2002 Pontiac SUNFIRE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 10011604 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
WHEN A TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING MADE A NOISE, AND BECAME LOOSE, THE MECHANIC STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BOOT AND THE SEAL, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER AND THE MECHANIC REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011604 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 10018835 · 2003-05-17 (May 17, 2003)
THE BRAKES ON MY PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2002 GRINDS, AND WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FRONT END IS COMING APART, I BELIEVE ITS THE BRAKE SYSTEM THAT'S CAUSING THE AWFUL NOISE, ITS EMBARRASSING THAT A NEW CAR SOUNDS LIKE A 1969 PONTIAC FIREBIRD COMING DOWN THE ROAD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019558 · 2003-05-09 (May 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024762 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
SERVICE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY, AND DESTROYED THE ROTORS AND OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS. *AK THE BRAKES SQUEALED AND MADE A GRIND NOISE, THE LEFT (DRIVER FRONT) HUB CAP RATTLED/SHAKED, WATER LEAKED IN THE BACK SEAT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE METAL BRAKES DIDN'T HAVE PADS. THE FRONT END STEERING SHAKED, THE ROTOR(S) HAD WORN OUT, THE RIGHT INSIDE DOOR PANEL WAS LOOSE, THE SPEAKER HAD GONE OUT, THE POWER STEERING SQUEAKED PER INVOICE, THE AC CHIRPED, AND A WIND NOISE HAD COME FROM THE FRONT DOORS. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,543 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025339 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON ME WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. I LITERALLY HAD TO PULL HARD TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR GOING RIGHT UP INTO PARK CARS. I CALLED TO PONTIAC ROADSIDE SERVICE SO THEY CAN TOW BECAUSE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP THEY TOOK IT TO SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I REFUSE TO PICK IT UP AND DRIVE IT ANY LONGER. I HAVE CHILDREN AND THEIR LIVES ARE NOT WORTH A $12,000 CAR. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN 4 MONTHS THAT THIS CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DEFECTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 17,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025339 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.