2002 Pontiac SUNFIRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
35,690 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 82 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 24.4% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 14.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 12.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 8.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 6.1% |
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 | 18 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
Electrical System: 18; Steering: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 5; Air Bags: 4; Power Train: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2002: 6; 2003: 14; 2004: 11; 2005: 9; 2006: 5; 2007: 10; 2008: 8; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 7; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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 10000534 · 2003-01-05 (January 5, 2003)
I FILED A COMPLAINT ON A 2002 GRAND AM GT VIN [XXX] CONCERNING STEERING PROBLEMS. I CANNOT FIND IT IN YOUR CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA BASE, NOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE OR RECALLS, SAFETY ISSUES, ETC ON 2002 GRAND AM GT IN GENERAL. AM I LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE? PLEASE HELP. ALSO, I NOW OWN A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE VIN [XXX]. I TOOK DELIVERY ON 10.31.02 AS PART OF LEMON LAW BYBACK BY GM ON ABOVE DISCUSSED GRAND AM. I AM HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS NEW CAR I CONSIDER SAFETY HAZARDS. GM SO FAR HAS HAD THE CAR MORE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012328 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE HEATS UP TO THE POINT THAT THERE IS A SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. THE BRAKES ARE LAGGING WHICH HAS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000943 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)
MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO COLLEGE AND SHE WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE AND THE STEERING OF HER 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE LOCKED UP AND SHE COULD NOT STEER. DUE TO THIS SHE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE CAR WAS TURNED SIDEWAYS AND HIT A TREE THEN WENT OVER A EMBANKMENT. THE DAMAGE IS ALL TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. I HAVE CALLED PONTIAC SEVERAL TIMES AND GOTTEN TRANSFERRED TO SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS AND NO ONE ENDS UP HELPING ME. I ALSO HAVE A TRIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY JUST WANT TO FIX THE EXTERIOR AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SHE IS HAVING…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068104 · 2004-04-30 (April 30, 2004)
I HAVE A 2002 PONTAC SUNFIRE I BOUGHT ON 10/22/2003. EVERY SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, I HAVE HAD TO KEEP TAKING IT BACK FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AS A MATTER OF FACT ,IT IS AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW , FOR A PROBLEM IN THE FUSE BOX. THE CAR HAD ONLY 23,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073003 · 2004-05-22 (May 22, 2004)
UNSURE OF THE DAY IN APRIL OF 2002 THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. THE PROBLEMS ARE WITH THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, BRAKES, ALL SEAT BELTS, WINDOWS, ROOF LEAKS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND RADIO. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT, HAD TO BE REPAIRED. PROBLEMS CONTINUED WITH THE HEATING/AIR SYSTEM SO I TOOK IT IN AGAIN. IT STILL WASN'T REPAIRED PROPERLY. ONE VENT OVER THE RADIO DOES NOT BLOW THE AIR OUT EFFECTIVELY LIKE THE VENT NEXT TO IT. WHEN THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF THE AI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042152 · 2003-10-02 (October 2, 2003)
WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND EXCESSIVE FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE ROTORS CONTINUOUSLY CRACKING. DEALERSHIP RESURFACED AND REPLACED THE ROTORS. ALSO WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR AT A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER CHIP. IN ADDITION, POWER WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. THEY WOULD ENGAGE BY THEMSELVES AND SLIDE UP/DOWN, AND STICK IN EITHER POSITION. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MOTOR, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057889 · 2004-02-06 (February 6, 2004)
VEHICLE HAS CUT-OFF OR COULDN'T BE STARTED 7 TIMES. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED 4 TIMES DUE TO ITS STALLING PROBLEMS. *LA PONTIAC HAD BEEN GIVEN 4-5 CHANCES TO FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE MAY 2003. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE POWER TRAIN MODULE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE PCM ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE CD PLAYER DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT START. THE MECHANIC(S) FOUND THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181477 · 2007-02-03 (February 3, 2007)
CRUISE CONTROL HAS GONE INSANE ONE DAY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CRUISE CONTROL DECIDED IT NEEDED TO SWITCH ON AND THAT I SHOULD BE GOING 50+ IN A 35 MPH ZONE. THIS IS ON A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH, THE ENGINE OF COURSE RACED AS HARD AS IT COULD. APPLYING THE BRAKES FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL; MANUALLY SWITCHING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF FAILED TO DISENGAGE; EVEN TURNING THE ENGINE OFF (BY TURNING OFF THE KEY) FAILED TO DISENGAGE IT! LUCKILY, I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSM…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,471 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197088 · 2007-07-20 (July 20, 2007)
I OWN A 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND I CONSTANTLY HAVE TROUBLE STARTING IT AND THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY. AFTER I PLAY WITH THE WIRING FOR A BIT IT EVENTUALLY STARTS YET WHEN I'M DRIVING IT IT STALLS OUT AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY CAR HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS BECAUSE IT JOLTS AS I SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN. AND SOMETIMES IT JOLTS WHEN I'M NOT ACCELERATING NOR DECREASING SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MID 2006. AND AFTER RESEARCHING IT I FOUND THAT THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR VARIOUS R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10197088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055010 · 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)
OCT. 2003 2003 PONITAC SUNFIRE REFUSED TO START. HAD TOWED TO MECHANIC CAUSE 400 MILES OVER WARRANTY, REPLACED FUEL FILTER BUT MECHANIC SAID NEEDED FUEL PUMP REPLACED. JAN. 2004, SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT HAD FAMILY MEMBER REPLACE FUEL FILTER AS CHEAP FIX, BUT DIDN'T WORK. TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENED WITHOUT HAVING TO BUY FUEL PUMP FROM GM AT COST, TOO MUCH MONEY. ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH GM VEHICLES AND NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT, YET ALL ARE THE SAME. PLEASE HELP FIX PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 36,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055010 at NHTSA ↗