What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Pontiac Sunfire

Typical pattern

18.7% of complaints about the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 2.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is exterior lighting (26 complaints), typically at 2.5 yr or about 20,000 miles.

Complaints
107
Median age at failure
2.8 yr
Median mileage
42,000 n=71
Crash / fire / tow
8.4% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Exterior lighting
26 reports · 20,000 mi
2.5 yr
3.8%
Electrical system
25 reports · 60,000 mi
4.0 yr
4%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

08E063000 2008-10-17
Steering

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. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

04V524000 2004-11-01
Exterior lighting:turn signal

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 TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.

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.

In owners’ own words

Exterior lighting 2,300 mi 1.0 yr in service
LEFT BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING - PURCHASED VEHICLE 5/03 - MILEAGE 2300 MILES.
Exterior lighting 2,300 mi 1.0 yr in service
LEFT BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING - PURCHASED VEHICLE 5/03 - MILEAGE 2300 MILES.
Exterior lighting mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
CONSUMER REPLACED DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL BULBS FOUR TIMES. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE WHEN PREPARING TO MAKE A TURN, AND LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR A VEHICLE WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HER. *AK
Electrical system mileage not reported 2.3 yr in service
NUMEROUS OF FAILURES;AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, CLUTCH STICKS TO FLOOR, CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START. *BF THE TURN SIGNALS AND LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT, IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE TIMES WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD START ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT THE TURN OF THE KEY, THE VEHICLE USED AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF GAS, THE DASH WOULD RATTLE, THE ENGINE WOULD GROWL, THE DASH MADE A SOUND LIKE THE SPEAKER WAS BLOWN, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL IN THE STEREO AND THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. (2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE) *SC

Other Sunfire model years

20052004200320022001200019991998

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