- The problem
- Dorman products is recalling 3,900 intermediate steering shafts dorman part nos. 425-151, 425-152, And 425-153, (sold under dorman's "oe solutions" brand name), balkamp #'s 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (sold under the "napa" brand name), and platinum parts #'s 2425151, 2425152, and 2425153 manufactured during the month of september 2007. These replacement steering shafts can be used on the vehicles listed above. The weld connecting the inner tube to the outer tube may be defective.
- The risk
- If the weld fails, loss of steering could result, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dorman will notify owners and replace the steering shafts free of charge. The recall began on october 16, 2008. Owners may contact dorman toll free at 1-800-523-2492.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Pontiac Sunfire Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 127 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (34) and the electrical system (22). Those complaints describe 13 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries and 4 deaths. It is covered by 7 recalls, the latest in October 2008 for the steering. For comparison, the 1997 has 201 and the 1999 has 102.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Sunfire year, for its age
#62 most complained-about 1998 vehicle
- Complaints
- 127
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes
- 13
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 9
- Deaths
- 4
Most common 1998 Pontiac Sunfire problems
Share of all 127 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1998 Pontiac Sunfire recalls 7
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11b1, fp10026-11b1, and fp10027-11b1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer.
- The risk
- FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
- The fix
- Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on april 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.
- The problem
- Certain delphi aftermarket fuel pump modules / module reservoir assemblies (mra) that were sold for use on the above listed vehicles. During production the mras vent and fuel return tubes were reversed. This condition can result in the vehicle not running correctly (idle rough and/or stall) due to an overly rich fuel blend or the vehicle's evaporative emission carbon canister may leak fuel.
- The risk
- A stalled vehicle can increase the risk of a vehicle crash. A fuel leak can result in a fire.
- The fix
- Delphi will notify owners and replace the defective mras free of charge. The recall began on march 20, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 1-877-335-7443.
- The problem
- Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online by going to www.Mygmlink.Com and entering the vehicle's identification number.
- The problem
- Certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
- The risk
- If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. 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, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The wheel lug nuts were not tightened securely resulting in a fracture of the wheel studs.
- The risk
- The wheel could separate from the vehicle. If the vehicle were in motion, a vehicle crash could result.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the torque of all wheel nuts and, if necessary, tighten any that may be below required torque.
What owners say
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127 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 6.
While driving the vehicle will shut down and the theft system light with start flashing will start again and but shut down again I was driving on a city street and had it at a dealer they replaced the ecu the gauges and the ignition they replaced the ecu 3 times with no avail this has happened to all 4 of my pontiacs
Cars battery constantly ran down. Battery was checked and was ok as it was three months old. Repair station said the horn was shorted and the air bag is part of the horn switch and must be replaced.
Brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and rear defroster all stopped functioning. Problem initially happened about 5 minutes after starting vehicle, but now is persistent and none of these items function posing a major safety hazard.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac sunfire equipped with douglass x-trac a-w tires, size 205/55r16 (na). The contact purchased one tire in november of 2013 and another in january of 2014. The vehicle was taken to wal-mart in february of 2014, where the tires were purchased, and it was diagnosed that the tires were leaking. The vin and dot number were unavailable. The approximate vehicle and tire failure mileage was 88,000. Updated 7/1/15*cn updated 7/23/15*cn the consumer stated all three tires were purchased a different times and had leaks. Updated 07/28/15*bf...Updated 10/15/15 *bf updated 10/16/2017*cn
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the shift cable 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 101,000. Updated 12/21/12 *cn updated 1/14/2013 *js
The accelerator pedal stuck while driving. When trying to use the brake the car still will not stop. *Tr
Apparently, their is a known issue w/the 98 pontiac sunfire steering rack and pinion gear making it feel like their is a total loss of power steering, even though the power steering pump is working properly. I purchased this car in january of 2011 off a little old lady, who kept it in a garage and barely drove it, the car only had 51,000 miles on it. She advised that she didn't know of any recalls, so she didn't take it in for any of the recall repairs. I have check the nhtsa website as well as several other...
