NHTSA — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Disc: Rotor Problems

7.8

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,528 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.

2003 Pontiac Sunfire brakes problems

brakes problem

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2003 Pontiac Sunfire Owner Comments

problem #5

Aug 242004

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,857 miles

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

The contact stated that while driving the brakes grabbed and let go, like a pulsation. Took the vehicle to the dealer three times for this problem. The first time the vehicle was at the dealer they turned the rotors. The second time the dealer cleaned the rotors. The third time they turned the rotors for the second time. The brakes worked, but the contact was concerned about the multiplicity of times that the rotors were serviced. Two different dealers told the contact they have seen this problem a lot. Manufacturer said they will not fix it under the warranty and offered no help at their expense. Updated 11/15/2005.

- Butler, PA, USA

problem #4

Sep 222004

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When ever the brakes were applied, they would cause excessive vibrations in the vehicle. Also, the vehicle was not stopping properly as it should. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership and was informed by the mechanic that the front brake rotors needed to be replaced.

- Rolling Fork, MS, USA

problem #3

Mar 252004

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at night, the headlights failed. This caused poor visibility to the driver. The brakes became inoperative. While driving at any speed the vehicle vibrates. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that the rotors needed to be replaced.

- Spencer, IN, USA

problem #2

Dec 162003

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles
Front rotors on the car are defective. My car was brought in at 6000 miles with a complaint of warped rotors causing a vibration upon brakeing. At that time I was told the rotors "were within specs". I brought the car in at 14000 miles with the same complaint and the rotors were "resurfaced and the pads were buffed". I did not receive the car with resurfaced rotors and buffed pads. This has been a complaint since I bought the car in February 2003. I feel since the car came with a defective part, the rotors and the brake pads should be replaced with new ones. This could be a life threating problem if the brakes fail due to defective rotors.

- Port Vincent, LA, USA

problem #1

Sep 042003

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,681 miles
Brake rotors warped after less than 11,000 miles of travel; 2003 Pontiac-Sunfire purchased on April 29, 2003. I believe that this is a bad batch of brake parts or the component is either under designed or improperly specified to withstand day-to-day city driving conditions. A 2001 Chevrolet-cavalier that I previously owned exhibited the same insufficiency in it's brake rotors that required servicing three times in 60,000 miles of driving. Both of these cars are essentially the same with the exception of trims and GM division name. The cost to resurface salvagable rotors is approximately $140 at the dealer. If they can't be resurfaced then they have to be replaced entirely. Look forward to your response.

- New Baltimore, MI, USA

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