Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Pontiac Sunfire owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While traveling at 5 MPH barely bumped vehicle in front of me,when airbags deployed causing windshield to shatter and damage to complete dash. Tl the contact owns 1996 Pontiac Sunfire. While driving the driver barely bumped into a vehicle in front of him. There was no damage and both front air bags deployed. The drivers finger was injured. The window shattered and the dashboard was destroyed. She noticed there was a recall, called Pontiac and they stated that there were no existing recalls. The vehicle was towed. The dealer stated that the estimate repair cost would be $2,100. There were no warning lights present on the dashboard. There was no damage to the vehicles involved in the crash.
I was a passenger in the car, so I don't know specific mileage, or VIN number. The car had approximately 80,000 miles on it. The accident occurred on July 5, 2002. It was a fairly low speed crash, mye estimate is we were going about 30 MPH at impact. We struck the car in front of us. The airbag deployed in my face. I was wearing my seat belt and was not sitting particularly close to the airbag. The force of the impact from the air bag, broke my nose and resulted in permanent damage to my eyes. I was the only person injured in the accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire. While driving 30 MPH the driver frontal air bag deployed without warrant. As a consequence she sustained bruises to her face and shoulders. She filed report number 71762569700 with the manufacturer, and she was awaiting a response. The vehicle was in the process of being to towed to the dealer for inspection. The failure and current mileages were 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire. The contact stated that while parked, the driver's side air bag deployed inadvertently. The contact then shifted into reverse and the passenger's side air bag deployed inadvertently. The contact had not been involved in a crash. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 209,600.
Driving down the driveway onto road, approximately 5 miles an hour, suddenly both air bags deployed at the same time. Called GM and took car to GM dealer for inspection. GM called to report that it was a GM failure and requested to (private party) purchase the car back from us at a current vehicle value of around $900.
We were involved in a car accident. The passenger front airbag deployed, causing the winshield to bust. When looking at the car the windshield is pushed from the inside out. I was told that this is a defect in the airbag. What can be done in this case?
The consumer has experienced problems with driver's and passenger's air bags. During a frontal collision at 12mph, air bags deployed. The driver was injured. The manufacturer has been contacted in accordance with recall number 98V146000.
When vehicle was involved in a head-on collision traveling 45 MPH, there was no deployment of the driver's or passenger's side air bags. Dealer has been notified about the crash. The vehicle has been totalled.
Consumer states: while driving at the speed of 35 MPH was involved in a frontal collision neither air bag deployed. Dealer has been notified. If you have any additional information feel free to add. