2003 Pontiac Sunfire: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 113 complaints
113
Total Complaints
40,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

12,760 25th Percentile
40,000 Median Mileage
80,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
16
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
AIR BAGS
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
2

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL ON SIX OCCASIONS. THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK *CB *NLM"
"VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS; FUEL GAUGE IS NOT READING PROPERLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHEN THE GAUGE READS 1/4 FULL. ALSO, LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DOES NOT OPERATE ALL THE TIME. *AK"
"VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS; FUEL GAUGE IS NOT READING PROPERLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHEN THE GAUGE READS 1/4 FULL. ALSO, LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DOES NOT OPERATE ALL THE TIME. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28