1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS AND A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE WIRES TO MELT TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. AFTER IT RAINED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 DAYS, THE CONTACT NOTICED STANDING WATER IN THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO DRY OUT, EVERY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT, DIMMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN $350. THE CONTACT NO LONGER DRIVES THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE FEARS FOR HER LIFE DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/16/08 *JB

Mileage: 60,000

IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED 6 TIMES FOR WHAT I FEEL IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! MY ENGINE STALLS WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP OR AFTER BEING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT IDLES ROUGH. I HAVE HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR, FUEL SENSOR REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, COIL, WIRE TO THE IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. MY CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, WHEN IDLING IN TRAFFIC, AND WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 IN REPAIRS AND TOW FEES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. THE FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46,741 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Mileage: 45,000

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH A SAFETY RECALL PROBLEM**CC THE VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR EITHER REPAIR. *NM

Mileage: 131,746

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2001. THE '97 SUNFIRE WAS PRETTY RELIABLE VEHICLE, I HAD GOT REPAIRS OCCASIONALLY FOR THIS AND THAT. HOWEVER, I NEVER KNEW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS PAST JUNE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED AND CONSULTING A MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP THE IGNITION WIRES AND IT WOULD COST ME 5-6 HUNDRED TO REPAIR. I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROBLEM AND IF THE RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. *JB

Mileage: 91,000

1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE FAILED TO START. TURNED IGNITION OFF REMOVED KEY, CAR STEERING COLUMN BURST INTO FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. *JB

THE DAYTIME RUNNING HEAD LIGHT WERE INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CORROSION BUILD UP AROUND THE WIRING HARNESS.

Mileage: 67,996

TRIED TO START THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULD'T, WHICH WAS REALLY ODD CONSIDERING MY CAR HASN'T GIVEN ME ANY REAL TROUBLE. I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND IT TRIED TO START WITHOUT THE KEY. I WENT IN THE HOUSE TO CALL A RIDE TO WORK AND HEARD THE RADIO GOING. I LOOKED OUT TO SEE WHO IT WAS AND SAW A FIRE GOING IN MY CAR. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. AFTERWARDS, THEY SAID THAT MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED INTO THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE FIRE.*AK

Mileage: 110,000

I HAD HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED COMPLETELY, THEN THE HORN FAILED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS...IT COST ME $1500.00 TO HAVE MY WIRING REDONE AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL DIM. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS COMING ON FOR CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY AND AIRBAG. I TOOK IT TO 2 DEALERS AND NOTHING WITH THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED. *AK

Mileage: 80,000

I HAD HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED COMPLETELY, THEN THE HORN FAILED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS...IT COST ME $1500.00 TO HAVE MY WIRING REDONE AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL DIM. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS COMING ON FOR CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY AND AIRBAG. I TOOK IT TO 2 DEALERS AND NOTHING WITH THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED. *AK

Mileage: 80,000

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE VEHICLE ARE SO DIM, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE I AM DRIVING WITH FLASHLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT SUNLAND PONTIAC DEALERSHIP, EL PASO, TX THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOLD THEM THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO DIM ON MY VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM I WANTED NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH BRIGHTER BULBS OR HIGHER WATTAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY NEW HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINED BRIGHTER BULB, OR HIGHER WATTAGE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. I COMPLAINED EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENACE. INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE DATE. THEY WILL HAVE IT ON RECORD. ALSO, I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN. IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN TO START THE CAR. YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT IN A CERTAIN POSITION FOR IT TO START, SOMETIMES IT WILL STAR, AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 1997. I FILLED OUT A FORM AND SENT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GMAC ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING AND THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINTS. I CAN E-MAIL YOU A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FORM I SENT TO THEM. THE MOST DISTURBING DEFECT ABOUT THE CAR IS THAT YOU CAN SEE THE LOOSE WIRING BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL CONNECTED TO THE DASH. THE MECHANIC WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THE 1997 5 SPEED SUNFIRES CAME LIKE THAT FROM THE MANUFACTURE. SO, THEY PUT IN A PIECE OF BLACK FOAM, SO I WOULD NO LONGER SEE THE WIRING. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. IF I HAD KNOW THEN, WHAT I KNOW NOW, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE CAR BACK TO THEM, AND DEMANDED MY $3,000 DOWN PAYMENT BACK. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME TO CORRECT THE DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS CAR. THANK YOU.*AK

