Pontiac / Sunfire / 2002

2002 Pontiac Sunfire problems

Owners have filed 128 complaints about the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 19.5% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 14.1%.

Complaints128

Crashes9

Fires5

Injuries15

Deaths2

What owners report breaking

Electrical system 19.5% · 25

Service brakes, hydraulic 14.1% · 18

Steering 8.6% · 11

Engine and engine cooling 8.6% · 11

Visibility 7.8% · 10

Power train 6.3% · 8

Exterior lighting 4.7% · 6

Equipment 4.7% · 6

Severity

Of those complaints, 9 describe a crash, 5 describe a fire, 15 report an injury and 2 report a death.

Reading the numbers

Across the 8 model years of the Pontiac Sunfire in this data, 2002 draws comparatively few complaints; 1996 is the outlier year.

Filings are rising — 14 in the last three years against 6 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 29,000 miles.

In owners' own words

The contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire. The contact stated that the key took thirty minutes to eject from the ignition switch after repeated attempts. On a separate occasion, the ignition key failed to turn in any position or release from the ignition switch. An independent mechanic replaced the ignition switch. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000. Electrical system · reported at 53,000 miles

The contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire. The contact stated that the ignition seized in the "on" position and the vehicle failed to turn off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ignition was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 151,000. Electrical system · reported at 151,000 miles

I have a 2002 pontac Sunfire I bought on 10/22/2003. Every since I have owned it, I have had to keep taking it back for electrical problems. As a matter of fact ,it is at the dealer right now , for a problem in the fuse box. The car had only 23,000 miles when I bought it. Electrical system · reported at 24,000 miles

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other Pontiac Sunfire years

1996 320 complaints · 16.9% engine and engine cooling 1997 257 complaints · 17.1% steering 1998 149 complaints · 22.8% engine and engine cooling 1999 128 complaints · 19.5% electrical system 2000 169 complaints · 18.9% electrical system 2003 113 complaints · 24.8% exterior lighting

Compare all 8 model years →