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Pontiac Sunfire 2003

The 2003 Pontiac Sunfire has a 2.2 L engine. It gets 25 MPG combined (21 city, 30 highway), per the EPA. 2 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Compact Cars Front-wheel (FWD)
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Pontiac Sunfire
Representative photo of the Sunfire. It may show a different year or version. Photo: IFCAR · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
2,200 cc
4
Cylinders4
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainFront-wheel (FWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,700 × 1,740 × 1,350 mm (185.0 × 68.5 × 53.1 in)
Wheelbase2,640 mm (103.9 in)
Curb weight1,200 kg (2,646 lb)
Body styleCompact Cars

Dimensions and weight: median of the 3 versions in Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC). Each version differs slightly.

For sale in United States

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Pontiac Sunfire 2-DR.
🇺🇸 Local data

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
21 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Emissions
221 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

2 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
STEERING 08E063000 · 2008-10-17 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL 04V524000 · 2004-11-01 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE 2014-09-03 · NHTSA

EVERY TIME I LET MY CAR SIT FOR 2 HOURS OR MORE, I START IT UP AND THE BELT ON THE TENSIONER SQUEAK FOR 15 SECONDS. ALSO THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE RIM FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000. WHEN I DRIVE IT THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ON BUT EVERY TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND I'M ACCELERATING TH…

ENGINE 2014-08-19 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE TENSIONER AND VALVE TO FAIL. THE TIMING CHAIN VALVE AND TENSIONER WE…

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2014-07-07 · NHTSA

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM VERNON DOWN'S CASINO AND WAS MAKING A RIGHT AND WAS ABOUT TO SWITCH INTO THIRD GEAR THE RPM'S WHERE 3000 AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED ........ MAUGERI''S AUTO ON ALBANY AND BLEEKER ST. TOWED MY CAR TO HIS SHOP FIXED THE STEERING COLUMN AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE DIEING THE WINDOW'S WONT ROLL UP AND…

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES Crash 2014-06-15 · NHTSA

BOUGHT A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE FROM A DEALERSHIP 5 MONTHS AGO. I TOLD THE OWNER/SALESMAN I WANTED A SAFE 1ST CAR FOR MY KID. MY KID AND SOME FRIENDS WERE DRIVING,IT WAS RAINING AND THE BACK TIRES STARTED TO SLIDE,MY KID REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR BRIEFLY AND SAID AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND THEY END…

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2014-03-03 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS R…

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS Crash 1 injured 2013-06-16 · NHTSA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 5:00PM, PERFECT ROAD CONDITIONS. I STARTED CHOKING & SWERVED INTO ANOTHER LANE, OTHER DRIVER BLASTED HIS HORN & SCARED ME. I OVER COMPENSATED & LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR & ENDED UP HITTING THE MEDIAN. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FINE, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DIDN'T DEPLOY …

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2013-01-31 · NHTSA

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SINCE 2008. MY FAMILY BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 27 MILES ON IT. EVERY WINTER WHEN IT IS REALLY COLD, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD NOT ALWAYS RESET ITSELF AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE FUEL GAUGE GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE BUT EVENTUALLY IT WOULD R…

TIRES 2010-07-06 · NHTSA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, WITH COOPER, TREND SETTER SE, SIZE P195/15/R15 REPLACEMENT TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE SEPARATED AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BELT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT SATED THE TIRE DID…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2010-06-02 · NHTSA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2010-03-10 · NHTSA

FAILURE TO THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS, WITH TIME, CORROSION ATTACK THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS. WHICH WILL CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT INTENSITY TO LOWER OR WORST, TOTAL HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THAT MEAN THAT YOU CAN BE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND TOTALLY LOSE YOUR HEADLIGHT. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES NOW, AND I NEED TO HAVE IT REPA…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2010-03-01 · NHTSA

2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. HEADLAMPS DO NOT WORK. FOUND OUT THRU INTERNET SEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE WIRING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT GM SHOULD FIX (FOG LAMPS AS WELL). THE LAMPS ALREADY WENT OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IF THIS HAPPENS AT NIGHT …

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2009-12-08 · NHTSA

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2006 WITH EVERYTHING ON IT STOCK. IN 2009 THE COIL PACK STARTED MISFIRING CAUSING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO GO BAD AND ALSO CAUSING THE RODS BEARINGS TO SPIN. *TR

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire have?
The 2003 Pontiac Sunfire has a 2.2 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire?
It gets 25 MPG combined (21 city, 30 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire have recalls?
2 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Steering (2008-10-17).
What are the common problems of the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Electrical System.

Other years

Other models by Pontiac

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