I was purchasing this used car from a dealer. They replaced the ignition assembly 3 times. The car would mysteriously shut off, the ignition assembly would not allow the key to be removed and multiple times this happened. I lost allot of money I put on the car as it became obvious they could not fix it and I had to let them take it back with no refund to me.........They said at the dealer that I was lucky that I didn't have a fire. *Tr
Engine & cooling
1999 Pontiac Sunfire Engine problems
Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 21% of all its complaints, most recently on September 5, 2014. They describe 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
- Complaints
- 21
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Engine complaints
I was driving the car just after I purchased it and became cold so I turned on the heater and within 30 seconds smoke filled the car. I thought the engine was on fire. It smelled like burning oil or gas. I called delphi about recalls and before I could finish a sentence the man cut me off saying that the only recall on my car was for the o ring on the fuel. He said if I have a 1999 and that was defective I would be spewing fuel everywhere. I described what happened and he just cut me off. My brother purchased the...
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car from a dealer for over 3,000 dollars and I have no idea what the odometer is suppose to be because he said the dealer told him to bring it back and he would fix it. After he paid the dealer he contacted the dealer and the dealer told him that he will contact my brother when he can fix it. According to the odometer it has a little over 23,000 miles. I also noticed the headlights keep going out and there is yellow hot wire hanging out of the fuse box. *Tr
1999 Pontiac sunfire, vehicle caught fire. *Bf while driving, the consumer felt a thump and began to loose power. Once the consumer stopped, he noticed fire was coming from under the front end of the vehicle. Ohio traffic crash report # 10-0699-90.*Jb updated 04/14/10 *bf
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that the radiator cap fails each time it is turned. The failure has occurred seven times and he has replaced it each time. The vehicle has not been taken to the dealer. He feels that someone could be injured if the cap blows off the radiator. The current and failure mileages were 170,000. Updated 11/03/08. *Jb
The 1999 pontiac grand am - possibly the worst car ever made. At 30,000 miles, the alternator was replaced. At 40,000 miles, the intake manifold was replaced. Recalls replaced the steering wheel & center console, and other recalls have been made. At 50,000 miles the alternator was replaced again. Shortly after the warranty ran, major engine problems caused a $2,500 complete engine replacement. Under 90,000 miles, the gas gauge stopped working and the brake lights needed rewiring. Now, under 92,000 miles a...
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new problem with the electrical: the check engine lights come on intermittently, the trunk pops open on its own, the airbag comes on and off, the car only starts randomly, and worst of all it shuts off all on its own while driving down the street, so yet again we are forced to have diagnostics run to figure out what new and costly repairs will need to be made. Pontiac/gm should admit they made a mistake with the grand am/oldsmobile alero and pay all the current owners some $$ and take all the cars to a junk yard. The government of canada completely recalled these cars for the citizens of canada, yet in the u.S. It's the unfortunate owners of these vehicles who are getting taken. Do what I am doing and contact your local bbb, state ag, or any other political office (in addition to pontiac/gm) and let them know what pieces of crap the 99 grand am/alero are. I have talked to many repair shops and other owners of the car, and by far everyone seems to know what types of major problems this car has been. What other car manufacturer would allow so many problems to exist (such as car completely shutting off while driving) and have the gall to say nothing is wrong with it? *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 pontiac sunfire. The vehicle was purchased on february 19, 2007 with one of the front tires shredded. The tire was replaced. The contact stated that the odometer on the vehicle has never worked. A mechanic stated that the rear axle and the brakes needed to be replaced. The tires have been replaced. The check engine light and the air bag light continue to illuminate. The current and failure mileages were 116,598.
My headlights do not stay on. They turn off when I use my turn signal, or if I hit a bump. The hi-beams and drl's are fine, it's just the regular headlights. Also my engine shows that it is overheating on my temp. Guage, but does not act like it. When the a/c is turned on, it returns to a normal level. Another thing is my airconditioning line has a hole in it from another hose rubbing up against it. I think it's either my steering hose or radiator hose. When I turn left my car makes an awful grinding noise.
