The federal safety agency recall campaign #04v036000; pontiac issued an ignition switch recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN although the consumer experienced the same problem as those vehicle's that caused the windshield to crack and 2700 hundred dollars worth of damage to the vehicle. The rear seat belts did not work. *sc
2001 Pontiac Sunfire electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 21 of 21, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Continuation of odi 10093259: repeated inappropriate activation of pass lock 2 anti-theft system. The pass lock activates without warning resulting in stranding of motorist. Gm denies defect in pass lock. However, dealer service manager states that, "I know that it will happen someday, that I'll go to start my (gm product) and the passlock won't let me." the service manager stated that "it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when" (the defect occurs). The dlr refers to the problems with the system as "an acceptable price to pay for having a theft prevention system. Inappropriate activation of the passlock system is likely to result in incidental injuries to stranded motorists if the incident occurs in a high crime area. Owners of vehicles equipped with passlock have no warning of pending failures which are expensive to repair. If the defect occurs while traveling far from one's home, the motorist would be stranded, quite possibly without the means to obtain repairs to continue their journey. Gm service reps blame the failures on "wear and tear" of the ignition switch. However, this vehicle has been subject to recall for overvoltage damage to the switch. Such overvoltages are also likely to damage components of the passlock system (I.e. The hall effect sensor) within the ignition switch.
Lock anti-theft system intermittently disables car. Sometimes the system will reset itself. The last time it would not reset.
Consumer received recall 04v036000 concerning ignition switch. Consumer complained that recall repairs were done once, but the problem recurred.
Upon pulling hood release latch inside the vehicle the hood failed to open to secondary latch. The mechanism was inoperative due to battery acid leaking onto hood release cable, corroding it.
While driving or braking vehicle will cut off without warning and will not restart until several minutes later.
While in motion, the rear brakes will lock up. This caused the vehicle to go into an uncontrollable skid sideways. *jg
While traveling on highway turned turn signal on and headlights will come on intermittently. Dealership is aware of problem.
After being driven, vehicle will smell like rubber burning on outside. While parked, vehicle caught on fire. Dealer contacted. *ak
Prior to incident being reported, a burning rubber odor could be detected while standing beside vehicle after normal operation. Then, on 04-jan-2002, vehicle was parked for approximately 20 minutes when a neighbor informed owner there was a fire underneath the car. Owner started vehicle and moved vehicle away from the fire, leaves were burning. Consumer noticed that a long cable attached to front-axle was dangling from undercarriage, and was charred in middle from the fire. An inspector from manufacturer examined vehicle and informed consumer there was no problem with car. Manufacturer refused to provide consumer with a copy of the report. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
Car dies after backing, takes several times to start once in a while.
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