NHTSA Complaint #10075044 — 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE

I OWN A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE - PURCHASED NEW. I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 2003 WHEN MY CAR WOULD DECCELERATE FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, HESITATE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, OR, AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, SIMPLY WOULD NOT ALLOW ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO GO THROUGH BUSY INTERSECTIONS. VERY SCARY. ONE DAY IN 2003 THE CAR WOULD NOT START, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM. HE REPLACED MY FUEL PUMP BUT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I PAID FOR THIS REPAIR ALONG WITH THE TOW. IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR AGAIN. WHAT IS GOING ON? I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND, IF THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AGAIN SO SOON. SECOND ISSUE - EARLY IN 2004 I NOTICED THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF WITH NO CONSISTENCY. I CHECKED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND IT WAS LOW. I ADDED THE PROPER COOLANT MIXTURE BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE LIGHT TO COME ON AND OFF AGAIN - WITH NO CONSISTENCY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO RESET SOMETHING RELATING TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. NOW, IT IS ALWAYS ON. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON. I OWE ONE MORE YEAR ON THIS VEHICLE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE HESITATION AND STALLING OF THE CAR AT ANYTIME. THERE IS NO WARNING - IT JUST HAPPENS. THIS IS A DISASTER WAITING TO OCCUR. MY CHILDREN RIDE IN AND DRIVE THIS CAR. I DON'T NEED THIS WORRY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. ONE MORE THING, ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED TO THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. IT ONLY WORKS IF YOU HAVE THE FAN ON THE 3RD OR 4TH MARK. IF YOU PUT IT ON THE 1ST OR 2ND MARK, IT WILL WORK (BUT NOT TO CAPACITY) ONLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. IF YOU STOP, IT STOPS.*AK