1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE Electrical System Problems

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING, WE HAVE REPLACED BULBS AND CHECKED FUSES. *JB

WHILE ON THE STREET VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. BLACK SMOKE. AND LARGE FLAMES APPEARED. FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOW UP TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Mileage: 75,000

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. DUE TO THE INTERIOR DAMAGE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Mileage: 119,000

I PURCHASED A 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN JULY OF 2003. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1997 SUNFIRE AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE IS WHEN I TURN MY HEADLIGHTS ON, THE FUSE BLOWS AND THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE DASH LIGHTS (LIGHTS FOR SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL AND TEMP GAUGE) DO NOT WORK. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY LIGHTS AND DASH FAILED ME. WHEN I WAS TRYING TO REPLACE THE FUSE SPARKS FLEW OUT AND THE FUSES BLEW IMMEDIATELY. I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT IS GOING TO COST ME A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. GM ALSO WONT GIVE ME THE TIME OF DAY WHEN I CALL AND COMPLAIN. I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST AN INVESTIGATION. ( * NUMBER OF FAILURES IS APPROXIMATE THERE ARE MORE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FAIR TO STATE THE VERY LEAST AMOUNT I HAVE COUNTED.) ALSO MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. (THIS VEHICLE HAS 106,000 MILES ON IT) THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

Mileage: 106,450

CAR TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START.BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR. GOT THE CAR BACK TWO DAYS LATER AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE OEM SERCRITY SYSTEM. TOOK BACK AND ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING ALL THE TIME.*AK

Mileage: 119,813

WHILE PUTTING THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. DRIVER TOOK KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES, THE PROBLEM IS A SPLICE IN THE WIRING. *AK THE HIGH BEAMS WERE INOPERATIVE AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FLASHED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VACUUM ACTUATOR WAS STICKING WHICH CAUSED THE HEATER CONTROL NOT TO BLOW ON THE SETTING SELECTED. THE MUFFLERS HANGER BROKE AND THE BAFFLES WERE LOOSE WHICH CAUSED RATTLING AT IDLE. *SCC *NLM

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION FAILED TO TURN, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE CABLE AND BATTERY. THE KEY NO LONGER TURNED THE IGNITION, THE CAR WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP , HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THAT SMOKING OF A VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO FAX THEM A NOTICE THAT IS WAS A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *CB *JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. AFTER THE IGNITION WAS REPAIRED IT STILL DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. THE HEAD LIGHT (HIGH AND LOW BEAMS) FAILED. THE HORN FAILED. THE WIPER FAILED. *JB *CB *NLM

Mileage: 156,000

THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. AFTER THE IGNITION WAS REPAIRED IT STILL DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. THE HEAD LIGHT (HIGH AND LOW BEAMS) FAILED. THE HORN FAILED. THE WIPER FAILED. *JB *CB *NLM

Mileage: 156,000

-THE HORN ON 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE HAS QUIT WORKING AND BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. THE PEOPLE AT THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS GETTING WET APPARENTLY EVERYTIME I WENT THROUGH WATER BECAUSE OF IT BEING POINTED DOWNWARD. -THE MUFFLER HAS BEEN FIXED THREE TIMES -THERE ARE MORE THAT I CAN NOT REMEBER RIGHT OFF HAND -THEIR IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE WHOLE CAR. THE LIGHT ON THE RADIO TIME AND STAION DISPLAY HAS NOT WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT IT, THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON, THE PASSENGER REAR WINDOW LETS DOWN BUT WILL NOT LET UP WHEN NEEDED SINCE RIGHT AFTER I GOT THE CAR, THE LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD GO ON AND OFF WITHOUT EVEN BEING TOUCHED, WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD, THE WIDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST COME ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON AND THEN STOP HALFWAY DOWN IMPAIRING VISION, THE PASSENGER REAR TAIL LIGHT BLOWS ALL OF THE TIME, IT HAS NEVER STAYED WITH A BULB THAT WORKS, ETC. -THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS AND HAS LEAKED SINCE I GOT IT -THE GAS LIGHT WILL NOT TELL YOU WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING LOW ON FUEL -THE RADIO WILL EAT YOUR TAPES SINCE I GOT THE CARTHE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACE ON THE CAR WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT -THE RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO ALONG WITH THE COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM THE POWER STEERING HAS LEAKED FLUID AND WILL STOP TURNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED ON IT SVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF IT AND THE BRAKES. -THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WORKS WHEN IT GETS READY TO IF EVEN THEN AND HAS ALWAYS DONE THAT.

