Pontiac Sunfire 2000 — Problemas relatados

MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECT UNTIL 3 WEEKS AGO, IT HAS SINCE THEN WONT START BACK UP. THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SPARK, THEN TRIED SPARK PLUG WIRES, NEW BATTERY, CHECKED ALTERNATOR AND FUSES, COILS ALL GOOD. THEN I WAS LEAD TO MAYBE THE GAS THAT WAS IN IT. DROPPED GAS TANK, PUT NEW FUEL FILTER, CHECKED FUEL PUMP, GAS LINES, IT DID STAY RUNNING ONE TIME SINCE BUT WAS SHAKING ROUGHLY WITH A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WILL NOT RUN ANYMORE SINCE THEN. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS NOW AND IT IS MY ONLY CAR.. ALSO BEFORE THE CAR STARTED HAVING THE ABOVE PROBLEMS MY BRAKES KEPT GETTING TONS OF AIR ALSO LOSING A TON OF BRAKE FLUID, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND ALL BRAKE LINES ARE GOOD. IT'S DANGEROUS. ALSO HAVE BLED THE BRAKES. NOT MUCH HELP OTHER THAN TEMPORARILY. *TR

"TAKATA RECALL" WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A COUNTY ROAD AND SWITCHING FROM LOW BEAMS TO HIGH BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY DARK AND DID NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL SWITCHING BACK TO LOW BEAMS. AFTER INSPECTION, NOTICED THE DAY RUNNERS ALSO WERE NOT WORKING. ALL FUSES WERE PLUGGED IN AND GOOD. REPLACING THE RELAY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED HEREIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT INVOLVED A SIMILAR FAILURE (GMC RECALL NUMBER: 03043); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,283.

DAUGHTER HYDROPLANED, WENT INTO DITCH ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD, TRAVELED ACROSS ROAD INTO LEFT DITCH AND HIT TREE, OPENING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DURING CRASH AND TOTALED VEHICLE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING CRASH.

MY DAUGHTERS CAR WAS HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS (NOT ENOUGH GAS GETTING TO THE ENGINE TO START, HAD TO PUMP THE GAS). I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE IN A EMPTY PARKING LOT ONCE IT STARTED. I WAS GOING APPROX 10MPH THE FIRST TIME I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I RELEASED THE PEDAL IT STAYED IN PLACE AT FULL THROTTLE. I PUSHED THE BREAKS TO STOP THE CAR AND HAD TO THROW IT INTO NEUTRAL BEFORE THE THROTTLE RELEASED. SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME!! THANK GOD MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER NEVER PUSHED THE THROTTLE ALL THE WAY DOWN!! I TRIED IT SEVERAL MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. SOMEHOW THE THROTTLE STICKING IS TIED TO THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE, EVERYTIME, THE THROTTLE WOULD RELEASED AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I DONOT HAVE THE VIN BECAUSE WE TOOK IT TO A SHOP TONIGHT. JUST THOUGHT I SHOULD WARN ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAD MY DAUGHTER MEET ME IN THE PARKING LOT AND TOLD HER TO FLOOR IT WITH THE SAME RESULTS, AND AS I THOUGHT WOULD HAPPENED SHE PANIC AND ONLY PUSHED THE BREAKS YELLING "OW GOD, OW GOD. I HAD MY HAND ON THE SHIFTER AND MOVED IT TO NEUTRAL. AGAINST HER WILL MADE HER DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN SO SHE COULD LEARN NOT TO PANIC AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IN CASE THIS HAPPENS TO HER EVER IN THE FUTURE. SHOULD BE A TRAINING IN DRIVERS ED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN 2005, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL RELATED TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ UPDATED 08/15/2012 *JS

REAR PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET IT IS GETTING VERY HOT AND IS MELTING BULBS AND SOCKET. HAVE REPLACED BULBS VARIOUS TIMES WITH AND WITHOUT PROPER GREASE AND NO CHANGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. UPON STARTING THE ENGINE AT NIGHT, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS MELTED,WHICH DISABLED VEHICLE OPERATION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. HE WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS THAT ADDRESSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS CATALYST V TIRES, MODEL 20555R16 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED ON HER VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL SEASON TIRES; HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT PERFORM PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN THE SNOW BECAUSE THE TIRES SKID AND DO NOT ALLOW PROPER TURNING. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER IS SLIGHTLY SHORTER THAN THE OTHER TIRES AND THE DEFECT OCCURS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT OR BRAKE LIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. FUSES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. ONCE REPLACED BULBS DEFECT WITHIN AN HOUR OR SO. DOME LIGHT OR OVER HEAD LIGHT REPEATS SAME PROCESS. VEHICLE'S BATTERY AND TERMINALS REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE. $$$ *TR