Check engine and air bag lights have been lit for about 1 year and local dealer was unable to find problem or fix. Vehicle recently hit a bump and driver airbag deployed without further incident. Speed about 30 mph with another adult in passenger seat and infant in rear-facing seat in rear. *Jb
The air conditioning compressor pump (a/c pump) comes into contact with the (1999) oem lower radiator hose (hose), denting the hose and wearing a hole in the hose over time. This condition is worse when front struts and/or engine mounts become worn. Initial leak of coolent is only detectable by low fluid level over extended period of time (apporximately 6 months to a year): no wetness on the hose or pooling of coolent fluid under the vehicle is detectable prior to a larger hole being worn into the hose. Prior to...
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larger hole being worn into hose, coolent loss is in vapor form, but not in a sufficient amount to be seen. Once the hole in the hose becomes large enough to be detected by fluid pooling under the vehicle, the coolent fluid will come in contact with the powertrain control module (pcm) and cause failure of the pcm. The pcm controls major engine and braking functions. A complete failure of the pcm will cause loss of braking control (via abs) and shut down of engine (causing loss of steering control). There is also the possibility of causing a electric short in the 12 volt circuit resulting in a fire. Please note that "after market" manufacturers replacement hose is redesigned to help prevent contact between a/c pump and the hose. At the time of this complaint it is unknown whether the oem hose has been redesign to prevent contact with the a/c pump.
Before the failure of my brakes for about 2 months I had this noise ever so often and slipping feeling when braking. I also started to have bad traction according to my traction light and my abs and brake light would come on after either going over railroad tracks or turning a right hand turn or hitting a pot hole. I would then have to restart my car to get rid of the messages on the dash telling me what was wrong. I had them check at the local dealership and new brake pads and rotors where put on all the way...
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around along with new tires. The problem still persists and I don't know what needs to be done. I have also lost my emergency brake in the past 2 weeks but I haven't had it looked at yet and heard that it might need tightened. I only bought his vehicle recently and it does have other minor problems that I hear so many grand am owners have. Like the loose right side view mirror and the volume dial on the radio and the inability to turn off the radio itself also along with the # 1 and 2 on the a/c...And heater do not work. I found this to be true in more than a dozen grand ams I looked at over the period of time I was looking for a new vehicle and I think something needs to be addressed. Thank you for your time.... *Nm
Engine failure at only 94,000 miles, with regular maintenance performed. 1999 Pontiac grand am, vin [[redacted]] - loss of engine power while driving due to faulty rods/pistons/bearings - requires rebuild of regularly serviced engine with less than 100,000 miles. Occurs during operation which is extremely dangerous, especially at highway speeds. *Jb *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving 55 mph the idle pulley failed. As a result, engine blew out. *Ak
The vehicles head gasket blew and destroyed the entire engine and other components. *Nlm
1999 Pontiac sunfire burst into flames immediately following loud clunk in engine while driving on expressway. Vehicle is totaled. Spark plug fell to ground as fire started. *Nlm
My car has made front end noise and now engine check light is coming on and off. The engine run at a rough idle.*Ak
While traveling and making a turn vehicle stalled without indicaton. Also, while in reverse vehicle will not back up. This is intermittent. Dealer has been notified. *Ak
While driving on expressway/street, wheels would wobble. Driver had some control. Driver's seat fails to move forward when latch is released for adjusting. Also, shock absorbers needed to be replaced due to knocking noise. 2 Weeks after having oil replaced for leaking, it needed to be replaced again. *Ak
I brought my vehicle in because it stalled several times for no reason. I was told there was nothing wrong with it. The day I picked it up it stalled again. Aproximately one month after the original visit I discovered that the catylytic converter was not functioning but was told this probably did not cause the stalling.
Noise over speed bumps is at a low speed easing over them.
Engine shuts off alot..When in referse;going around turns...Randomly
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLING.
Pontiac Sunfire engine complaints by year
Sunfire engine problems, every yearSource: 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