THE ETS LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND SENSOR FOR THE IGNITION IS REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT START. *NLM

Mileage: 80,000

SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE INTO THE VENTS. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH *TR

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL ON IGNITION CIRCUIT. DEALER REPLACED RELAY HARNESS AND IGNITION SWITCH. ON AUGUST 18TH IGNTION LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE WAITING FOR RECALL 02V070000 PARTS, IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK.*JB

VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER BEING TURNED OFF 1 MINUTE. VEHICLE RESTARTED INVOLUNTARILY WHEN KEY WAS TURNED TO LOCK POSITION. VEHICLE REPEATED THE SAME. IT WAS DRIVEN FOR 7 MINUTES, AND AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF IT FAILED TO RESTART. RECALLED NHTSA 02-V-070-000/ MANUFACTURERS RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION. RESPONDED FOR APPOINTMENT. *AK *YH

WHEN TURNING ON IGNITION THERE'S A CLICKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED BATTERY. TWO MONTHS LATER, CLICKING STARTED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN TURNING ON IGNITION THERE'S A CLICKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED BATTERY. TWO MONTHS LATER, CLICKING STARTED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WILL NOT START SOMETIMES, AND SOMETIMES IT DOES. TOOK DEALER, DEALER STATED HAD TO TURN SWITCH OFF AND ON UNTIL IT CATCHED. WHEN HEARING A CLICK VEHICLE STARTED. CURRENTLY, AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND VEHICLE LOSES POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE,BUT IT WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER TRIED AGAIN, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM IGNITION AREA, ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. 10-15 MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE STARTED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION, CONSUMER SHUT OFF ENGINE AGAIN. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED AFTER THIS INCIDENT. *AK

CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL NOTICE 02008-S PERTAINING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS DONE AT ANOTHER FACILITY AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID. *JG

CONSUMERS SON TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE KEY SWITCH CONTINUED TO TRY STARTING RESULTING IN AN IGNITION FIRE. TAKEN TO DEALER AND REPAIRED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(02V070000) ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID. *JG

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 WHILE GOING 55-60MPH BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST AND VEHICLE STALLED. GUAGES ON DASHBOARD READ NORMAL. GENERAL MOTORS INDICATED THAT PROBLEM HAD TO BE REPAIRED TO DETERMINE CAUSE. CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED VEHICLE.*AK

I READ IN THE SUNDAY MARCH 3, 2002 CHICAGO TRIBUNE, ABOUT THE L8 REPORTS TO DATE ALLEGING A STEERING COLUMN FIRE IN PONTIAC SUN FIRES. I WISH TO REPORT THE SAME INCIDENT FOR MY L996 SUN FIRE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.*AK

ON SIX OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A SHORTED COIL SHELL.AT 6225 MILES AT CLASSIC PONTIAC BECAUSE OF ENGINE LIGHT WARNING AT 23033 ATCLASSIC I WAS TOWED TO SHOP TO REPLACE A SHORTED COIL SHELL.AT 23051 I WAS TOWED TO PARK PONTIAC NOW KNOWN AS ROSLYN AUTO GROUP WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE., TO GET TO THE THE LATEST AND MOST TROUBLING INCIDENT I WAS OPERATING MY CAR IN N.Y. CITY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF THE WALDOF ASTORIA HOTEL ON PARK AVE ACCOMPANIED BY DAUGHTER WHO I WAS TAKING TO MT. SINANI HOSP. FOR TREATMENT.THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING IT FLASHED ABOUT TWENTY TIMES I THEN HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND LOST POWER TO A 10 MILE AN HOUR SPEED.THIS WAS A SERVERE SAFTEY PROBLEM FOR MYSELF MY DAUGHTERS ,OTHER MOTORIST AND THEGENERAL PUBLIC AT LARGE OTHER CARS AND TRUCKS HAD TO EXECUTE EVASSIVE MANUEVERS TO AVOID HITTING MY DISABLED CAR I WAS ABLE TO DIRECT MY CAR TO A SAFE SIDE STREET.THIS CAR IS A TIME BOMB BECAUSEOF GENERAL MOTORS INABILITY TO RESOLVE MY PERSISTANT AND INHERIENT PROBLEM THAT HAS CAUSED THIS AUTO TO BE TOWED TO THEIR REPAIR SHOPS THREE TIMES AS WELL AS DRIVEN IN 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I AM STILL PAYING OFF THIS CAR AND THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME MY LAST BILL INCLUDING TOWING WHICH CAME TO $500.00 IS MY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE CARS CURRENT MILIAGE. ASIDE FROM THAT THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE BY ME NOTIFING YOU OF THIS CONDITION I AM HOPING THAT IF MYSELF OR ANYONE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC SUFFERS DAMAGES OR LOSS OF LIFE GENERAL MOTORS WILL BECOME LIABLE.THANK YOU JAMES W. GRIFFIN

ON SIX OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A SHORTED COIL SHELL.AT 6225 MILES AT CLASSIC PONTIAC BECAUSE OF ENGINE LIGHT WARNING AT 23033 ATCLASSIC I WAS TOWED TO SHOP TO REPLACE A SHORTED COIL SHELL.AT 23051 I WAS TOWED TO PARK PONTIAC NOW KNOWN AS ROSLYN AUTO GROUP WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE., TO GET TO THE THE LATEST AND MOST TROUBLING INCIDENT I WAS OPERATING MY CAR IN N.Y. CITY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF THE WALDOF ASTORIA HOTEL ON PARK AVE ACCOMPANIED BY DAUGHTER WHO I WAS TAKING TO MT. SINANI HOSP. FOR TREATMENT.THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING IT FLASHED ABOUT TWENTY TIMES I THEN HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND LOST POWER TO A 10 MILE AN HOUR SPEED.THIS WAS A SERVERE SAFTEY PROBLEM FOR MYSELF MY DAUGHTERS ,OTHER MOTORIST AND THEGENERAL PUBLIC AT LARGE OTHER CARS AND TRUCKS HAD TO EXECUTE EVASSIVE MANUEVERS TO AVOID HITTING MY DISABLED CAR I WAS ABLE TO DIRECT MY CAR TO A SAFE SIDE STREET.THIS CAR IS A TIME BOMB BECAUSEOF GENERAL MOTORS INABILITY TO RESOLVE MY PERSISTANT AND INHERIENT PROBLEM THAT HAS CAUSED THIS AUTO TO BE TOWED TO THEIR REPAIR SHOPS THREE TIMES AS WELL AS DRIVEN IN 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I AM STILL PAYING OFF THIS CAR AND THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME MY LAST BILL INCLUDING TOWING WHICH CAME TO $500.00 IS MY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE CARS CURRENT MILIAGE. ASIDE FROM THAT THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE BY ME NOTIFING YOU OF THIS CONDITION I AM HOPING THAT IF MYSELF OR ANYONE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC SUFFERS DAMAGES OR LOSS OF LIFE GENERAL MOTORS WILL BECOME LIABLE.THANK YOU JAMES W. GRIFFIN

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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DUE TO PCM FAILURE. PCM WAS REPLACED TWICE 12-4-98 / 4-5-99. *YC

THE CAR HAS HAD MULIPLE PROBLEMS BEGINNING WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HORN IN 1997. MANY OF THE SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, THE PARKING BRAKE STILL DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND I HAVE REPLACED MANY MAJOR PARTS ON THE CAR. PONTIAC FLATLY REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE ONLY OFFERED COURTESY TRANSPORTATION AFTER ENGAGING IN A SHOUTING MATCH & ALL THEY KNOW HOW TO SAY IS "SORRY, YOUR OUT OF YOUR MANUFACTURES WARRANTY & WE DO NOT PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION" I HAVE RECEIVED THE WORST SERVICE YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 9 TIMES IN UNDER TWO YEARS!

HORN FAILED DUE TO LOOSE FASTNER.

DEFECT IN HEADLIGHTS, WIRING KEEPS WEARING OUT. FIRST, CAUSING DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THEN NIGHT TIME HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS REDONE WIRING 6 TIMES, DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

HORN FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.

TICKING AND KNOCKING NOISE WHEN STARTED UP, CHARGE LIGHT STAYED ON AND RATTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT TURN OVER, REPLACE TENSIONER, STARTER, AND GENERATOR ASSEMBLY.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING INSTRUMENT AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO FAIL. FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING SERVICE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.

HORN ASSEMBLY VOLUME IS VERY LOW. IN AN EMERGENCY IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE TO HEAR THE HORN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK HORN WAS REPLACED BY DEALER DUE TO IT SOUNDING DISTORTED. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS OUT OF ROUND AND WERE REPLACED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

DURING OPERATION SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH BOARD. RESULTING IN FLAMES UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE VEHICLE BURNING DOWN.*AK

DURING OPERATION SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH BOARD. RESULTING IN FLAMES UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE VEHICLE BURNING DOWN.*AK

WHEN DRIVING ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE CAR STALLED, PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK