1995 Pontiac SUNFIRE: complaints, problems and recalls

IN FULFILLMENT OF RECALL 02008-S, A GM DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS WILL DESTROY THE TERMINAL ON THE SOLENOID, RESULTING IN THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH THE SOLENOID AND STARTER MOTOR. BOTH PARTS ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER BUT GM WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THIS DAMAGE, APPROX $260. IN SHORT, A RUSTY TERMINAL WILL PROBABLY BREAK WHEN REMOVED. FOR THIS, GM WANTS TO SELL A NEW STARTER WITH SOLENOID AT FULL PRICE. I HAVE CONFIRMED THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE DAMAGE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. GM REFUSED ME DIRECTL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000286 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT AND WAS REPLACED AT 44,941 MILES. IT STARTED LEAKING AGAIN AT 54,313 AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PONTIAC WON'T COVER IT BECAUSE THE CAR IS MORE THAN 7 YEARS OLD AND DEALER WON'T COVER IT BECAUSE IT WAS MORE THAN ONE YEAR WHEN IT HAD TO BE REPLACED THE SECOND TIME. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS HEAD GASKET ANYWAY??

Owner-reported narrative. 54,313 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003388 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 94,044 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004747 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING AND SPEED REACHED 40 MPH THE CAR VIBRATES, WHEN SPEED REACHED 60 MPH IT VIBRATES AGAIN. WHEN DECELERATING AFTER DRIVING FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND SPEED REACHED 10 MPH (WHILE DECELERATING) THE CAR VIBRATES VIOLENTLY, THEN SHUTS OFF. WHEN I RESTART THE ENGINE IT RUNS NOISILY WHILE STILL IN PARK, THEN SHUTS OFF AGAIN WHEN PUT IN GEAR. I HAVE TO WAIT A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE I START THE CAR AND PUT IT IN GEAR AND IT RUNS, UNTIL I DECELERATE AGAIN AND THE CYCLE STARTS OVER. I HAVE HAD MY HEAD GASKET REPAIRED/REPLACE BY JAY PONTIAC IN CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005100 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON MY 1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHEN I HAD IT REPAIRED AFTER NOT REALLY DRIVING IT FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE 1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014367 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ON A 1995 SUNFIRE. SEEMS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM ON THIS ENGINE. 2.2 LITER. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 84,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019147 at NHTSA ↗

1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE REAR OF CAR SQUATS WHEN BRAKING I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED / ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES NHTSA ALREADY HAS THIS LISTED AS SERVICE BULLETIN 735018 I WOULD LIKE TO ADD OUR VEHICLE TO THIS COMPLAINT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023685 at NHTSA ↗

JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALL ABOUT STARTER. HAD FIRE (SMOKE) IN STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOT WORKING RIGHT. WINDOWS STUCK HALF WAY, BLINKING LIGHTS IN DASH AND HAD MOTOR REPLACED, BUT VERY BAD, DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL AND MOTOR FROZE. CAR IS IN DESTRUCTION MODE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029217 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-03-06 (March 6, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 1995-02-16 (February 16, 1995)

THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH WELDS MISSING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES CAUSING EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE EXISTING WELDS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONTBUSHING SLEEVE SUBASSEMBLY FROM THE CONTROL ARM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FOUND WITH OMITTED WELDS.

Reported: 1995-07-26 (July 26, 1995)

SOME WELDS WERE OMITTED FROM THE BODY LOCK PILLAR, OR "B" PILLAR. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF A VEHICLE CRASH SHOULD OCCUR, OCCUPANT PROTECTION LEVELS COULD BE REDUCED.

Remedy: ALL VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED AND REPLACED WITH A COMPARABLE VEHICLE.

Reported: 1996-01-02 (January 2, 1996)

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER TRIM PLATE/BEZEL CAN SAG AND COVER THE LIGHT EMITTING DIODE PORTION (LIGHTED POINTED ABOVE PANEL) OF THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAY. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSAXLE GEAR SELECTOR RESULTING IN A DRIVER EITHER INADVERTENTLY LEAVING A PARKED OR IDLING VEHICLE IN DRIVE, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL RATHER THAN PARK, OR SELECTING AN INCORRECT TRANSAXLE SHIFT POSITION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO INSTALL A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER TRIM PLATE/BEZEL ASSEMBLY WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS CONDITION.

Reported: 1996-12-17 (December 17, 1996)

THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.