After several repairs, consumer requested help in getting the vehicle to run. *ph the consumer and her husband are senior citizens who need financial help to have their vehicle repaired. The vehicle has had many partial repairs but none that have permanently repaired all the problems.
The worst 1991 Pontiac Sunbird problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine6
- Acceleration5
- Seat belts4
- Brakes3
- Electrical3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine6
- Acceleration5
- Seat belts4
- Brakes3
- Electrical3
- Locks3
- Steering1
- Tires1
- Transmission1
Recalls 2
Seat belts
- What is wrong
- The front door shoulder belt guide loops may be cracked and are not in compliance with fmvss 208.
- Risk
- The seat occupant faces increased risk of injury in theevent of a sudden stop or accident.
- Remedy
- Install reinforcing plates on the cracked shoulder belt guides.
Recall number 92V003000 · Recall details
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments
- What is wrong
- Front door interlock striker may fail, causing door frame collapse and insufficient strength for the shoulder belt anchorage.
- Risk
- The door frame would collapse. Vehicle does not complywith fmvss 210.
- Remedy
- Replace the passive restraint interlock striker studs on front doors.
Recall number 91V165000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird
Defect investigations
Engine compartment fires
There is no summary currently available
PE93090
Sticking throttle
There is no summary currently available
EA92024
Technical service bulletins for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird 5
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- Information regarding snow intrusion into rear drum brake assemblies
- Some V6 engines may, on a very infrequent basis, have an oil odor condition that is generally encountered...
- Buzzing sound when rear defogger is on
- Crunch noise from right side dash area when turning steering wheel
1991 Pontiac Sunbird fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19-23 | 28-33 | 23-26 |
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17-18 | 25-26 | 20 |
What 1991 Pontiac Sunbird owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My wife and I had a firestone "firehawk ss wl" passenger car tire come apart while we were traveling at freeway speeds on interstate 5 in northern california on june 25, 2000. We filed a claim with firestone tire on july 3, 2000 after the tire was inspected at the local firestone store where it had been purchased. I was referred to an "ed" at the bridgestone/firestone techno center and was told I had to return the tire for their inspection. Scott at scott & smitty's firestone, packaged the tire and sent it to the techno center in june 2000. I then submitted the required (1) incident report, (2) a copy of the preliminary estimate" from courtesy motors (for damages to the automobile), (3) a copy of the replacement tire invoice from scott & smitty's firestone (chico, califormin), and (4) photos of the tire and damage to the automobile. I received no response from firestone after june 27, 2000. I sent them another letter on september 1, 2000 and sent the federal safety agency a letter on september 5, 2000. I sent a third letter to firestone on january 2, 2001. To date, I have not received a response from either organization.
Had vehicle in reverse & backing out of parking lot. The throttle stuck & vehicle took off. Vehicle had front wheel drive & the wheels just kept spinning. Will be taking vehicle to dealer.
Consumer experienced complete failure of engine cooling system,causing the vehcile to shutdown which could have resulted in an accident.the vehicle has been at the dealer 3 times, and almost the entire cooling system parts have been replaced, but defect is still occurring.
Engine head gasket cracked, causing the oil and the coolant to mix together and leak, may have caused fire or engine damages. Common problem. Please provide further information and VIN#.
When my cooling system was not working I brought my car back to the dealer that I bought the car from and when they replaced the fan motor they purposly put an extra washer on one side causing the fan to hit the radiator which then caused my head gasket to blow. I contacted the dealer again and was told that this was not their problem!! I then took my car to a shop in millax and had a different used engine placed in it now, this engine has no acceleration due to a bad cam shaft, so I again have to have my car repaired.
When starting the car the engine revved and the accelerator pedal jammed while in reverse and the car hit another vehicle. No injuries. Dealer has the vehicle now.
The engine has a malfunction that causes the car to not accelerate very fast. Dealer replaced first engine, and now the second is malfunctioning.
Brakes did not seem to stop vehicle within a reasonable distance and had a soft pedal. In addition, when vehicle is cold and has not been driven recently when transmission is placed in reverse/drive it will not go into gear at once and then lurches into gear.
The hood latch failed and the hood flew off of vehicle while traveling 55 miles per hour.
Compare the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird
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Questions about the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird
Is the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird reliable?
Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird, 6.8 times a typical Sunbird model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird?
Engine and cooling, with 6 complaints. Next is acceleration (5).
How many recalls does the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird have?
2 recalls, covering seat belts and structure.
What gas mileage does the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird get?
Official estimates for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird range from 20 to 26 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 19-23 city and 28-33 highway.
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