"takata recall" while driving at night on a county road and switching from low beams to high beams, the headlights went completely dark and did not come back on until switching back to low beams. After inspection, noticed the day runners also were not working. All fuses were plugged in and good. Replacing the relay did not fix the problem described herein.
Pontiac Sunfire headlights problems
74 of the 1,141 owner complaints about the Pontiac Sunfire describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 74
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,000
- typical mileage
- 67,996
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Wipers 6Check engine light 5Transmission failure 3Power windows 3Overheating 3Fuel pump 3Water leak 2Warning lights 2
What owners say
I had just bought the car in december 2007 and the cigarette lighter next to driving wheel was not working. Car was in storage for over a year and around may 2010 the drivers window stopped "rolling up" so we got the window motor changed as they said it was burnt. Window worked for about a week and then it turned out to be another electrical issue having to do with the switch controlling the windows. Around april 2011 a new issue, high beams stopped working on and off. They eventually stopped working and leading to no beams at all, not signals and no light in dashboard. Another part had to be replaced. May 2013 - stereo light is not working, but stereo is operating. July 2013 - trunk will not lock.
This is not the first issue we have had with this vehicle and electrical issues. It spent 6 weeks in the shop the first time back in late 2011 because the wipers, lights, power anything in car went on the fritz and locks failed. Now the drl lights quit and the service engine light comes on when they fail when you put the car into gear, high beams quit, rear light connectors are rotted and shorted out and the ignition switch is screwed up and that is only the beginning. It has gone into week 7 now with no results. I feel general motors owes us some solution to these problems especially since I am finding out I am not the only owner of this type of vehicle that has had the exact same electrical issues. These are safety issues not to mention very costly repairs and being without our vehicle to go back and forth to work. Out of the 70 complaints I read there are 20 plus issues with the same electrical issues I am having. Why has general motors not done anything to address these issues or at least help with the repair costs?? In the last year and a half my car has been in the shop 13 weeks and counting for these electrical issues.
I was driving the car just after I purchased it and became cold so I turned on the heater and within 30 seconds smoke filled the car. I thought the engine was on fire. It smelled like burning oil or gas. I called delphi about recalls and before I could finish a sentence the man cut me off saying that the only recall on my car was for the o ring on the fuel. He said if I have a 1999 and that was defective I would be spewing fuel everywhere. I described what happened and he just cut me off. My brother purchased the car from a dealer for over 3,000 dollars and I have no idea what the odometer is suppose to be because he said the dealer told him to bring it back and he would fix it. After he paid the dealer he contacted the dealer and the dealer told him that he will contact my brother when he can fix it. According to the odometer it has a little over 23,000 miles. I also noticed the headlights keep going out and there is yellow hot wire hanging out of the fuse box.
The drl lights on my daughters pontiac sunfire malfunctioned and quit working. The problem with the drl's is that they are wired into the headlights, and when the drl"s short out they disable the left headlight. I have trying t to get it repaired but haven't found the problem yet. I have replaced the drl relay, the headlight switch, the bulbs, with no luck.
Numerous failures with my car I am only listing the ones which have happened more than once 1..transmission failure, transmission failed 3 times first time while traveling 35mph car came to a dead stop tires locked up, car would not even roll, causing near accident. 2...window motors failed twice on each each door of my 4 door car 3...headlight switch has failed 3 times causing dangerous situation at night 4...severe water leak in trunk area , water getting in through fender well or trunk underbody, caused so much to puddle up a mushroom started growing from back seat,... Water puddled underneath carpet in spare tire area so it was not visible to naked eye, but was sloshing back and forth with every stop and go of vehicle still to this day have not been able to pinpoint exact location water is getting in although it for sure is from underbody 5... Other defects include radio display lights fail on 2 radios, seatbelts and steering wheel become too hot in summer brake pads wear unevenly,,,, fuel pumps go out often.
I too have a 2001 pontiac sunfire se 2.2 auto with about 58,000 miles on it. I bought this car in march of 2002 with only 14,937 miles on it. I had no problems with this car till november 2004 at 44,874 miles, when an 8 point buck ran into the left side front fender and damaged it, the hood, windshield, driver's door, roof, and back door while I was driving 55 MPH. The car was repaired, then sat outside for about 4 1/2 years. Had to install a new fuel pump and battery, then I started driving it again every day in november 2009. Now I have no high beam headlights, lights are good. Also, when I put the transmission into gear, the daytime running lights flash real fast about 7 or 8 times, then go out, and the service light comes on, but if I turn on the low beam headlights first, it is fine! Service light goes out after car is turned off and restarted, until put back into gear with the headlights off! I have replaced the daytime running lights relay with a new one, but it still does the same thing, and if I leave the relay out, then when I turn on the headlights, one is normal and the other is real dim!! This has been an ongoing problem for about a year now. I thought it may be a problem stemming from the deer damage and repairs, but I see from all of the other comments on here from the past 9 or 10 years or so, that this seems to be a common problem with this car. Would this be the turn signal/dimmer switch in the steering column causing all of these problems?? Any ideas?? Thank you!!
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.
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.
I have 1999 pontiac sunfire and I have had nothing but problems with the headlights. One is that I have no highbeams and the headlights go out after driving it for awhile,the driverside light flashes on and off from time to time I have talked to a mechanic about this problem and they said it was the headlight harness. I went to the local junk yard got a harness and it solved the problem but just recently it happened again.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: turn signal
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the rear lamps that provide stop and turn signals and tail lamp functions stop working because of inadequate contact between the bulb and socket. In addition, if one bulbs were to become inoperative while the vehicle was operating in cruise control, the cruise control would disengage when the remaining bulb was activated. If both lamps were to become inoperative, the cruise control would not engage.
- Risk
- An inoperative brake lamp will not convey the driver's intention of stopping to drivers in following vehicles, and an inoperative rear turn signal lamp will not convey the driver's intention to turn to drivers in following vehicles. Both of these failures can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rear lamp bulb socket assemblies and apply grease or replace them if necessary. The recall began on january 18, 2005. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668.
Recall number 04V524000 · Recall details
Interior lighting
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 101, "control location, identification, and illumination." the instrument panel backlighting may not function after adjusting the interior light intensity.
- Risk
- If the instrument panel is not lit at night, the driver may not be able to see the controls and displays.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the body control module, and if necessary, replace it.
Recall number 99V218000 · Recall details
Interior lighting
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with the potential for the interior lamps to come on unexpectedly while the vehicles are being driven. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 101, "controls and displays."
- Risk
- The interior lamps coming on unexpectedly could startle a driver causing a momentary loss of control increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will run a diagnostic test on the lamp control module and, if necessary, replace it.
Recall number 98V027000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights
- What is wrong
- The front and/or rear hazard warning lamps (four-way flashers) do not flash when the hazard switch is activated. This fails to comply with fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- Risk
- If these lamps were not flashing, other vehicles would not be aware that this vehicle was stopped increasing the risk of an accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers or vehicle owners will inspect for proper function of the hazard warning lamps. If necessary, dealers will replace the hazard lamp switch.
Recall number 96V250000 · Recall details
Questions about the Pontiac Sunfire headlights
Which Pontiac Sunfire years have headlights failing or too dim problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (18 complaints), 1996 (14 complaints) and 1997 (10 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Pontiac Sunfire?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,000 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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