1996 Pontiac Sunfire

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

1996 Pontiac Sunfire
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

1996: 201 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1985	2
1991	1
1994	2
1995	119
1996	201
1997	190
1998	120
1999	93
2000	96
2001	66
2002	82
2003	72
2004	32
2005	68

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%

9% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 19 distinct reports on file.

AIR BAGS 9%

9% of complaints: air bags — 19 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO AN INTERSECTION. ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER HIT ON AND HER DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI report, 20021009

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7%

7% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 15 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

DRIVING ONTO RAMP, BRAKED TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, VEHICLE HIT GUARDRAIL, KEPT STRAIGHT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI report, 19960318

AIR BAGS 7%

7% of complaints: air bags — 14 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

MY WRECK HAPPENED IN 2006. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CRUSHED MY FACE I HAD TO HAVE TITANIUM PLATES PUT IN MY FACE CRASHED MY LEGS BROKE MANY BONES.

NHTSA ODI report, 20150520

CONSUMER STATES: WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 35 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FEEL FREE TO ADD. MR

NHTSA ODI report, 20021015

POWER TRAIN 5%

5% of complaints: power train — 11 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19951019 — vehicle speed control

THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE COULD HAVE BEEN KINKED DURING ASSEMBLY CAUSING HIGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFORT, STICKING ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, OR A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 95V201000 — check if this car was fixed

▮ 1996 — complaint volume: 201

R 19970130 — exterior lighting

THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQ

Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.

Campaign 96V250000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19980123 — EA (closed 19980731)

OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS

R 19980228 — interior lighting

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQU

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.

Campaign 98V027000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19980811 — air bags

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG'S SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE, AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN A

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE.

Campaign 98V146000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19981228 — suspension

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BOLTS CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM FASTENERS.

Campaign 98V319000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20020103 — PE (closed 20020315)

FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN AREA

R 20020327 — electrical system

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 P

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN

Campaign 02V070000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20030124 — steering

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS

Campaign 02V286000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20031014 — DP (closed 20040130)

UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070320 — fuel system, gasoline

CERTAIN DELPHI AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERS

Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MRAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 1-877-335-7443.

Campaign 07E015000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20081016 — 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 (SOL

Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.

Campaign 08E063000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Pontiac Sunfire — pre-purchase inspection

Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (19 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for air bags issues (19 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (15 reports on file for this year).
Verify recall 95V201000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
Verify recall 96V250000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Verify recall 98V027000 (interior lighting) has been completed.
Verify recall 98V146000 (air bags) has been completed.
Verify recall 98V319000 (suspension) has been completed.
Verify recall 02V070000 (electrical system) has been completed.
Verify recall 02V286000 (steering) has been completed.
Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Verify recall 07E015000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
Verify recall 08E063000 (steering) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2004 ● 2001 ● 2005

WORST YEARS

■ 1997 ◆ 1995 ◆ 1998

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling:engine, accounting for 9% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.