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2000 Pontiac Sunfire Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire, most often about the engine (26% of complaints, typically around 47,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Sunfire model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2000 Pontiac Sunfire problems
Engine
25 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Car has had numerous problems since day one. Brakes chatter, overheating, service engine light, cd player and speakers did not work. Now it stalls with no warning at all. Stalls at 70 MPH going down highway. Has stalled while driving 3 or 4 times in the past two days. Checked out at service station on computer, and…
While traveling vehicle shut down on the highway at 70 MPH. Vehicle was towed to a dealer and the alternator was replaced. After getting back on the road vehicle continued to shut down. However, it restarted. After arriving home the vehicle was still defective.
Electrical
23 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery, alternator/generator/regulator.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire. Upon starting the engine at night, the instrument panel would not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but there were no repairs made to the vehicle. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 130,000.
My car is a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire, and twice within 12 months I have had the same problem with this vehicle. The day time running lights and the bright lights quit working , the 1st time the dealership said it was a bad wire and replaced it, within one year it happened again, but the dealership said that the part was…
Brakes
17 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 43,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, antilock.
Car has had numerous problems since day one. Brakes chatter, overheating, service engine light, cd player and speakers did not work. Now it stalls with no warning at all. Stalls at 70 MPH going down highway. Has stalled while driving 3 or 4 times in the past two days. Checked out at service station on computer, and…
While on active duty in the army, I purchased a used 2000 Pontiac Sunfire in georgia. The car began giving me problems only 6 months after the purchase. Luckily, I forced the dealership to pay for a warranty because I had to have 3 major repairs within a 11/2 after that. Unfortunately, shortly after the warranty was…
Fuel system
16 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage, fuel injection system.
Car stops accelerating while driving then dies. Been going on since august and have not been able to find the problem. Generating numerous communication errors. Had the computer replaced thought this was the problem but it did not fix the issue. The first time this happened was 8/5/03 and it was in the shop for a week…
While on active duty in the army, I purchased a used 2000 Pontiac Sunfire in georgia. The car began giving me problems only 6 months after the purchase. Luckily, I forced the dealership to pay for a warranty because I had to have 3 major repairs within a 11/2 after that. Unfortunately, shortly after the warranty was…
Lights
11 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, turn signal.
: the contact stated the service light illuminated and the vehicle was taken to the dealership. The dealership performed a diagnostic test and determined the wiring harness for the headlights needs to be replaced.
Vehicle: 2000 Pontiac Sunfire the daytime running lights do not work; when the vehicle is put in gear, the lights "flicker" as the relay fires, but the lights do not remain on, then the "service" light comes on. About 75% of the time, the headlights will not turn on, and if they do, the bright lights do not work at…
Transmission
10 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, driveline, manual transmission.
While on active duty in the army, I purchased a used 2000 Pontiac Sunfire in georgia. The car began giving me problems only 6 months after the purchase. Luckily, I forced the dealership to pay for a warranty because I had to have 3 major repairs within a 11/2 after that. Unfortunately, shortly after the warranty was…
My daughters car was having starting problems (not enough gas getting to the engine to start, had to pump the gas). I took it for a test drive in a empty parking lot once it started. I was going approx 10mph the first time I pushed the gas pedal to the floor. When I released the pedal it stayed in place at full…
Air bags
9 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: frontal.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision crashing into a tree, impact was approximately 45-50 MPH. Upon impact, both frontal air bags deployed 15 minute afterward. Consumer was air carries to the local hospital with major injuries. Dealer and the manufacturer were both notified.
Dt:the contact stated two frontal air bags deployed while turning into a gas station. This occurred while driving at a low speed. She was the only occupant in the vehicle and was wearing her seat belt at the time. Thee airbags deployed on the passenger side. There was corrosion and water in the air bag. The contact…
Equipment
9 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: appliance, electrical.
I have a problem and I dont know where to go for answers on my car. I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire...we have had no problems at all with it till I took it in last week for inspection. They told me it needed, brakes and rotors and 2 new tires.......then the day I got it, it left me stranded along the road, the temp…
Car has had numerous problems since day one. Brakes chatter, overheating, service engine light, cd player and speakers did not work. Now it stalls with no warning at all. Stalls at 70 MPH going down highway. Has stalled while driving 3 or 4 times in the past two days. Checked out at service station on computer, and…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Pontiac Sunfire recalls
Electrical: switch
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Erratic fuel gauge
Summary
Odi opened ea 02-028 to review complaints of consumers reporting that their fuel gauge was incorrectly displaying the amount of fuel in the gas tank.the fuel gauge receives an electrical signal from a fuel tank sending sensor circuit card.a float arm in the tank moves electrical contacts that rub against the card as the level of fuel rises and falls.disruption of the electrical signal (such as caused by corrosion of the circuit card) will cause incorrect readings to register on the fuel gauge.gm reported in their response to odi dated january 13, 2003 that the primary cause of erratic fuel gauge operation is excess elemental sulfur in fuel.gm reported that abnormal levels of sulfur sporadica
Engine stall due to fuel starvation
Summary
Odi opened pe02-066 to evaluate the scope and consequence of engine power-loss due to fuel starvation induced by in-tank modular fuel pump strainer restriction.the subject pumps use an external ?sock? Strainer to filter fuel flowing to the pump inlet.this filter can sometimes become clogged, resulting in a reduced flow of fuel to the engine.gm has subsequently modified the strainers to reduce this restriction.analysis of the odi complaint database shows that despite these restrictions, the subject vehicles stall at a rate that is comparable to those of many peer vehicles.additionally, none of the relevant warranty repair rates exceed 1% at 36 months of exposure.one related crash involves a s
Erratic fuel gauge
Summary
There is no summary currently available
Questions about the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (25 complaints, typically around 47,500 miles); electrical (23 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); brakes (17 complaints, typically around 43,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 27, 2004 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Pontiac Sunfire?
- It is the most complained-about Sunfire model year since 2000, with 96 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.