Comments: 1-15, 16
What hasn't?
Lining around the doors keeps coming off, 3 times.
Speakers have gone out.
Radio buttons keep chipping, 3 times.
Outside mirror won't stay in place.
Just dies on me once in a while, no one can figure it out.
Brakes had to be adjusted, etc. etc., and this all happened before I even had 10,000 miles!
I will NEVER buy another!!!
I have had fan pulley problems, brake problems, radio/CD player problems, speaker problems, and shifting problems. My 1999 Sunfire is at 38,000 miles.
I have a 1997 Sunfire, and I had to have my radio replaced right after I bought it.
The piece that attaches the seat belt to the side of the car has broken twice, and my radio buttons are chipping as well.
I recently had to have my fuel pump replaced ($750) after my car died on me. I also had to replace my power steering hose ($100).
Is anything for this car not outrageously expensive???
Lately, my check engine light keeps coming on, but I'm afraid to see what it is. And the rattles! It sounds like the car will fall apart if I hit a big enough bump.
I have a 1997 Pontiac Sun fire and everything broke. Currently it is not running because the alternator went for the 2nd time, I have replaced the starter 3 times, the horn no longer works, neither does the a/c and power windows and key less entry, all of the lights are on on the inside. Twice it stopped running while I was driving on the road and almost caused an accident. I have had some sort of bent rod, the engine has been replaced, and the fuel pump. To be honest, this car has cost me more than it will be worth when I sell it. I do not recommend this vehicle to anyone and don't worry, I will not sell this vehicle to anyone, but the dealer who pawned it off on me. I bought it brand new and it only has 68000 miles on it.
I have a 99 that has had a plethora of problems. Fuel pump went at an outrageous cost, rad hose blew on the highway, spilling coolant all over the place. Then the head gasket went, allowing coolant into the cylinders, creating a no start condition overnight (and wonderful sweet smelling white exhaust). Looking at total engine replacement... on a side note, looked at a used 2003 Sunfire at a local Chrysler dealership-only 20K and it's smoking prestone too. General Motors needs to shape up to compete with imports, their current products are junk.
Well I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire and have had no problems with it. It has been a good car for me. It looks like you all don't know how to take care of a dang car.
I`ve had my 1999 Sunfire for 5 years now and all I`ve done is the required maintenance. I plan on keeping it another 5 years!!
My step cousin has a 2001 Pontiac sunfire. The first problem with this sunfire was it wouldn't start because it was so cold. Then the tire was flat for the second problem. also. This car didn't run out of gas. It was something that causes to not start. Other than that, no problems so far. It was a little over 40.000 miles.
I've had my 99 pontiac sunfire for about a year now, I've had one flat tire- and that was because some one slashed it. my car was in a major accident about a month ago- the whole front it was smashed- after paying someone 300 bucks to tow it and straighten the frame, and put on a new hood, passenger fender and bumper replacing the radiator and both headlights and front blinkers. My car is back to where it belongs and have had no problems with it. keep up with regular maintence and youll be fine... stop whining! by the way... my car has 74,000 miles on it!
My 1999 is around 60,000 and not a single problem. Half a dozen people I know own Sunfire's and they love them, no problems with them either.
I have had my 1999 Sunfire for almost five years now. For the most part, it has been a good running car. My problems lie with the steering and suspension. I have now had the rack and pinion replaced twice in the last two years. I am about to take it in again for what appears to be the same issue. Third time is a charm, so they say.
Aside from that I think it is a good car for the price.
By the way. The car never started because you wouldn't pump the gas pedal a few times. If I were the owner of the sunfire, I pump the gas pedal a few times before start. So let's try that. thanks.
I drive a 99 sunfire and I have had nothing, but trouble out of it. First, the ignition switch went out (90,000mi) BEFORE the recall was announced, which left me stranded for a week. The next problem I had was with the thermostat and overheating. It seemed like once one problem was fixed, another one was ready to make my life even worse. Not long afterwards, the car began making a whistling sound, and 2 days later the alternator died (108,000mi). And currently, I am having problems with the battery. The battery light comes on whenever I depress the brake. I have no idea what this is going to cost me. No more sunfires for me.
My mother's vehicle is a 99 Sunfire SE with 167,000mi on it, and aside from the exhaust rattling loose now and then, we've had not a single major problem with the car. Seems that GM is really hit-and-miss with their reliability.
The comments here seem to dominantly point to lack of maintenance of the cooling system. People don't seem to realize that there is a direct relationship between the brown-colored anti-freeze and the malfunctioning thermostat or blown radiator hoses, and the blown head gasket and ruined engine. These are all progressions of the same problem--sediment-laden coolant that can no longer carry heat away from the block and dissipate it through the radiator. Nor can I give a "thumbs down" to a car that needs a new alternator after 108,000 miles. That is normal repair. One comment to the person with the battery idiot light that comes on when you step on the brakes: It may not be your battery, it may instead be a general warning that the battery is discharging because there is something wrong with the alternator or charging system. Since you mentioned that the alternator was (relatively) recently replaced, it's possible that the belt wasn't tightened properly, so the belt is slipping on the alternator pulley and your battery is not being charged while you drive.
I agree with the hit and miss point. But I think it could very well be narrowed down to where the car was built. Build quality is generally better than when campared to the same vehicle built in Mexico. It all depends on the vehicle serial number. I believe a beginning "3" digit means it was built in USA and a "1" meaning it was built in Mexico, or the other way around.