NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,833 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.

1998 Pontiac Sunfire electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Pontiac Sunfire Owner Comments

problem #6

May 262015

Sunfire

  • 165,000 miles

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

While driving the vehicle will shut down and the theft system light with start flashing will start again and but shut down again I was driving on a city street and had it at a dealer they replaced the ECU the gauges and the ignition they replaced the ECU 3 times with no avail this has happened to all 4 of my Pontiac

- Englewood, FL, USA

problem #5

Oct 182016

Sunfire

  • 56,000 miles
Brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and rear defroster all stopped functioning. Problem initially happened about 5 minutes after starting vehicle, but now is persistent and none of these items function posing a major safety hazard.

- West Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #4

Jun 012011

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
1998 Pontiac Sunfire GT anti-theft system won't disengage, car is dead. (when the anti-theft system is triggered, the fuel pump is shut off) it may have been triggered by using a copy of the original key. Following manufacturer's instructions (turn on iignition for 10 min, turn off and turn on again) doesn't work. An internet search revealed that there are 1000S of people with the same problem with Sunfire and other GM cars. I would like GM to acknowledge the problem and repair the faulty system.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #3

Nov 062009

Sunfire

  • 192,000 miles

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

Vehicle was blowing 30 amp fuse going to rear defogger grid. Found melted insulation on 12 volt line and ground resulting in short circuit. Defogger grid still drawing enough current to melt insulation of 12 volt line. Disconnected rear defogger grid to prevent possible fire in dash.

- Council Bluffs, IA, USA

problem #2

Oct 232000

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When I bought the car used in October of 2000 it had to keep going back to the dealer for about 3 months because the engine in the car kept cutting out while driving around 55-60 mph. Dealer could not duplicate the problem. Finally after the 3rd month they found the main computer was bad. That was replaced. It ran fine until the next winter. The check engine light came on & car kept stalling when at stop signs/lights. Took to dealer had diagnostic ran which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor.... I replaced them myself. Check engine light went out till the next day. Took car back in for diagnostic which read faulty gas cap, tps sensor, egr, coil packs, gas tank sensor.....had dealer work on it.... they could not see why all this stuff was popping up....had it all replaced. Replacing it did not work. Check engine light came on again about 2 days later!!! I checked car over & found if you wiggled the main wiring harness connections the car ran fine & engine light went out! took to dealer to have wiring fixed. They took all the wiring apart & cleaned everything. They found no problem in the wiring. Check engine light came on next day.took to dealer again finally they said I needed a new battery..... weather was nice again & had no problems with car.... now that winter is here again the check engine light is on again, diagnostic stated tps sensor was bad... I again replaced it & check engine light went out for a couple hours & is back on again & car stalls when stopping & trying to go....car is at dealer right now again. The whole time the check engine light is on I also have problems with the car stalling.................... have had numerous problems from 2000 to now & still having problems.

- Deerfield, OH, USA

problem #1

Sep 071999

Sunfire

  • miles
I think you have a problem when you have a 2 year old car seems to be falling apart from the inside out. I originally owned my car for 3 months when the temp. Gauge zeroed out from a shorted out fuse. The next problem was odometer went blank and showed me symbols in 05/1999, and the electrical cluster was replaced. Later in 09/1999, my coolant system busted after a visit to the dealership, where I was told that cars are okay to reach the red line before it will overheat. Most of the coolant system was replaced and tests done. I did not trust the work, and took it to another GMC dealer, to find that the coolant temp. Sensor needed replaced, just 2 days later. Now in 08/2000, my odometer is showing the same old symbols, due to an electrical problem. My problem is electrical problems are right in front of me, and I am unaware of it. Also, some dealerships don't care to find the bad things, when it is warranty work. Wyatt johnson does not seem to be a people saving people establishment, if you cannot trust them to find their cars mistakes.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

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