Pontiac Sunfire brake failure problems

Filed Jun 15, 2014 · Brakes, Steering · 123,000 miles · MO · crash

Bought a 2003 pontiac sunfire from a dealership 5 months ago. I told the owner/salesman I wanted a safe 1st car for my kid. My kid and some friends were driving,it was raining and the back tires started to slide,my kid regained control of the car briefly and said after a few minutes the steering locked up and they ended up in a spin. The car hit an object on the passenger side,spun around and hit another on the drivers side,then bounced off that and landed across a deep ditch where it was hit again in the rear when stopping. No steering. No brakes. The engine was still going even though the front end of the car was wedged into the edge of the pavement and the embankment of the ditch. By the grace of god no one was physically injured. We had the car towed to our home. My kid said that before the accident the steering wheel felt " wiggley". We looked at that area 1st. The steering column was loose. The pivot pin for the column was gone. I saw there was a recall in october of 2008. I called gm to request the records to find out if the repair was ever done. The gm rep refused to give me the information in the data base. He said I could get it from a "certified" gm dealer! He also said there was no recall on the steering, but there was others. I asked what they were and again he said he couldn't give me that information. I also own a pontiac g5 that's been waiting for parts on the ignition recall. I have been on a list at my dealership. I am mad as hell! All my kid has now is the comfort of knowing the friends weren't hurt or killed. Some 1st car, huh? Spent 5000.00 of 401k money for a death trap that gm refuses to give me the database history on. Can't drive it, can't sell it, and with no history, can't fix it. Liability and comp, that's all we could afford, insurance is too expensive for young drivers. There is no middle class and this kind of thing is why.

Filed Dec 31, 2007 · Brakes · 26,000 miles · WV · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 pontiac sunfire. While driving between 35-40 MPH, the brakes failed. The vehicle struck and destroyed the rear bumper of the preceding vehicle. The contact's vehicle was destroyed and towed from the scene. A police report was filed. He was transported to the hospital by an ambulance and sustained injuries. The current and failure mileages were 26,000. Updated 01/29/08

Filed Feb 3, 2007 · Acceleration · 21,471 miles · OK

Cruise control has gone insane one day when driving down the road, the cruise control decided it needed to switch on and that I should be going 50+ in a 35 MPH zone. This is on a 2002 pontiac sunfire with 5 speed manual transmission. If I depressed the clutch, the engine of course raced as hard as it could. Applying the brakes failed to disengage the cruise control; manually switching the cruise control off failed to disengage; even turning the engine off (by turning off the key) failed to disengage it! Luckily, I have a manual transmission, and kept a cool head, so was able to keep the car under control. I pulled over to the side of the road and turned the car off. When I started the engine back up, the cruise control was still engaged, for it was racing as hard as it could. I turned it back off and let it sit for a bit, hoping that once it sat for a bit, all would be well. After about 10 minutes I turned the key and it was fine, except that once I got back on the road, the cruise control would not come on when I tried to switch it on. Ever since, the cruise control will not come on when I try to use it and occasionally. Randomly comes on by itself when I am not trying to use it. The cruise control has come on by itself at least a half dozen times.

Filed Dec 22, 2005 · Brakes · OH · crash

1996 pontiac sunfire brakes failed while attempting to stop vehicle. *ts the consumer ran off the road and struck a wooden gate.

Filed Aug 19, 2005 · Electrical, Engine · 133,700 miles · NJ

The air conditioning compressor pump (A/C pump) comes into contact with the (1999) oem lower radiator hose (hose), denting the hose and wearing a hole in the hose over time. This condition is worse when front struts and/or engine mounts become worn. Initial leak of coolent is only detectable by low fluid level over extended period of time (apporximately 6 months to a year): no wetness on the hose or pooling of coolent fluid under the vehicle is detectable prior to a larger hole being worn into the hose. Prior to larger hole being worn into hose, coolent loss is in vapor form, but not in a sufficient amount to be seen. Once the hole in the hose becomes large enough to be detected by fluid pooling under the vehicle, the coolent fluid will come in contact with the powertrain control module (PCM) and cause failure of the PCM. The PCM controls major engine and braking functions. A complete failure of the PCM will cause loss of braking control (via ABS) and shut down of engine (causing loss of steering control). There is also the possibility of causing a electric short in the 12 volt circuit resulting in a fire. Please note that "after market" manufacturers replacement hose is redesigned to help prevent contact between A/C pump and the hose. At the time of this complaint it is unknown whether the oem hose has been redesign to prevent contact with the A/C pump.

Filed Sep 28, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 35,000 miles · NE

The consumer applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. The vehicle slowed down on its on. The consumer was able to control the vehicle. The driver was able to drive it to dealer. The mechanic informed the driver that the problem could not be duplicate. The engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained. *jb there was leaking boiling under the dash on both sides.

Filed Sep 13, 2004 · Brakes · OH

While applying the brakes pedal went to the floor and hesitated. Abs braking light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. This caused the braking system to activate and vehicle skidded while applying the brakes. Consumer drove it to the dealer for inspection, but mechanic could not duplicate the problem.

Filed Feb 24, 2004 · Brakes · 49,000 miles · MD

When applying the brakes on a bumpy surface brakes failed, resulting extended stopping distance.

Filed Jul 22, 2003 · Brakes · 24,000 miles · MA

While attempting to slow my 2002 sunfire to make a turn I lost my brakes. The pedal went to the floor without resistance. I was able to coast to a stop then had car towed to dealership. They claimed that the system was contaminated by the wrong brake fluid causing the seals to fail. The oil change facility that had last serviced the vehicle had no record of topping off the fluid and insists that it did not touch the brake fluid. Warning light never came on.

Filed Jul 7, 2003 · Brakes · 81,000 miles · GA · crash

Partial loss of brakes, brakes went all the way to the floor and did not stop my car.