2003 Pontiac Sunfire electrical problems

Filed Sep 3, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 180,000 miles · MI

Every time I let my car sit for 2 hours or more, I start it up and the belt on the tensioner squeak for 15 seconds. Also the battery light comes on and the rim fluctuate between 1,000 and 2,000. When I drive it the battery light will continue to stay on but every time the air bag light turns on and I'm accelerating the engine will not shift, the rpms will rev up to red line if pushed that far, eventually the light for airbag and battery will shut off and it will shift. Sometimes when I hit the gas pedal while this is doing this at night, my dashboard as well as radio lights will shut off until rpms go down to 2,000.

Filed Jul 7, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 12,760 miles · NY

I was driving home from vernon down's casino and was making a right and was about to switch into third gear the RPM's where 3000 and the engine just died ........ Maugeri''s auto on albany and bleeker st. Towed my car to his shop fixed the steering column as a result of the engine dieing the window's wont roll up and the interior just got soaked in wet in the rain after on the date of 7/714 paid almost a grand for towing and steering column in the vehicle . I am a recipient of the traumatic brain injury program and use the vehicle to and from my structured day as well as my neurologist as well as my hematologist who's offices are 57 miles away from my house it is going to be very uncomfortable to drive to my dr. Appt. In the morning... I am on social security disability and a fixed income receiver less then 700 dollars a month... *tr updated 2/6/2015

Filed Jan 31, 2013 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 100,000 miles · IN

I have been driving a 2003 pontiac sunfire since 2008. My family bought it brand new with only 27 miles on it. Every winter when it is really cold, the temperature gauge would not always reset itself after the car was turned off. This would result in the fuel gauge going all over the place but eventually it would reset itself. However, in september of 2012, all of my gauges on my dash went all over the place. My temperature gauge has since spun completely around and is stuck on the plastic from the dash. Also, my speedometer is now not resetting itself. It has said that I was at 40 MPH while sitting at a stop light. I do know that the temperature has dropped which could be effecting things but this issue is just plain annoying anymore. I can deal with the fuel gauge not working, I can use my mileage to figure that out. But the speedometer not working is a real issue for me.

Filed Jun 2, 2010 · Electrical · 70,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that all of the gauges on the instrument panel stopped functioning while she was driving 50 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who stated that the instrument cluster malfunctioned. The current and failure mileages were approximately 70,000.

Filed Mar 10, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · 18,000 miles · 00

Failure to the headlight harness, with time, corrosion attack the headlight harness. Which will cause the headlight intensity to lower or worst, total headlight failure. That mean that you can be driving at night and totally lose your headlight. This defect has been repaired 4 times now, and I need to have it repaired a 5th time april 2004.

Filed Mar 1, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · MI

2003 pontiac sunfire. Headlamps do not work. Found out thru internet search this is a common problem on this vehicle. There are multiple wiring problems with this vehicle that gm should fix (fog lamps as well). The lamps already went out a couple of times before. It is a safety hazard because if this happens at night you have no lights. Gm keeps skirting around the issue until your warranty runs out then it costs you more money than you have to get it fixed. Very, very, very frustrating. Just do a internet search for sunfire headlight problems/do not work/ etc. And you'll see.

Filed Jan 10, 2009 · Electrical · MI

I have had alot of shortages on my 2003 pontiac sunfire. I have been researching on line and there have been alot of similar issues. Such as power window shortages, high beam and low beam shortages, the locks, and issues with the dashboard gauges not working. I feel that this is to many issues with shortages and it is a safety issue.

Filed Sep 5, 2008 · Body, Electrical · 1,000 miles · IN

The 2003 pontiac sunfire is an inferior car. Mine currently has approx 57,000 miles on the odometer. The day after I purchased it brand new, it would not start. The dealer came out and replaced the battery. The car had white paint overspray on it. The dealer repainted it. The sunroof malfunctioned and the dealer fixed it. The turn signals kept going out & it was fixed due to the recall. The dash had to be taken out due to the fact that the air was not coming out of the vents properly. The power window driver's side failed completely around 38,000 miles & passenger intermittently would not work. This was fixed at my expense. The car has been in the shop for brake problems numerous times. I had the dealer check them several times while still under warranty and they finally replaced them at their cost because they said it should not be necessary given the mileage on the car. I've had brakes replaced two other times at my expense and they are still squeaking and creaking very loudly and I'm told the brake pads are "cracked" but that it won't hurt anything. Now, the new problem is, the radio quit playing for 15 minutes after the car is turned off and you're in it. When I come to a complete stop, my dome light and map lights come on and stay on until I let off the brake and accelerate. Also, the horn no longer honks when I lock the car with the remote. I've had it up to here with this car but cannot afford to get rid of it since I just paid it off in july 2008. I will never buy another pontiac!

Filed Jul 23, 2008 · Electrical · 18,000 miles · MA

2005 headlights went out when driving at night - pontiac dealer wrapped harness with electrical tape. Stated it was from washer fluid leaking. Approx 12 months later incident occur again. Taken to another dealer on request of pontiac. Re-wrap harness different area. Service light on 2 weeks ago. Dealer wrapped entire harness. Pontiac service notified several times complaint numbers obtained. Safety issue as lights go out. Wiring harness deteriorated. Bandaided 3x. Concern re: lights going out again at night. Feel this is a dangerous situation.

Filed Jun 16, 2008 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · IL

The speedometer in the vehicle becomes erratic after warming up. On a hot day it may not respond at all or may reset to a negative value and not respond during movement. It also locks up when going down the highway at whatever the sustained speed has been, gradually falling to zero as the car accelerates and decelerates.