2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
113
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
23
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
The 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE has received a total of 113 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL. 23 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (16 complaints), Exterior Lighting (8 complaints), and Exterior Lightingturn Signal (7 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, potentially affecting up to 259,880 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 04V524000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
| 256,025 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN ADDITION, IF ONE BULBS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE REMAINING BULB WAS ACTIVATED. IF BOTH LAMPS WERE...
Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
113 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
EVERY TIME I LET MY CAR SIT FOR 2 HOURS OR MORE, I START IT UP AND THE BELT ON THE TENSIONER SQUEAK FOR 15 SECONDS. ALSO THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE RIM FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000. WHEN I DRIVE IT THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ON BUT EVERY TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND I'M ACCELERATING THE ENGINE WILL NOT SHIFT, THE RPMS WILL REV UP TO RED LINE IF PUSHED THAT FAR, EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT FOR AIRBAG AND BATTERY WILL SHUT OFF AND IT WILL SHIFT. SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL WHILE THIS IS DOING THIS AT NIGHT, MY DASHBOARD AS WELL AS RADIO LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF UNTIL RPMS GO DOWN TO 2,000. *TR
EVERY TIME I LET MY CAR SIT FOR 2 HOURS OR MORE, I START IT UP AND THE BELT ON THE TENSIONER SQUEAK FOR 15 SECONDS. ALSO THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE RIM FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000. WHEN I DRIVE IT THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ON BUT EVERY TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND I'M ACCELERATING THE ENGINE WILL NOT SHIFT, THE RPMS WILL REV UP TO RED LINE IF PUSHED THAT FAR, EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT FOR AIRBAG AND BATTERY WILL SHUT OFF AND IT WILL SHIFT. SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL WHILE THIS IS DOING THIS AT NIGHT, MY DASHBOARD AS WELL AS RADIO LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF UNTIL RPMS GO DOWN TO 2,000. *TR
EVERY TIME I LET MY CAR SIT FOR 2 HOURS OR MORE, I START IT UP AND THE BELT ON THE TENSIONER SQUEAK FOR 15 SECONDS. ALSO THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE RIM FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000. WHEN I DRIVE IT THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ON BUT EVERY TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND I'M ACCELERATING THE ENGINE WILL NOT SHIFT, THE RPMS WILL REV UP TO RED LINE IF PUSHED THAT FAR, EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT FOR AIRBAG AND BATTERY WILL SHUT OFF AND IT WILL SHIFT. SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL WHILE THIS IS DOING THIS AT NIGHT, MY DASHBOARD AS WELL AS RADIO LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF UNTIL RPMS GO DOWN TO 2,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE TENSIONER AND VALVE TO FAIL. THE TIMING CHAIN VALVE AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM VERNON DOWN'S CASINO AND WAS MAKING A RIGHT AND WAS ABOUT TO SWITCH INTO THIRD GEAR THE RPM'S WHERE 3000 AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED ........ MAUGERI''S AUTO ON ALBANY AND BLEEKER ST. TOWED MY CAR TO HIS SHOP FIXED THE STEERING COLUMN AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE DIEING THE WINDOW'S WONT ROLL UP AND THE INTERIOR JUST GOT SOAKED IN WET IN THE RAIN AFTER ON THE DATE OF 7/714 PAID ALMOST A GRAND FOR TOWING AND STEERING COLUMN IN THE VEHICLE . I AM A RECIPIENT OF THE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAM AND USE THE VEHICLE TO AND FROM MY STRUCTURED DAY AS WELL AS MY NEUROLOGIST AS WELL AS MY HEMATOLOGIST WHO'S OFFICES ARE 57 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE IT IS GOING TO BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE TO MY DR. APPT. IN THE MORNING... I AM ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND A FIXED INCOME RECEIVER LESS THEN 700 DOLLARS A MONTH... *TR UPDATED 2/6/2015 *JS
Safety Rating for the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
General Motors, LLC has issued 23 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
04083 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
REAR STOP/TURN SIGNAL LAMPS INOPERATIVE. PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL. *TT
04083 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NO DIELECTRIC GREASE BEING APPLIED TO REAR LIGHT BULB SOCKET. *EH
611 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
BINDING MODE VALVE-HVAC. *SC
05202004 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
INTERMITTENT IDLE CONCERNS. *TT
04152004 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
VEHICLES MAY SET ANYONE OR A COMBINATION OF FRONT-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CODES AS INTERMITTENT OR HARD FAILURES. GM VOICEMAIL EXPRESS. *TT
040842004 — STRUCTURE:BODY
TAIL LAMP/BRAKE LAMP INOPERATIVE (REPLACE BULB AND SOCKET). *MJ *TT
00434 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE WILL CRANK BUT NOT START, ALSO MAKES NOISE WHILE CRANKING. 2.2 L61 ENGINE. *TT
3054 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
04-08-42-004A. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. LEFT OR RIGHT TAIL LAMP, BRAKE LAMP OR TURN SIGNAL IS INOPERATIVE. *TT
030601022 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
GUIDELINES FOR CYLINDER BORE LINER/PISTON SLEEVE REPLACEMENT ON THE L4 ECOTEC ENGINE. *TT
01289 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CHIRP OR SQUEAK ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. SERVICE VME. *TT
Showing 10 of 23 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the PONTIAC SUNFIRE
- 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 149 complaints
- 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 128 complaints
- 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 169 complaints
- 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 83 complaints
- 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 128 complaints
- 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE (current)
- 2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 41 complaints
- 2005 PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 94 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