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reputable sites and have found their have been several recalls on this vehicle. However, upon calling pontiacs recall hotline, they are telling me that these recalls on your website never existed for my 98 pontiac sunfire and went on to say that you can believe every thing you read on the internet (how funny, your average moron could have figured that out). But regardless, it appears that pontiac is saying that they will not fix these recalls. Please investigate and let me know if my concerns are legitimate. I don't want to pay for a repair, when the car should have been fixed under their recall. Thanks. *Tr
1998 Pontiac sunfire gt anti-theft system won't disengage, car is dead. (When the anti-theft system is triggered, the fuel pump is shut off) it may have been triggered by using a copy of the original key. Following manufacturer's instructions (turn on iignition for 10 min, turn off and turn on again) doesn't work. An internet search revealed that there are 1000s of people with the same problem with sunfire and other gm cars. I would like gm to acknowledge the problem and repair the faulty system. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 pontiac sunfire. While driving less than 15 mph, the contact was unable to turn left. The contact vehicle became difficult to steer. The contact had to reverse and reposition the vehicle to make the turn. The contact called the dealer who referred him to the manufacturer. The contact referenced recall 02v286000 (steering: rack and pinion) but the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included. The failure occurred several times in a day. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 97,000.
Vehicle was blowing 30 amp fuse going to rear defogger grid. Found melted insulation on 12 volt line and ground resulting in short circuit. Defogger grid still drawing enough current to melt insulation of 12 volt line. Disconnected rear defogger grid to prevent possible fire in dash. *Tr
Lost brakes in my 1998 pontiac sunfire when braking on an expressway exit ramp. This was a very unsafe condition, but was able to avert a collision. The left rear brake line (hydraulic) corroded through and caused a large leak, leaving marginal brakes.*Tr
I own a 1998 pontiac sunfire and have a problem with the daytime lights staying on even when the switch is turned to have the night time headlights on. It goes back and forth from day to night lights and will not stay on night when driving. *Tr
1998 Sunfire began to make clunking noises on front right side. Upon visual investigation, it was found that the frame component was completely rusted through and separated. This could be a very dangerous problem under the right circumstance. I have sent digital files to your webmaster email to show exactly what has happened as I feel that there should be a recall immediately , as this is a serious safety matter. *Tr
Coolant had been leaking for over 3 months off and on. Put in stop leak for a temp fix. However dexcool continued to eat away at my coolant system. Car has overheated on many occasions. Finally able to use jb weld to fix leak . *Tr
Car was driven to a friends house. After being in the house for approximately 15 min. We were notified that our car's engine compartment was on fire. Everything in the compartment was melted or distorted. Insurance company totaled the car.
I own a 98 pontiac grand prix,black,four door automatic.I have been paying for this car for about two years.I went to start my car and it was dead so we hooked it up to a power save jumper cable box(the one that doesnt need another car to charge the battery) it still wouldnt start so my step father (who is a mechanic) came over to help, we hooked it back up to the jumper cables and he tryed to turn it over, nothing.... I leaned in to try and turn it over and my fuel injector manifold exploded. The plastic casing...
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blew about 20 ft down the road and the whole top of my engine was on fire.The fire blew my manifold apart,my fuel injector is completely missing the whole part where my spark plugs are is burned and so on there is alot of damage!!!I heard from my insurance company that there is an ongoing investigation into the pontiac grand prix.I have tryed to receive any information that would help me understand why this happened. I have contacted gm personally and am having it looked at by a gm specialist(supposedly).Im just very thankful that mine nor my stepfathers face was under that hood or one of us would have been very badly injured.
Dt*: the contact stated six to eight months ago, when turning left, a pop was heard in the steering column. Since that time, the steering has been harder to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined the rack and pinion and power steering hose needed to be replaced.
1998 Pontiac sunfire making a right turn 30 mph when all wheel lug bolts broke on right front wheel and wheel came off. Wheel got stuck under car. No steering and braking was limited. Car went off the road. With the help of the rear emergency brake the car was stopped. Fortunately no injuries. Damage to disk brake, large dent in fender and bumper. Nhtsa recall 97v219000 indicates similar problem for 1998 pontiac sunfire. Wheel holes were perfectly round indicating the wheel nuts were not loose. Car front...
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wheels had been serviced 6 months earlier for new brakes. When I called pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 they indicated there was no recall for this car involving wheel lug bolts and said there is nothing they can do. *Nm
I own a 1998 pontiac sunfire. The failure is with the headlights/daytime running lights. .. The daytime running lights work fine, but at night, when I twist the lever to turn the headlights on, only my daytime running lights stay on and my headlights remain at about 1/2 brightness and the daytime running lights indicator stays on. (In otherwords, no change in the beams...) But then when I ever so slightly pull the lever back to go to flash my headlights, the daytime running lights indicator disappears and my...
