1989 Pontiac SUNBIRD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
167,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 16.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 1; 2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10117851 · 2005-08-30 (August 30, 2005)
FUEL TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS AND THERE WERE SIGN OF LEAKAGE AT THE SEAMS. RECALL 88V189000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 167,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504940 · 1996-06-03 (June 3, 1996)
TAIL PIPE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724184 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)
I WAS PROMICED ALL THESE THINGS BUT HE IGNORED ME AND I HAVE BEEN ENDED UP WITH A PIECE OF JUNK THAT I PAID $800 AND HAVE PUT OVER $500 INTO IT I WANT TO KEEP THE CAR BUT THERE ARE MAJOR THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED AND I EVEN HAVE A WRITTEN CONTRACT I CALLED MY LOCAL DMV AND EVEN WENT DOWN THERE BUT THEY HAVE HAD TOO MANY COMPAINTS ON THIS GUY AND THEY CANT HANDLE MY CASE AT THIS TIME I WOULD JUST LIKE HIM TOO EITHER SEND ME TOO A PLACE OR SEND ME THE MONEY AFTER I GET QOUTES ON THE PROBLEMS I THINK THE COST WOULD BE A TOTAL OF AROUND $1000 OR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8008297 · 2002-04-22 (April 22, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ANDDUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959229 · 1995-01-27 (January 27, 1995)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE: WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY, HEARD BANG; NOTICED SMOKE; PULLED OVER; ENGINE ENGULFED WITH FIRE; NO WARNING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 976712 · 1995-12-18 (December 18, 1995)
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILURE, SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976712 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
88V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1988-12-06 (December 6, 1988)
A FUEL TANK LEAK COULD OCCUR DUE TO SMALL CREASES ON THE TANK UNDERSIDE CRACKING DURING PRESSURE CYCLING WHICH OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION.
Consequence: IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS CONDITION COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