1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE Complaints

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *MJS

STRUT BEARING PLATE: SHOULD NOT BE FAULTY ON A 1996, CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195R6515 )

THE FIRST FAILURE - 8 MONTH AFTER THE PURCHASE. 2ND AND 3RD - WITHIN 6 MONTHS APART. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE AND NOT RESTART. *AK *ML

AT 72,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND THE HEAD WAS CRACKED. ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY 1999. ALL PREVIOUS RECALLS ON VEHICLE WERE NOT HANDLED BY DEALER BEFORE PURCHASE. THIS INFORMATION WAS DISCOVERED SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. INFORMATION OBTAINED DETERMINED THAT GM RECALLED THE QUAD 4 ENGINE FOR PREVIOUS VEHICLES 1992-93 DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES. GMC REFUSES TO ACCEPT BLAME. THE REPAIRS OF THE ENGINE WILL COST $2,650.00 DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES CRACKED AND ALMOST FELL OFF, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER 32,000 MILES WILL NO LONGER MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD MAKING IT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THAT SEAT. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO TAYLOR PONTIAC IN AKRON, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRACKING WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST AROUND $150.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 95 SUNFIRE. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS JUST A COINCIDENCE. MY CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE AND THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE HAPPENING. I HAVE NEVER FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT ANY CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED BUT I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED TWICE. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP CONCERNING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *AK

I HAD CONTACTED PONTIAC THROUGHOUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT PLEASED. I KNOW OF 3 OTHER 96 SUNFIRES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE 95'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

FUEL PUMP HAD TO REPLACE AFTER ONLY 56000 MILES. DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $600.00 OR MORE TO FIX. AFTER IT WAS FIXED IT STILL HESITATES WHEN YOU FIRST ACCELERATE. LOUD KNOCKING AND VIBRATION NOISE IN EXHUAST WHEN YOU ACCELERATE OR JUST IDLING. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUNFIRE. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF THIS ONE.

HARNESS OVERHEATS/MELTS AND SHORTS OUT SWITCH, MAKING HEADLIGHTS INOPERABLE. THIS IS MY SECOND REPAIR IN A YEAR. *AK