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE VEHICLE ARE SO DIM, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE I AM DRIVING WITH FLASHLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT SUNLAND PONTIAC DEALERSHIP, EL PASO, TX THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOLD THEM THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO DIM ON MY VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM I WANTED NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH BRIGHTER BULBS OR HIGHER WATTAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY NEW HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINED BRIGHTER BULB, OR HIGHER WATTAGE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. I COMPLAINED EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENACE. INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE DATE. THEY WILL HAVE IT ON RECORD. ALSO, I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN. IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN TO START THE CAR. YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT IN A CERTAIN POSITION FOR IT TO START, SOMETIMES IT WILL STAR, AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 1997. I FILLED OUT A FORM AND SENT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GMAC ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING AND THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINTS. I CAN E-MAIL YOU A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FORM I SENT TO THEM. THE MOST DISTURBING DEFECT ABOUT THE CAR IS THAT YOU CAN SEE THE LOOSE WIRING BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL CONNECTED TO THE DASH. THE MECHANIC WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THE 1997 5 SPEED SUNFIRES CAME LIKE THAT FROM THE MANUFACTURE. SO, THEY PUT IN A PIECE OF BLACK FOAM, SO I WOULD NO LONGER SEE THE WIRING. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. IF I HAD KNOW THEN, WHAT I KNOW NOW, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE CAR BACK TO THEM, AND DEMANDED MY $3,000 DOWN PAYMENT BACK. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME TO CORRECT THE DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS CAR. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT MODERATE SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A POLICE CRUISER TO STOP. CONSUMER CALLED 911 FOR HELP. *AK

Mileage: 107,000

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHICH PREVENTED THE CONSUMER FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. *NLM PH

Mileage: 20,000

THE VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCT 1999 SINCE I HAVE HAD 3 RECALLS.NONE OF THOSE ARE THE OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED OR REPAIRED ALREADY. IN 2000 I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL BEEARING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS IN BAD CONDITION,IN 2001 I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS BECASUE THE WERE DRIED AND CRACKED, I MONTH AGO MY WIPERS BROKE A PIN AND CLIP BROKE AND THEY STOP IN THE UP POSITION. NOW MY WINDOW ON MY DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. MY DAUGHTER IN LAWS RACK AND PINION JUST WENT OUT IN HER 96 SUNFIRE AND SHE DIDNT RECIEIVE A RECALL BUT I DID. I LOVED THIS CAR WENE I GOT IT BUT I WILL NEVER RECOMEND IT TO ANYONE OR PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE

Mileage: 128,003

CONTACTED THE DEALER SAID THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED BATTERY CABLE TO MELT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER NOTICED PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, RADIO, ODOMETER, AND PANEL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WILL REPLACE RELAY KIT FREE OF CHARGE, BUT WILL CHARGE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO STARTER IN THE PROCESS OR MAKING RECALL CHANGES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

RECALL 02V070000/ IGNITION SYSTEM; THIS RECALL INTERACTED WITH DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT WOULD STAY ON AND DRAIN THE BATTERY. OWNER HAS HAD VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THIS MODIFICATION WAS PERFORMED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION KEY WOULD TURN, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED VEHICLE NEEDED A STARTER AND A BATTERY,BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, THEN, MECHANIC STATED IT WAS STARTER SOLENOID, REPLACED IT, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION KEY WOULD TURN, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED VEHICLE NEEDED A STARTER AND A BATTERY,BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, THEN, MECHANIC STATED IT WAS STARTER SOLENOID, REPLACED IT, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION KEY WOULD TURN, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED VEHICLE NEEDED A STARTER AND A BATTERY,BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, THEN, MECHANIC STATED IT WAS STARTER SOLENOID, REPLACED IT, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION KEY WOULD TURN, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED VEHICLE NEEDED A STARTER AND A BATTERY,BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, THEN, MECHANIC STATED IT WAS STARTER SOLENOID, REPLACED IT, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE, ALSO THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED AND THE DEALER NOTIFIED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER HAD NOT FIXED FOR LACK OF PARTS. *YH

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE, ALSO THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED AND THE DEALER NOTIFIED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER HAD NOT FIXED FOR LACK OF PARTS. *YH

CONSUMER STATES WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SOMETIMES ITS HARD AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T START. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

RECEIVED RECALL 02V070000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008, AND DEALER INDICATED CAN'T GET PARTS UNTIL MAY OR JUNE. *AK

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, STEERING WHEEL STARTED SMOKING. VEHICLE REFUSES TO START. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE IGNITION BEGAN TO SMOKE AFTER VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED, IGNITION SWITCH BURNED AND MELTED AND BURNED OUT THE BATTERY, CONSUMER HAS IGNITION SWITCH FOR INSPECTION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE HAD STARTED UNDER HOOD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, SHORTLY AFTER FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK AREA, CAUSE UNKNOWN. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE STARTED DUE TO A ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. *AK *ML

VEHICLE DAMAGED DUE TO EXPLODING BATTERY.