NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2005 Pontiac Sunfire (Page 1 of 3)

2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,420 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.

2005 Pontiac Sunfire electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Pontiac Sunfire Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #47

Apr 012022

Sunfire

  • miles

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

None of the gauges work properly Gm has not issued a recall despite the numerous complaints and it is a 500 to 800 dollar repair bill to replace the instrument cluster. 2005 Sunfire and the instrument cluster is malfunctioning. The gas gauge has stopped working altogether and the temp and rpm gauge work erratically. This is definitely a recall issue and has nothing to do with the maintenance of the vehicle. Gm wants me to have a dealer check the vehicle when they are well aware of this issue as there are multiple posting from owners of this issue online.

- New Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #46

Mar 162016

Sunfire

  • 130 miles
Going down hill, turned my car to the right and the car keep going straight. It did not turn at all. I almost got hit by on coming traffic, but my car hit the curve first stopping an accident from occurring I have replace window motor twice and they have went out again now. And I have also replaced window motor buttons for a second time in the past 3 years

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #45

Mar 152016

Sunfire

  • miles
Recall needed! instrument cluster has failed. Started with the fuel gauge moving in wrong direction into speedometer. Empty is at 110mph. Speedometer stuck at 55mph while coming into town and needing to reduce to 35mph with my children in the car with me! with the line of traffic that was behind me im guessing it was stuck there for a bit before I knew something was wrong. After pulling over and turning motor off and on several times it now goes down to 45mph and increases from there. RPM dial stopped working moments after speedometer stuck. Heat guage seems intact but who knows for sure. So now I'm stuck with a car I don't feel safe putting my children in and I can't afford to fix. Yet another cut corner by GM that they won't acknowledge.

- Ashland, OH, USA

problem #44

Nov 302015

Sunfire

  • 40,000 miles

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

Gas gauge temp gauge RPM gauge all dont work when the car is running

- Moulton, AL, USA

problem #43

Jan 012011

Sunfire

  • 75,000 miles
Instrument gauge (speedometer) went first then slowly progressed into all of them. They are sporadically accurate, but most of the time rest at the low or high end and often off into the next gauge. I paid Firestone a few years back to do a diagnostic hoping one gauge was faulty causing the rest to fail, but its the cluster. Cost for replacement ~ $800. (for me about 3 weeks pay) so recently I decided I cant take it anymore and went searching for alternative prices and look what I find, a billion Sunfire owners with the same problem. (okay but a lot) and these are just the people that have bothered to complain. Been dealing with this for years, its now at the point I described above. I have emissions at the end of March. So looks like I'm out 1 weeks pay (earning a bit more, but not much) because GM wont own up to their cheaply manufactured parts. Buy american" gee I don't understand why that mentality didn't survive the 80's. my next car" from a manufacturer that cares about quality.

- East Windsor, CT, USA

problem #42

Sep 012006

Sunfire

  • 1,000 miles
Vehicle randomly shuts off, usually when idling or stopped. Clock and radio reset. Car can easily be restarted, but clock and radio must be reset. Has happened many times. Dealer was unable to locate a problem on several service appointments.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #41

Jul 012014

Sunfire

  • 90,000 miles

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

The temperature gauge does not work at all anymore - the gauge was at hot even when the car had been off overnight and was completely cool. Now it is all the way around underneath the gauge next to it.

- Utica, NY, USA

problem #40

Sep 042014

Sunfire

  • 114,000 miles
Driving the vehicle went to turn a corner and the entire car died. I lost all steering and electrical in the car. When the vehicle was tried to be restarted that was a very loud clunking noise. Once towed to a mechanic was told the engine had seized up even though there was oil in the vehicle. Was also told this is identical to the problems other vehicles have been recalled for.

- Utica, NY, USA

problem #39

Aug 282014

Sunfire

  • 105,000 miles
While driving I noticed that my tachometer gauge indicator was all the way over to the right under my speedometer indicator. Then a few hours later while going to the store, I noticed that my temperature gauge was showing hot and not accurate also. This was discussed with my mechanic who informs me that this is a known problem and the cost to fix"?? in the neighborhood of $500 -- I am a single mother with a handicapped child and do not live in that neighborhood. I think GM should fix this issue before someone is hurt-- why wait that long" because if it is me or my child-- I promise it will not be good for them!

