2003 Pontiac Sunfire 2.2 Ecotec

Summary:

The vehicle will disintegrate before the engine gives out

Faults:

Maintenance only with the recent exception of a sending unit. $50.00 at the wrecker's. This has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. After 200,000 km I started doing synthetic oil changes every 6,000 km.

Yes I've done the brakes, tie rod ends, and when my engine light came on I put on new pipes, 2 sensors, cat, filler neck, gas cap, vapor canister, muffler, and it ended up being the purge solenoid. I consider this routine work if your light comes on because it's a hit and miss when the vapor code comes up. I currently still own the vehicle and it has 346,000 km on it.

Currently running excellent!!!

General Comments:

See above comments

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 23rd June, 2019

2003 Pontiac Sunfire SE 2.2 Ecotec

Summary:

Affordable Reliability

Faults:

Aside from routine oil changes, maintenance done every 4,000 miles has included:

Check engine light has been on since a week after purchasing. Found to be a fuel evap issue or something to that effect. Not a driveability issue.

New tires and spark plugs at 125,000 miles. Spark plugs were replaced as preventative maintenance.

Both front struts replaced at 130,000 miles.

I replaced the battery in November of 2014, just as a precautionary measure due to the age of the battery that was in it.

I also replaced the serpentine belt at 145,000 miles, again just as preventative maintenance.

At 157,000 miles I replaced the front brake rotors, calipers, and pads as well as the rear brake drums.

I'll be needing a new exhaust and hangers here soon at 162,000 miles, as well as a new window regulator on the driver's side.

In all, considering the car's age and mileage, it has been very dependable, with only the usual wear and tear that is to be expected.

General Comments:

For the most part, I really like this car. It has always started up and been dependable, especially considering the car's age and mileage. I've put over 40,000 miles on this car in a little over a year and a half, and plan on replacing it with something newer soon, but will keep it as a backup vehicle. I've always done routine maintenance with quality OEM parts since owning and would like to make this car last to at least 180,000 miles. I believe it's more than capable of doing so.

The only ongoing issue is a pulsating in the brakes despite having replaced most of the braking components. Seeing as I generally do my work myself, I plan on taking it to a mechanic to have a professional look it over.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th January, 2017

2003 Pontiac Sunfire

Summary:

Worthless

Faults:

I'm not sure where to start, but I will never purchase another one again. The first 6 months of having it, the entire wiring system went. I have had a wiring harness put in, brakes replaced constantly, brake lines have been replaced due to rotting underneath or just breaking, the exhaust system is horrible, the struts have been replaced a few times since I bought it, and the spark plugs (I lost count on how times that they were replaced).

Now the most recent issue is the timing belt just went on it; it acts like it wants to start, but it won't. Even had someone tried to jump start it and it didn't work, and that's when my mechanic told me that it was the timing belt, especially after I heard something snap right before it just died at a light.

General Comments:

I would not recommend this car to anyone, not even to my worst enemy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 30th September, 2015

2nd Oct 2015, 02:38

Both 4 cylinder engines available for this car did not use timing belts. They came with chains.

9th Jan 2016, 17:24

You do realize that the timing belt is a normal wear item that needs replaced at regular intervals right? The fact that it broke shows nothing about the quality of the vehicle, but that you don't maintain your vehicle properly.