2003 Pontiac SUNFIRE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
72 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
34,459 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 72 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 20.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 13.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.8% |
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 | 16 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 3 |
Electrical System: 16; Exterior Lighting: 8; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 5; Air Bags: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 4; Electrical System:Wiring: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 20 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 | 8 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
2003: 8; 2004: 17; 2005: 10; 2006: 2; 2007: 7; 2008: 10; 2009: 7; 2010: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 5
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 10022915 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL ON SIX OCCASIONS. THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034223 · 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)
VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS; FUEL GAUGE IS NOT READING PROPERLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHEN THE GAUGE READS 1/4 FULL. ALSO, LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DOES NOT OPERATE ALL THE TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037291 · 2003-09-05 (September 5, 2003)
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AFTER LESS THAN 11,000 MILES OF TRAVEL; 2003 PONTIAC-SUNFIRE PURCHASED ON APRIL 29, 2003. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A BAD BATCH OF BRAKE PARTS OR THE COMPONENT IS EITHER UNDER DESIGNED OR IMPROPERLY SPECIFIED TO WITHSTAND DAY-TO-DAY CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. A 2001 CHEVROLET-CAVALIER THAT I PREVIOUSLY OWNED EXHIBITED THE SAME INSUFFICIENCY IN IT'S BRAKE ROTORS THAT REQUIRED SERVICING THREE TIMES IN 60,000 MILES OF DRIVING. BOTH OF THESE CARS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRIMS AND GM DIVISION NAME. THE COST TO R…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,681 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037656 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
WHILE APPLYING THE GEAR TO SHIFT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING, AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040953 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
LEFT BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING - PURCHASED VEHICLE 5/03 - MILEAGE 2300 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048178 · 2003-11-18 (November 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050258 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
CONSUMER REPLACED DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL BULBS FOUR TIMES. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE WHEN PREPARING TO MAKE A TURN, AND LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR A VEHICLE WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050639 · 2003-12-17 (December 17, 2003)
FRONT ROTORS ON THE CAR ARE DEFECTIVE. MY CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AT 6000 MILES WITH A COMPLAINT OF WARPED ROTORS CAUSING A VIBRATION UPON BRAKEING. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS "WERE WITHIN SPECS". I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AT 14000 MILES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THE ROTORS WERE "RESURFACED AND THE PADS WERE BUFFED". I DID NOT RECEIVE THE CAR WITH RESURFACED ROTORS AND BUFFED PADS. THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2003. I FEEL SINCE THE CAR CAME WITH A DEFECTIVE PART, THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS SHOULD BE REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050639 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.
04V524000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
Reported: 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN ADDITION, IF ONE BULBS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE REMAINING BULB WAS ACTIVATED. IF BOTH LAMPS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.
Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