2004 Pontiac Sunfire problems
Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 39% of complaints. Next are engine (17%) and brakes (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 41 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 39% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 48,000 miles 36 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 36 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 48,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 56,000 miles (14 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 1 injury reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Pontiac Sunfire with enough data (27 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Dt: the front of the vehicle fell apart, lost control of the vehicle .tried to get it to straigten out., it was like the vehicle wouldn't do what consumer, wanted it to do and there was no impact to the front of the vehicle,. But the air bags deployed, and the windshield busted, hit a mailbox on the right side of the passenger door. Could see black mark like it was clipped, and not dented. Felt like the vehicle was made out of plastic, it just buckled. Smelled something that seemed like smoke, but didn't see it.
I was driving my new 2004 sunfire that was just purchased at the end of august, when I saw a flame come out from under the dash near my foot. I slammed on the brakes, through it in park and jumped from the vehicle. The vehicle was totaled!
The ABS,trac and service light came on after I hit a deer because the traction control and ABS would not let me stop from hitting it. I now have the problem with ABS traction control and service light but it now makes it hard to stop till all those come on. I was told it was a sensor in the hub of rear end.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds or while stopped at an idle, the engine stalled without warning. Afterwards, the engine was easily restarted. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined the battery, air flow sensor, altitude sensor, and the fuel filter fitting needed to be replaced. Although the replacements were made, the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified.
Vehicle does not always start right away. The vehicle has shut off multiple times while driving in town and on the highway.