1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
149
Owner Complaints
7
Recalls
12
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
The 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE has received a total of 149 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. 12 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (18 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (10 complaints), and Air Bagsfrontal (6 complaints).
Recalls for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, potentially affecting up to 2,644,076 vehicles.
Recall 08E063000 — STEERING
| 3,855 vehicles affected
Defect: 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....
Consequence: IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 07E021000 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
| 742 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 07E015000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 3,124 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 04V036000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
| 1,415,231 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 02V286000 — STEERING:RACK AND PINION
| 1,159,156 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 97V219000 — WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
| 24 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS.
Consequence: THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF ALL WHEEL NUTS AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN ANY THAT MAY BE BELOW REQUIRED TORQUE.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
149 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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
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
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.
View all Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
General Motors, LLC has issued 12 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
010844005A — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
INFORMATION ON ERROR CODES ON RADIO DISPLAY THEIR CAUSE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION. *EH
180101 — STEERING
INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING CLUNK OR BUMP NOISE USUALLY HEARD WHEN TURNING EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY ALSO BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL OF VEHICLE WITH THE CAR IN PARK OR MOVING SLOWLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS ROTATED FROM STOP TO STOP. *TT
000849006 — STRUCTURE:BODY
EXHIBITING A RATTLE TYPE NOISE FROM GLOVE BOX DOOR OR KEY LOCK CYLINDER. *TT
00004 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
GENERAL MOTOR HAS DEDICED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L ENGINES (VIN 4), MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE UPPER RADITOR HOSE CONTACTS THE BATTERY TRAY. *TT
0004 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
UPPER RADIATOR HOSE CONTACTS THE BATTERY TRAY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN ENGINE COLLANT LEAK, WITH A LOW COOLANT TELLTALE (WARNING LAMP) ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *MJS
VSS19990020 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SUBJECT REGARDING REQUEST FOR CUSTOMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES WHICH HAVE A FRONT BRAKE SQUEAK / SQUEAL NOISE COMPLAINT. *TT
NAS19990040 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
SUBJECT PERTAINING TO CORRECT COOLANT LEVEL FOR PROPER COOLING SYSTEM OPERATION. *TT
98041 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
UPPER RADIATOR HOSE MAY CONTACT BATTERY TRAY. YD
98876519 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SUBJECT ON DTC U1016, STORED CODE WITH NO ACTIVE SYMPTOMS ( REPROGRAM PCM ). *YC
98877166 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SOME OWNERS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL POPULATION MAY COMMENT ON A DELAYED, SLOW OR NO SECOND TO THIRD GEAR UPSHIFT. *YC
Showing 10 of 12 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the PONTIAC SUNFIRE
- 1994 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 2 complaints
- 1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 154 complaints
- 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 320 complaints
- 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 257 complaints
- 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE (current)
- 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 128 complaints
- 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 169 complaints
- 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 83 complaints
- 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 128 complaints
- 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 113 complaints
Other PONTIAC Models
- PONTIAC G6 — 8,406 total complaints
- PONTIAC GRAND AM — 8,105 total complaints
- PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — 7,302 total complaints
- PONTIAC BONNEVILLE — 2,576 total complaints
- PONTIAC VIBE — 2,132 total complaints
- PONTIAC MONTANA — 1,451 total complaints
- PONTIAC TRANS SPORT — 1,262 total complaints
- PONTIAC TORRENT — 918 total complaints