THE SUPERCHARGER IN MY 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP CAUGHT FIRE CAUSED AN ENGINE FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN SLOW, HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

SEALS ON VAN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE BAD. MOISTURE GETS INTO LENSES AND BLOWS BULBS. AND ARE TOO COSTLY TO REPLACE!! *TR

WIPER BLADES BECAME MINGLED AND NOW WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON. THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER GOES OFF WINDSHIELD A LITTLE BIT. BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR RECALL ON SLIDING DOOR HANDLES AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW WINDSHIELD MOTOR ARM WHICH IS OVER $300. AND CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. *TR

2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM. TURN SIGNALS & HAZARD FLASHER WILL QUIT WORKING, HAVE TO HIT DASHBOARD ABOVE HAZARD SWITCH WITH FIST TO ACTIVATE TURN SIGNALS AGAIN. RECALL ISSUED #03V327000 BUT MY VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, DEALER TOLD ME $160.00 TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT AND NO PREVIOUS FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE BEGAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,284.

NO MEMORY OF THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT I SUSTAINED LIFE THREATENING INJURIES AND MY BOYFRIEND DIED. MY SPECIALISTS OUT OF STATE BELIEVES IT WAS SOMETHING KNOWN AS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHY DOES NHTSA KEEP IGNORING THAT THERE IS A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE INSTEAD OF BLAMING THE DRIVERS. I'M STILL FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT THOUGH THE FAMILY HAS NOT PRESSED CHARGES AND HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ME EVER SINCE. SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE THAT I'M BEING PROSECUTED FOR SOMETHING THAT WASN'T MY FAULT AND WAS CAR DEFECT. *JB

I PURCHASED A PONTIAC MONTANA IN 2004 IT WAS BUILT IN 2000 .ON MARCH 12,2007 IT BUSTED INTO FLAMES BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND FUSE BOX . WHILE MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *AK

MY TURN SIGNALS HAVE BEEN ACTING UP LATELY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I DECIDED TO FILE THE CLAIM-SEEMS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I USE MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL, MORE OFTEN THEN NOT IT DOESN'T WORK, MY DASH LIGHTS FLASH AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT SHUT OFF. WHEN I USE MY RIGHT SIGNAL, THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH BUT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY STAY ON FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. IF I HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON (FOR NIGHT DRIVING) THE WIPERS ARE ON CONSTANTLY. ALSO, MY WINDSHIELD FLUID DOES NOT SPRAY. I HAD THE WIRING REPLACED SOME TIME AROUND WHEN I PURCHASED IT 4 YEARS AGO (OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE). IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR, HOWEVER SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN A COME AND GO ISSUE. *NM

I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, AND I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP AT LEAST TWICE (MAYBE THREE) TIMES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. NOW, THE PROBLEM HAS ARISEN AGAIN, AND I MUST TAKE MY TIME AND MONEY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE JUST SEEN ON LINE TWELVE (12) "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS" REPORTING THIS PROBLEM DATING 1999 THROUGH 2006. I BELIEVE THAT THIS STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM IS LIFE THREATENING. WHAT CAN I DO TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS TAKEN CARE OF AND NOT JUST "GREASED" OVER AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST? *JB