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #38

May 132014

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
The electrical system goes out and the car will not start, the horn will not work the care claim to run hot when that isn't the case. The window stop working, the engine say that it need checking however when I take it to be service they always says this model has a lot of electrical problems. I have had wires replaced, new starter, new alternator, new motor in the left window. And I have had all this done to fine out that there is electrical issue with this model. I have wasted hundreds when all you had to do is admit there was an issue and submit a recall.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #37

Nov 112013

Sunfire

  • 60,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the odometer and fuel gauges fluctuated. The contact also mentioned that the driver's front window failed to open or close. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the instrument panel assembly would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Plattsburgh, NY, USA

problem #36

Feb 102014

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
Daughter called during late night drive from university, temp gauge has gone too high! had to get off freeway and drive through bad part of town back to university detroit mercy. Call for ride home. Make arrangements to have towed to shop. Temp gauge not working at all now. Shop says that the whole gauge panel needs replacement!

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #35

Mar 242014

Sunfire

  • 41,312 miles
All gauges in the vehicle have stopped working (I.e. speedometer, tachometer, fuel, and temp gauges). Told that this is a known issue with Pontiac Sunfire models from years 2003-2005. Also, with the Chevrolet cavalier 2003-2005, which is basically the same car. GM changed suppliers for the instrument cluster for these years. Instrument failure is caused by the inferior parts used by GM, and it is a safety issue. One can not blame instrument failure on a lack of maintenance of the vehicle on the owner. Especially on a vehicle that travels roughly 5,000 miles a year. Such an issue is the fault of the manufacturer, and their use of sub-par materials. Have checked fuses, and had the electrical system checked (I.e. it's not a short to ground problem). These are not the result of the gauges failing. Told the cost would be over $500 for a new instrument gauge cluster. There should be a recall by GM for this known safety issue.

- Allison Park, PA, USA

problem #34

Feb 272014

Sunfire

  • 67,247 miles
Speedometer is stuck at 60mph will go up from that but not down. I see a bunch of other people with same issue! can GM see there is a problem that needs taken care of !!

- Clive, IA, USA

problem #33

Jan 012014

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • 89,721 miles
Instrumentclusterinop, speedometer, &temperaturegaugefailing.rpmgaugefailing, ranintospeedometer&effectingthespeedofthecar.veryunsafe, multiplecomplaintsondefectiveinstrumentcluster.www.carcomplaints.com.$500repair, Pontiac/gmhasnorecallsontheissue.multipleownersofthevehicehavesamecomplaintsofthissameproblem.dontknowthetemperatureofthevehicle, dontknowthespeedi'mdriving.speedometerisglitching.problem&defectisapparently, problemwithsteppermotersarefailingincluster.

- Pinehill, NJ, USA

problem #32

Dec 202007

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
I had just bought the car in December 2007 and the cigarette lighter next to driving wheel was not working. Car was in storage for over a year and around May 2010 the drivers window stopped "rolling up" so we got the window motor changed as they said it was burnt. Window worked for about a week and then it turned out to be another electrical issue having to do with the switch controlling the windows. Around April 2011 a new issue, high beams stopped working on and off. They eventually stopped working and leading to no beams at all, not signals and no light in dashboard. Another part had to be replaced. May 2013 - stereo light is not working, but stereo is operating. July 2013 - trunk will not lock.

- Santa Nella, CA, USA

problem #31

May 302013

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the instrument panel failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was advised that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

- Jackson Heights, NY, USA

problem #30

Apr 052011

Sunfire

  • 45,000 miles
The entire instrument panel (I.e. speedometer, gas gauge, temp gauge, RPM gauge) ceased to function one by one.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #29

Aug 182012

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire. While parked, the contact noticed that the fuel gauge would not display a reading. A few weeks later the temperature gauge and the speedometer also failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the instrument panel would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 11/13/12 updated 12/03/12

- Anderson, CA, USA

problem #28

Feb 132012

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
Speedometer is stuck at 85-90 mph.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

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