - ON A RIGHT-ANGLE TURN AT LESS THAN 5 MPH INTO A NARROW LANE IN A PARKING AREA AT CONROE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER , CONROE, TX, AT ABOUT 1130 JUNE 28, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL OF MY 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WENT UP ONTO A 3-TO-4-INCH-HIGH CONCRETE MEDIAN. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STEER OFF THE MEDIAN, THE RESULTING SLIGHT DROP CAUSED MY AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THIS DEPLOYMENT CAUSED BRUISES ON BOTH FOREARMS, BRUISED MY LOWER RIGHT RIBCAGE AND FORCED BOTH HANDS BACK OFF THE WHEEL, PRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089669 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. *AK THE CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN STARTED ON THE SIXTH TRY AND DRIVEN IN FOR SERVICE. *TC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458915 · 2012-05-18 (May 18, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000. UPDATED 06/20/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL INJECTION WAS NOT REPLACED. HER HUSBAND REPLACED THE FUSES. UPDATED 06/22/12 UPDATED 8/20/12 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE USED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037689 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACE, BUT VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY, AND CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10393215 · 2011-03-22 (March 22, 2011)
I TOO HAVE A 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SE 2.2 AUTO WITH ABOUT 58,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MARCH OF 2002 WITH ONLY 14,937 MILES ON IT. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR TILL NOVEMBER 2004 AT 44,874 MILES, WHEN AN 8 POINT BUCK RAN INTO THE LEFT SIDE FRONT FENDER AND DAMAGED IT, THE HOOD, WINDSHIELD, DRIVER'S DOOR, ROOF, AND BACK DOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, THEN SAT OUTSIDE FOR ABOUT 4 1/2 YEARS. HAD TO INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP AND BATTERY, THEN I STARTED DRIVING IT AGAIN EVERY DAY IN NOVEMBER 2009. NOW I HAVE NO …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 567748 · 2002-10-08 (October 8, 2002)
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM MANUAL 1ST GEAR TO 2ND. THE MECHANICS HAVE CONSULTED WITH GM SPECIALISTS AND THEY BELIEVE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL UNSOLVED. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567748 at NHTSA ↗