VEHICLE: 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK; WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR, THE LIGHTS "FLICKER" AS THE RELAY FIRES, BUT THE LIGHTS DO NOT REMAIN ON, THEN THE "SERVICE" LIGHT COMES ON. ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON, AND IF THEY DO, THE BRIGHT LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. YOU CAN "OVER-RIDE" THE SYSTEM BY PULLING THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK PARTIALLY, WHICH THEN ALLOWS THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLAMP BULBS, AND THE DRL RELAY, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. AS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS, I SAW A WEBSITE CALLED "CARSURVEY.ORG" WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON SUNFIRES AND CAVALIERS (1998 - 2002). MANY OF THESE COMMENTS SAY THAT ACCORDING TO GM DEALERSHIPS, THIS IS A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM, AND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN CORRECTING IT. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS: DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE YOU WILL GET INVOLVED? I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS, BUT I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE. PLEASE HELP!!!!!! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A PATTERN OF SMALL (BUT ANNOYING) COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE I RECENTLY OWNED. I STATE "RECENTLY OWNED" BECAUSE I GRATEFULLY TRADED IT IN LAST WEEK WITH JUST 56,234 MILES ON IT ON A NEW 2006 SUBARU IMPREZA. I BOUGHT THE PONTIAC NEW IN 2000 AND CARED FOR IT UP UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN PROBLEMS BEGAN CROPPING UP ON IT LIKE SNOWFLAKES IN A BLIZZARD. MY SUNFIRE RAN WELL UNTIL ABOUT SIX MONTH AGO WHEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE A BURNING OIL SMELL FROM ITS VENTS. IT TURNED OUT THAT IT NEEDED A NEW VALVE COVER GASKET THAT WAS CAUSING A MINOR OIL LEAK. ITS EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO RUST OUT. HOWEVER, RECENTLY, A FEW LIGHTS ON THE DASH CLUSTER THAT ILLUMINATED THE CAR'S TACHOMETER AND SHIFTER CONSOLE WENT OUT-NO REASON GIVEN-GARAGE SAID IT WOULD BE A DIFFICULT REPAIR. THEN, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE DIGITAL ODOMETER BEGAN TO GO BLANK AND SHOW SYMBOLS. I HAD HAD ENOUGH, SO I TRADED IT IN LAST WEEK (AFTER REVEALING TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEMS THAT IT HAD). I HOPE THEY CAN FIX IT UP AND PROVIDE IT WITH A NEW OWNER-IT WAS A NICE CAR, BUT I DON'T THINK A CAR SHOULD BEGIN TO WEAR OUT THAT QUICKLY-MY PREVIOUS CAR, A 1993 FORD ESCORT BOUGHT NEW, LASTED ME FOR OVER 120,000 MILES BEFORE I TRADED IT IN ON THE PONTIAC. AGAIN, GM NEEDS TO LOOK INTO ITS QUALITY-NO WONDER THEY ARE LOSING CUSTOMERS (LIKE ME) TO FOREIGN CAR COMPANIES. *NM

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. DIAGNOSIS: LEFT FRONT SEAT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED. BELT KIT. *NM

DT:THE CONTACT STATED TWO FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE TURNING INTO A GAS STATION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. SHE WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AT THE TIME. THEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS CORROSION AND WATER IN THE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO BLACK EYES, A KNOT ON HER FOREHEAD AND BURNS ON HER THROAT AND CHEST. AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME WAS LYING ON THE GROUND. SHE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. IT SOUNDED AS IF SHE RAN OVER GLASS IN THE ROAD. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD INSTEAD OF DEPLOYING OUT TOWARD THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE POLICE OFFICER DID CAME AND TOOK A REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CAME TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHO WAS AT FAULT FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS IN TWO PREVIOUS REAR END ACCIDENTS AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT THAT TIME. FROM THE TIME OF HER LAST ACCIDENT IT HAD BEEN ABOUT TWO MONTHS UNTIL THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK UPDATE 12/6/2005 - THE ROAD THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *NM

PURCHASED NEW 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN 2000. IN 2001 HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED AT WARRANTY. HAVE COMPLAINED OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS THAT STEERING STILL MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. TODAY TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING SHAFT AGAIN HAS TO BE REPLACED. I'M A 63 YEAR OLD WOMAN AND DO NOT RACE OR ABUSE MY CAR. NOW I WAS ALSO TOLD THE HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME...COSTS APPROX 900.00. WHY WOULD THESE CONTINUE TO BREAK? *NM

MY CAR IS A 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, AND TWICE WITHIN 12 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS QUIT WORKING , THE 1ST TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BAD WIRE AND REPLACED IT, WITHIN ONE YEAR IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PART WAS ONLY WARRANTED FOR 1YR OR 12,000 MILES OF WHICH THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER THE 12,000 MILES,THEREFORE I AM HAVING TO PAY AGAIN (TWICE IN ONE YEAR ) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *JB

I WAS ON ROUTE 65 IN NORTH SEWICKELY IN PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS STOPPED DUE TO ANOTHER DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. A CAR CAME FROM BEHIND HITTING ME AND I WAS PROPELLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHICH HIT THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FROM THE HEAD ON COLLISION. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE BRUISES AND SPRAINED NECK AND SHOULDER. I HAVE PAIN TO MY ABDOMEN DUE TO THE SEAT BELT, I HAD ON. NOTHING, MY CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. I HAVE A CALL INTO GM BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR WHICH THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER ONE WAS A FEW MONTHS OF BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2000. WHEN A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF ME ON INTERSTATE 19. SMASHING THE FRONT END THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THEN EITHER. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN THE DEER HIT ME. I HAD ON MY SAFETY BELT. *NM

