2004 Pontiac SUNFIRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 32 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 15.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 15.6% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 9.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 6 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
Electrical System: 7; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 6; Engine: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 5; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10067403 · 2004-04-19 (April 19, 2004)
WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168661 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE STOPPED AT AN IDLE, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE WAS EASILY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY, AIR FLOW SENSOR, ALTITUDE SENSOR, AND THE FUEL FILTER FITTING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE REPLACEMENTS WERE MADE, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111861 · 2005-02-20 (February 20, 2005)
I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2004 SUNFIRE THAT WAS JUST PURCHASED AT THE END OF AUGUST, WHEN I SAW A FLAME COME OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH NEAR MY FOOT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THROUGH IT IN PARK AND JUMPED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED!*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221376 · 2008-03-16 (March 16, 2008)
THE ABS,TRAC AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I HIT A DEER BECAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WOULD NOT LET ME STOP FROM HITTING IT. I NOW HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH ABS TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE LIGHT BUT IT NOW MAKES IT HARD TO STOP TILL ALL THOSE COME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE HUB OF REAR END. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170068 · 2006-10-06 (October 6, 2006)
I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS ODI ID NUMBER : 1016866, WHERE AT ANYTIME, ANY SPEED, STOPPED OR MOVING, MY CAR'S ENGINE WILL DROP BELOW THE NORMAL IDLING SPEED AND STALL OUT. IT WILL JUST STOP! THE CAR IS MOVING, BUT THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED! THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES! I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM A COUPLE OF TIMES IN A HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC AREA. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR WRECK, BECAUSE WHEN THE ENGINE IS STOPPED, YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING! THIS CAR IS NOT AN EASY CAR TO MANEUVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I CRANKED THE KE…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11349088 · 2020-08-13 (August 13, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, I HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO STRAIGHT. I THOUGHT I MIGHT NEED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD FIRESTONE DEALER THAT NORMALLY WORKS ON MY CARS. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR, THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED OUT AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THEY GAVE ME PICTURES OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WHICH ALL READY HAD CRACKED APART DUE TO THE RUST. THEY SAID IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE OR ANYTHING I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11349088 at NHTSA ↗