2003 Pontiac Sunfire from North America - Comments

I purchased a 2003 Sunfire new in October of 2002. Here is a brief synopsis of its service record:

3500 miles-- Coolant leak caused by improperly built valve.

Every few months (whenever the police stop me because one of my brake or tail lights has burned out again) -- non-repair of malfunctioning light (s). (Has been recalled since out of warranty for this problem; more recently paid in excess of $100. to not fix it after it failed vehicle inspection.)

9700 miles-- Fuel pump replaced.

16000 miles-- Service department claimed that it could not duplicate stalling problem after supposedly driving it all over town (I still wonder whether it set the odometer forward). Took the car to the Chevrolet dealership down the street, where a software update fixed the problem.

40000 miles-- Gas gauge malfunctions; Pontiac dealership claims that the problem is the fuel pump. I decline paying for repairs. After the temp gauge goes out, the Chevrolet dealership decides that the instrument panel cluster is the problem. I am still driving without fuel/temp gauges a year later (reluctant to waste more money on this car).

I'm glad that I happened upon this site since I now realize for the hundredth time that my occasional impulse to repair and keep this car would be really foolish to follow.

For all the people that have experienced these problems, where your cars manufactured in Mexico? Check your driver's door and it will say where it's made. Sunfires made in Mexico had serious flaws.

Thanks to everyone who has posted comments on the issues had. I am looking for a good reliable car for my daughter in university. looks like this is not the car to buy. I'll give her my 99 Taurus instead. At least I know I can fix whatever may go wrong with it.