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. AFTER GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN. HOWEVER, IT RESTARTED. AFTER ARRIVING HOME THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DEFECTIVE.*AK

LOW COOLANT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED ON 2-26-05 AND SENSORS CLEANED, AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE CENTER THAT THE DEXCOOL POSES A PROBLEM IN THE GM CARS. THEY SAID THAT IT MAKES THE SENSORS STICK AND RESULT IN THE LIGHT COMING ON FOR NO REASON. JUST THIS WEEK THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT IS BACK ON. GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS, AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE DEXCOOL MAY LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE ENGINE BLOWING UP. *AK

IIN DECEMBER OF 2004 MY SON WAS IN THE BACKSEAT PUTTING ON HIS SEAT BELT AND AN IT BROKE. SINCE THEN HE HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE MIDDLE. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE SEAT BELT. ON MONDAY THE 21ST OF MARCH I WAS PUTTING MY OTHER SONS CAR SEAT IN THE CAR AND WAS TIGHTNING UP THE BELT AND THAT ONE BROKE TOO. NOW I HAVE NO SEAT BELTS THAT WORK IN MY BACK SEAT. I CANNOT BELEIVE THAT THEY WOULD BREAK THAT EASILY. WHAT IF I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THIS I AM SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BROKE. I HAVE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS TO HAVE THE SEAT BELTS LOOKED AT. I JUST CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY ARE MADE TO BRAKE WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE!

I AM WRITING BECAUSE MY PONTIAC MONTANA MINIVAN HAS A HOOD THAT IS RUSTING IN MANY PLACES, ON TOP OF THE HOOD AND UNDER THE HOOD. THIS OCCURRED BEFORE 48,000 MILES, THIS IS WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VAN AND THE PROBLEM WAS APPARENT. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I QUESTION THE SAFETY OF THE HOOD IF WE WERE TO BE IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. I TOOK THE VAN INTO THE PONTIAC DEALER WHO TOOK PICTURES AND THEN THEY CONTACTED THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT WHO LOOKED AT THE PICURES AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE AND THEREFORE CALLED THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE DEPARTARTMENT WHO INTURNED CALLED THE DEALER AND THEN REPEATED WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME. I WAS GIVIEN THE RING AROUND AND AM ANNOYED THAT PONTIAC DID NOT FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

MY 2000 SUNFIRE AUTOMATIC CAR STOPPED MOVING ON DECEMBER 19, 2004 WITH 64,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP IN VIROQUA, WI ON MON., DEC. 21. THEY TOLD ME ON DEC. 22 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND THE PART WOULD BE IN AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY 2005. I CALLED THEM EVERY WEEK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH. I WAS TOLD "I WAS ON THE TOP OF THE HUNDREDS LIST TO GET THE PART." THEN THE DATE WAS MOVED TO THE END OF JAN. 2005. I CALLED THEM BACK ON FEB. 1, 2005 AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE PART WOULD BE MADE AND THEY HAVE MOVED THE PLACE WHERE THEY MAKE THE PARTS. I HAVE A LOANER CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BUT I WANT MY CAR BACK. IS THERE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN GM VECHILES OR IN THE SUNFIRE CAR DIRECTLY?*AK

REPEAT ISSUE ON 12-28-04 - COLD WEATHER, EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS - NO WARNING CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED ON EXPRESSWAY. FINALLY RESTARTED AFTER TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. STALLED AGAIN ON 12-29-04 SAME CONDITIONS - WOULD NOT RESTART - TOWED TO GM DEALERSHIP. FUEL PUMP AND SYSTEM REPLACED. *JB

REPEAT FAILURE: AFTER FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ON 12-29-04, ON 1-14-05 UNDER SAME CONDITIONS - COLD WEATHER - EXPRESSWAY SPEED - THE CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED - WOULD NOT RESTART AND REQUIRED TOW TO DEALERSHIP. ANALYSIS SHOWED THE REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP ALSO BECAME DEFECTIVE. (CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED ON 12-28-04 AND 12-29-04 AND WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WERE THE MODULE WAS REPLACED.) *JB

PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2000 WILL BE DRIVING THE CARS, IT STALLS OUT, THEN RESTARTS WITHOUT TURNING THE KEY. HAVE TALKED TO THE PONTIAC DEALER. BRINGING IT IN ON 12/20/2004 FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO A COLLAPSED FUEL STRAINER THATWILL CAOST IN THE AREA OF $200 TO REPAIR. ODI ACTION NO. PE02-66 WAS FILED IN 2002, NEEDS TO BE PUSHED FORWARD TO HOLD PONTIAC ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN. SEE (HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_42762.HTML) FOR FURTHER CONFIRMATION.

