NHTSA — Power Train: Automatic Transmission Problems

9.6

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
875 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.

1996 Pontiac Sunfire transmission problems

transmission problem

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1996 Pontiac Sunfire Owner Comments

problem #12

Oct 142007

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,500 miles

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

When turning off a road onto a highway, I noticed that the car was stuck in 2nd gear. I carefully drove to the nearest gas station. Now the car won't engage on reverse, drive, 2nd & 1st.

- Richmond, IN, USA

problem #11

May 292003

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
-the horn on 1996 Pontiac Sunfire has quit working and been repaired three times. The people at the shop said that it was getting wet apparently everytime I went through water because of it being pointed downward. -the muffler has been fixed three times -there are more that I can not remeber right off hand -their is an electrical problem with the whole car. The light on the radio time and staion display has not worked since I bought it, the driver's rear door light has not come on, the passenger rear window lets down but will not let up when needed since right after I got the car, the lights in the dashboard go on and off without even being touched, while riding down the road, the widshield wipers will just come on without being turned on and then stop halfway down impairing vision, the passenger rear tail light blows all of the time, it has never stayed with a bulb that works, etc. -the valve cover gasket leaks and has leaked since I got it -the gas light will not tell you when you are running low on fuel -the radio will eat your tapes since I got the carthe transmission has been replace on the car with less than 80,000 miles on it -the rack and pinion had to be replaced a few years ago along with the complete brake system the power steering has leaked fluid and will stop turning in the middle of a turn. I have almost wrecked on it sveral times because of it and the brakes. -the air conditioning compressor works when it gets ready to if even then and has always done that.

- Dothan, AL, USA

problem #10

Jan 272001

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Total transmission failure with no warning at all.

- Follansbee, WV, USA

problem #9

Oct 032000

(reported on)

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Transmission failure, dealer replaced transmission, consumer wants reimbursement.

- Edison, NJ, USA

problem #8

Oct 032000

(reported on)

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failure, dealer replaced transmission, consumer wants reimbursement.

- Edison, NJ, USA

problem #7

Nov 151999

Sunfire

  • miles
In the morning when moving the pawl from park to drive, and when transmission shifts from first to second gear, vehicle will feel like somebody had bumped it on the rear. Taken to a technician who said that problem was with the power control module.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #6

Jul 071999

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

When driving at any speed vehicle won't shift. Also, vehicle vibrates due to the governor gear inside transmission malfunctioning.

- East Point, MI, USA

problem #5

Feb 131999

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failure seems to occur with no warning. This vehicle was 4 weeks passed the 3- year warranty when the transmissiom flew apart. Pontiac would not cover any cost of replacement. The transmission had a defective part, and should not have failed. I have owned GM products for over ten years. GM has now lost a customer.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #4

Jun 261996

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I have constant problems with this vehicle. Major difficulty stopping when pavement is wet. My complet brake and rotors have been replaced on at least 3 occasions. I've also had problems with leaks, right rear window has been replaced. Problems with vibration when at a standstill, almost losing power. Smell of gas fumes. Problems with the transmission.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #3

Apr 151998

Sunfire

  • miles
Transmission drum weld broke causing the gears to jump.

- Jessup, MD, USA

problem #2

Apr 151998

Sunfire

  • miles
The automatic transmission input drum broke where the shaft and the drum was welded together.

- Jessup, MD, USA

problem #1

Apr 111997

(reported on)

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission lagging time is abnormal.

- West Covina, CA, USA

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