2002 Pontiac Sunfire Reviews from North America

Fuel pump failed at 100,000km.

Then again at 300,000 km.

Just tires & front disc rotors every few years.

Great car, good mileage.

Broke down at roadside twice in first year of my owning it.

Heater stopped working.

Ball joints replaced.

Starting to rust.

Noisy drive.

We paid $5000 for this car at 6 years old, and had to put several hundred dollars into it the first year.

However, overall we have spent very little on maintenance and repair, gas is cheap, and parts are easy to find and are also inexpensive.

This car is a basic automobile, gets us around. Looks plain, drives plain.

Temp gauge went out at 150000.

I would buy another Pontiac, because my Sunfire went through Hurricane Katrina, and is still running. I still have water in my car; like when I had to replace my license plate lights, a bunch of water came out, but overall a good car.

Needed new engine at 35000 miles.

Now need new fuel pump.

This car sucks. I would never buy another Sunfire or anything from this automaker.

Feels like it will fall apart when you hit a bump; rattles and shakes.

Has a new engine, only year old now, needs a fuel pump.

Don't buy this car at all! The only good thing about car is stereo and sunroof; wow, that's it.

First thing I did not like was the way the tail pipe put too much pressure on flex pipe in front of cat. Causes it to crack.

Second thing was door panels only hold by plastic pins that over time fail. Then panel just hangs there. Yes I know, put new pins in. Till they fail too.

Third, this car does not like non OEM brakes, drums, rotors.

As far as snow driving, like everyone else says, proper tires is everything on any car or truck. Also the driver. You can be a good driver in normal conditions, but if you don't know how to react in snow, it does not matter what you drive. I've taken my wife's Sunfire & my Honda and passed a plow truck going too darn slow. But it was on straight away, in normal fluffy snow, not slush or ice.

As for traction control, I agree with the one posting of it being a pain for ex. drivers. I also turn mine off. It is for less ex. drivers. It cuts power in half till it gets traction.

My opinion is this car does fine in snow for a front wheel drive car. NOT better than my 4x4 full size Bronco with good tires that goes EVERYWHERE.

I have had this car in the shop every other month for repairs. My car is overheating on the highway or when the weather is hot, and repair shops aren't fixing it!!! It's costing me too much money to keep this car in good condition, and not enough people know how to fix them.

Otherwise I've really loved the comfort and ride of the car.

One of the muffler straps broke at 110,000 miles.

I have an small Anti-Freeze leak, which is leaking into the vent of the Ac/Heat.

I am sorry that everyone has had bad experiences with Pontiac Sunfires, but I have owned two and not had any major problems! I had a 1999 model, that I traded in at 68,000 miles for a 2002 model.

The problems I am having right now are because my car has 110,000 miles on it, not because it's a GM/Pontiac. Plus my car is not garaged, which does make a difference, too.

One of the muffler straps broke at 110,000 miles, and I have an small Anti-Freeze leak, which is leaking into the one vent of the AC/Heat.

I believe that once a car is over 50,000 miles beware... anything can go wrong. That's why most car companies only offer 3 years/50,000 miles as the standard warranty.

I don't believe in buying a used car w/o a warranty, or keeping a car after the warranty, if you can help it... cars don't last forever, like in the good old days.