2004 Pontiac SUNFIRE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10049891 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH MUFFLER FELL OFF INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049891 at NHTSA ↗
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 10067438 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
DURING A SUDDEN STOP AT 35 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071687 · 2004-04-27 (April 27, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN. THE FIRST DAY THAT CONSUMER GOT THE VEHICLE HE COULD NOT OPEN THE TRUNK . THEN ,WHILE DRIVING TRUNK WOULD OPEN ON ITS OWN. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE FROM THE REAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079578 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE SO LOW THAT DURING THE NIGHT THE VISION IS VERY POOR. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INDICATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE BRIGHTNESS FOR THE LOW BEAM BULBS ARE SO BAD THAT IT IS ALMOST AS IF DRIVING WITHOUT. *JB HEADLIGHTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086939 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)
MP3 RADIO DISPLAY WAS INCORRECT AND PROGRAM STATIONS WERE NOT KEEPING ITS PROGRAM AFTER CAR WAS SHUT OFF. RADIO WAS REPLACED, AND NOW THE DISPLAY WAS INCORRECT ON ONE OF PROGRAM STATIONS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 441 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086939 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 10114420 · 2005-03-21 (March 21, 2005)
WHEN DRIVING MY 2004 SUNFIRE THE DASH SEEMS TO GET REALLY HOT AND SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. I AM AFRAID THAT IT IS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114420 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.
04V300000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.' THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH AN INCORRECT NUT AND BOLT.
Consequence: IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND INSTALL A NEW NUT AND BOLT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