RECENTLY MY LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON IN MY 2000 GRAND AM GT (3.4 LITER). I ADDED COOLANT TO THE TANK BECAUSE IT WAS LOW, BUT WAS CURIOUS AS TO WHY I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PUDDLES FORMING UNDERNEATH MY CAR. ALL WAS FINE TILL A FEW WEEKS LATER MY LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I LOOKED AT THE TANK AND IT WAS LOW AGAIN, BUT NO SIGNS OF WHERE THE COOLANT WAS GOING. SO, I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. AS IT TURNS OUT, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS GO BAD AT FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE OIL. SURE ENOUGH I TOOK OFF THE OIL CAP AND DISCOVERED A MILKY RESIDUE INSIDE WHERE THE OIL WAS. EVEN MY COOLANT TANK HAD SOME OF THIS IN IT. I HAD JUST CHANGED THE OIL A MONTH PRIOR AND SAW NO SIGNS OF IT, SO IT OBVIOUSLY JUST OCCURRED. I'M JUST SHOCKED THAT MY CAR HAS AROUND 50,000 MILES ON IT AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING TO WHERE IT COULD LITERALLY DESTROY MY ENGINE. I AM TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIRS IN A FEW DAYS BEFORE IT GETS WORSE, ESTIMATED AROUND $500. PRETTY MUCH THE GASKET IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH FLUSHING THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND CLEANING THE OIL. I'M JUST AMAZED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN ONLINE AND THAT GM HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL FOR IT.*AK

LAST YEAR I TOOK MY 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE TO THE DEALER DUE TO IT'S LEAKING BREAK FLUID AND LOSS OF BREAKING POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BREAK LINE GOING TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CRACK IN THE LINE WAS DUE TO "OIL'S AND OTHER FLUIDS FROM DRIVING ON THE ROAD CAUSED IT TO CORRODE AND BRAKE. I WAS CHARGED APPROX. $250.00 FOR THEM TO REPLACE IT. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 30,000 MILE WARRANTY. ABOUT A WEEK AGO I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD MY SON WHO IS A MECHANIC, EXAMINE IT SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, (IT NOW HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT.) HE FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE IS NOW BROKEN DUE TO THE WAY THE LINE WAS ROUTED (BY THE FACTORY.) IT IS BROKEN JUST ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT, DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST PART OF THE STRUT MOUNT. IT SEEMS TO MY THAT A CARE WITH SO FEW MILES WHICH HAS BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF PROBLEM TWICE NOW IN ONE YEAR, ON TWO SEPARATE BRAKE LINES. I CHECKED YOUR RECALL LIST AND FOUND NOTHING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND ALL BELIEVE IT TO BE SOME SORT OF FACTORY DEFECT. DUE TO THIS INFORMATION AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, I AM FILING THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH YOU AND THE CA DMV. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS COMPLAINT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION. SINCERELY, INGRID C. TIPTON. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. UPON PARKING NEAR A STOP WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JUMPED ONTO THE SIDEWALK. THE FRONT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WILL COST $4,700. NO POLICE REPORT.*AK *JB

WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMY, I PURCHASED A USED 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE IN GEORGIA. THE CAR BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS ONLY 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE. LUCKILY, I FORCED THE DEALERSHIP TO PAY FOR A WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE 3 MAJOR REPAIRS WITHIN A 11/2 AFTER THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP, I DISCOVER NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMOBILE, INCLUDING THE RECALL. THIS CAR IS TRULY A LEMON! I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER WITH THIS DEFECTIVE CAR. I OWE OVER 3 TIMES THE VALUE OF THE CAR. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY GOOD CARE AND MAINTENANCE, NO ONE WILL TOUCH THIS CAR BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY OTHER DEFECTS BESIDES THE RECALL (FRONT END SUSPENSION ISSUES, FUEL TANK). I AM A DISABLED VETERAN NOW WITH ONLY A SMALL PENSION TO SUPPORT MYSELF AND TWO CHILDREN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND FIXING THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT GOING TO FIX THIS LEMON. I HAVE PUT OVER $3000 IN REPAIRS ON THIS CAR OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ASIDE FROM THE MONTHLY FINANCED PAYMENTS OF $282 X 3YRS=$10,152 AND I STILL OWE $7800. THE CAR IS ONLY VALUED AT $2150. AND WHEN DEALERS LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS BEHIND THIS CAR, THEY DON'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE ME $2000.*AK