NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Cooling System Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Pontiac Sunfire cooling system problems

cooling system problem

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1996 Pontiac Sunfire Owner Comments

problem #8

Mar 072002

Sunfire

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The airbags have failed to deploy on two separate occasions and I have statements proving they should of. The fuel injectors damaged in the accident were fixed by newby auto 2 weeks later they were broken again they refused to redo them saying it wasn't the same one they fixed. They also refused to add an airbag check onto the estimate saying there wasnt enough damage to deploy them I have two other estimates totalling my car they refused to look at them and insisted it was ok and they would fix it unfortually they did not and it has had many problems since. Newby auto a Pontiac dealership was located in richfield Utah at the time they had my car they are no longer in business in richfield.

- Redmond, UT, USA

problem #7

Nov 252001

(reported on)

Sunfire

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Engine runs hot at the very top of the gauge just before the over-heating mark on the gauge. Losing coolant. Car some times has trouble starting and back-fires. Water pump had to be replaced at 43,000 miles as it had a hole in it and was leaking. Oil leaks in several places, oil coming out of exhaust pipe, check engine light keeps coming on. Replaced gasket between the transmission and engine due leaks. Currently, the clutch sticks intermittently and I sometimes can't get the transmission to go into reverse. Had to replace high-pressure power steering pump due to leaks. Electrical system currently has a problem whereby I can't turn on the car alarm, the sensor alarms don't function right, drivers-side window only works intermittently and I've burned-out about 5 fues in six months. Driver's leather seats ripped at the sewed ribbing at around 15,000. The trunk hydraulic lift pumps stopped working at 25,000 miles, and the trunk-lid wouldn't stay up and it's a heavy trunk lid to hold open and try to put something it at the same time. Back-up lights stopped working at 10,000 miles. Driver's-side seatbelt is twisted, and the seat casing holder for the seat adjustment broke-off. There has always been a rattle in the right rear trunk area?

- Pittsburg, CA, USA

problem #6

Nov 252001

(reported on)

Sunfire

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Engine runs hot at the very top of the gauge just before the over-heating mark on the gauge. Losing coolant. Car some times has trouble starting and back-fires. Water pump had to be replaced at 43,000 miles as it had a hole in it and was leaking. Oil leaks in several places, oil coming out of exhaust pipe, check engine light keeps coming on. Replaced gasket between the transmission and engine due leaks. Currently, the clutch sticks intermittently and I sometimes can't get the transmission to go into reverse. Had to replace high-pressure power steering pump due to leaks. Electrical system currently has a problem whereby I can't turn on the car alarm, the sensor alarms don't function right, drivers-side window only works intermittently and I've burned-out about 5 fues in six months. Driver's leather seats ripped at the sewed ribbing at around 15,000. The trunk hydraulic lift pumps stopped working at 25,000 miles, and the trunk-lid wouldn't stay up and it's a heavy trunk lid to hold open and try to put something it at the same time. Back-up lights stopped working at 10,000 miles. Driver's-side seatbelt is twisted, and the seat casing holder for the seat adjustment broke-off. There has always been a rattle in the right rear trunk area?

- Pittsburg, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 251999

Sunfire

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Water pump leaking half gallon or more of fluid everyday, causing low coolant light to come on. Local dealer wanted 7 hours and $600 dollars or more to fix. Catalytic converter failed at accordian-like shock absorber at high speed. Was upset to learn that replacement part was dealer-only item and cost $420 dollars plus $40 dollar core charge. Wheel studs (three)on passenger side front wheel failed during highway trip in June of 1999. Two more failed during August of 2000. Have been told, could be overtightening issue, but have not had problem with remaining studs on other wheels. This could be very serious safety concern. Interior dome light has intermittent malfunction which causes light to remain lit indefinitely. Has happened several times. Had to turn light off by pulling dome light fuse or disconnecting battery each time.

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #4

Jun 251999

Sunfire

  • miles
Water pump leaking half gallon or more of fluid everyday, causing low coolant light to come on. Local dealer wanted 7 hours and $600 dollars or more to fix. Catalytic converter failed at accordian-like shock absorber at high speed. Was upset to learn that replacement part was dealer-only item and cost $420 dollars plus $40 dollar core charge. Wheel studs (three)on passenger side front wheel failed during highway trip in June of 1999. Two more failed during August of 2000. Have been told, could be overtightening issue, but have not had problem with remaining studs on other wheels. This could be very serious safety concern. Interior dome light has intermittent malfunction which causes light to remain lit indefinitely. Has happened several times. Had to turn light off by pulling dome light fuse or disconnecting battery each time.

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #3

Oct 151999

Sunfire

  • miles
No summary

- Rockford, MI, USA

problem #2

Dec 181995

Sunfire

  • miles
Vehicle looses excessive amounts of collant but no leak is found.

- Edmonton, UN, USA

problem #1

Dec 311998

Sunfire

  • miles
My car is barely three years old. This shouldn't of happened.the garage where I took this to said a week ago another Sunfire was brought in with the same problem. Also, a friends brother last summer took his 95 Sunfire into the dealer also with the same problem.

- Highland, IN, USA

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