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headlights brighten to "normal, nighttime brightness, then if I pull lever back towards me even farther, the highbeams come on)... But the problem is... The lever won't stay on either nighttime or high beam modes at all. Once I let go of the lever it returns to daytime runninglights, even with the lever twisted all the way to have the headlights on.... I still only get the daytime running lights (drl)... . On occasion the headlights work ok to begin with, but as I am driving the "normal" lights click back off and its only the drl that are on. Its very dangerous because the nightime tail lights are not on when the drl are only on. I also have a friend with a 97 pontiac sunfire and she is having the same problem with her drl/ and headlights. I have not yet corrected the problem, and I have researched it on the internet and others seem to be having the same problem.
A clicking noise was coming from the steering column. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs twice, and results indicated that the steering column needed to be greased, otherwise the consumer could lose steering while driving. *Ak the noise was the sound of metal on metal. Gm was aware of the problem. *Sc *jb
HEADLIGHT LENS POPPED OUT.
Nhtsa recall campaign 02v286000; general motors issued a steering assembly recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. But at certain times the power steering failed when making turns, making the ability to maneuver the vehicle difficult, and increasing the risk of a crash.*Ak vehicle power steering performs like it has no power stering , just like recall describes. Dealer refused to take action cause vin is not in lot of #'s recalled. *Bf
Within the last 10,000 miles fuel pump was replaced four times. Every 2500 to 3000 miles the pump will malfunction. Contacted the dealer. However, problem recurred. *Ak
In my 98 sunfire gt I have some major problems with yet I still own the car. A little bit ago it seems like my exhaust pipe falls off from the exhaust manifold from the flange. With causing your car to sound like it was a drag racer. Well I went to pontiac and figured out that it was going to cost me a pretty penny $500 some odd dollars. And the funny thing is that this has not just happened to me. It has happened to a few of my friends as well. I don't how know many times you have gotten letters about the faulty exhaust flanges. *Jb
When I bought the car used in october of 2000 it had to keep going back to the dealer for about 3 months because the engine in the car kept cutting out while driving around 55-60 mph. Dealer could not duplicate the problem. Finally after the 3rd month they found the main computer was bad. That was replaced. It ran fine until the next winter. The check engine light came on & car kept stalling when at stop signs/lights. Took to dealer had diagnostic ran which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor.... I replaced them...
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myself. Check engine light went out till the next day. Took car back in for diagnostic which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor,egr ,coil packs,gas tank sensor.....Had dealer work on it.... They could not see why all this stuff was popping up ....Had it all replaced. Replacing it did not work. Check engine light came on again about 2 days later!!! I checked car over & found if you wiggled the main wiring harness connections the car ran fine & engine light went out! Took to dealer to have wiring fixed. They took all the wiring apart & cleaned everything. They found no problem in the wiring. Check engine light came on next day.Took to dealer again finally they said I needed a new battery..... Weather was nice again & had no problems with car.... Now that winter is here again the check engine light is on again , diagnostic stated tps sensor was bad... I again replaced it & check engine light went out for a couple hours & is back on again & car stalls when stopping & trying to go ....Car is at dealer right now again. The whole time the check engine light is on I also have problems with the car stalling.................... Have had numerous problems from 2000 to now & still having problems. *Ak
Pontiac Sunfire: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 91 | 2 | C |
| 2001 | 77 | 3 | C |
| 2000 | 112 | 3 | D |
| 1999 | 102 | 5 | C |
| 1998 | 127 | 7 | D |
| 1997 | 201 | 9 | F |
| 1996 | 201 | 10 | F |
| 1995 | 123 | 7 | D |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 | A |
1998 Pontiac Sunfire vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Pontiac Sunfire | 127 | 7 | D | |
| 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix | 499 | 8 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Pontiac Bonneville | 284 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport | 234 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Pontiac Grand AM | 179 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 1998 Pontiac Firebird | 70 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Pontiac Montana | 49 | 3 | B | Compare |
| 1998 Pontiac Trans AM | 11 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Pontiac Sunbird | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire
Does the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire: steering (October 2008); pressure relief devices (March 2007); fuel pump (February 2007); exterior lighting (March 2006) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (34), electrical system (22), steering (15).
How many complaints has the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire had?
127 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on May 26, 1998 and the latest on May 27, 2018. Of these, 13 describe a crash and 3 a fire, and together they report 9 injuries and 4 deaths.
Is the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 31 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Pontiac Sunfire year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Pontiac Sunfire years have the most complaints?
1996 (201), 1997 (201), 1998 (127). See every Pontiac Sunfire year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Pontiac Sunfire has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data