AI Damage1999 Pontiac Sunfire: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire filed 93 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 93
- involving a crash
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 23% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 6% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 21 complaints (23% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 17 complaints (18% of all).
- Service brakes: 13 complaints (14% of all).
- Air bags: 10 complaints (11% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 8 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 93 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving at 35 mph consumer's vehicle was involved in a collision. It hit a steel mail box trying to keep from hitting an animal. Upon impact, air bag did not deploy. Vehicle flipped over.
Airbag light illuminated, but airbags didn't deploy. Took vehicle to dealer, and they stated that light indicated that airbags have deployed. Cause was unknown.
Vehicle was rear ended at high speeds causing vehicle to slam head-on into a wall. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Please provide any further information.
Vehicle jumped from park to reverse while engine was idling. Vehicle was parked on level ground. Damage was estimated at three thousand dollars, driver sustained injuries to arm and shoulder. Please provide further details.
While driving 35 mph and going through an intersections another vehicle hit consumer's vehicle from side where child was sitting in rear passenger's seatback flew back, and child fell through and out of trunk ,and died on impact. Child's shoes were left in car. Driver died on impact.
Consumer had a front end collision and seat belt anchor broke.
I lost allot of money I put on the car as it became obvious they could not fix it and I had to let them take it back with no refund to me.........they said at the dealer that I was lucky that I didn't have a fire.
I was driving the car just after I purchased it and became cold so I turned on the heater and within 30 seconds smoke filled the car. I thought the engine was on fire. It smelled like burning oil or gas.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,734 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sunfire has 76 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 93, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 93. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (9%), knocking, grinding or other noise (8%), A/C or heater (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.