Is the Pontiac Sunfire Reliable?

19952005 reliability analysis based on NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints.

79/100
Good

Reliability Score

14
Total Recalls
803
Owner Complaints
62
Reported Injuries
8
Reported Deaths

Own a Pontiac Sunfire? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Pontiac Sunfire Reliability by Year

Model YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliability ScoreRating
2005052
92
Excellent
2004014
90
Excellent
20030592
92
Excellent
200206062
76
Good
200114061
80
Excellent
200019871
78
Good
199917232
75
Good
199826942
73
Good
1997415413
71
Good
1996518521
63
Fair

Reliability scores are proprietary to VinCheckEngine and incorporate multiple weighted safety signals.

How the Sunfire Compares to Similar Vehicles

Pontiac Sunfire79/100
Sedan Category Average72/100

The Sunfire scores 7 points above the average sedan — a strong result.

Known Pontiac Sunfire Reliability Issues

The following components appear most frequently in owner complaints filed with NHTSA:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
60
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
37
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
35
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
34
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
31
AIR BAGS
25

Based on 803 owner complaints across recent model years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Pontiac Sunfire reliable?+

The Pontiac Sunfire scores 79/100 on our reliability index — rated "Good." Across 10 recently analyzed model years, it accumulated 14 recall campaigns and 803 owner complaints in the NHTSA database.

What year Sunfire is most reliable?+

Among the years analyzed, the 2005 Sunfire achieved the highest reliability score of 92/100 with 0 recalls and 52 complaints.

How many miles does a Sunfire last?+

With consistent maintenance, most Pontiac Sunfire owners report 150,000 to 200,000+ miles of service life. Checking the VIN of any specific used Sunfire will reveal its actual mileage history and any title events.

More Pontiac Sunfire Research

Check a Specific Pontiac Sunfire VIN

Model-level reliability scores show general trends. A VIN-specific report reveals the exact history of any individual vehicle — accidents, odometer records, auction events, and open recalls.

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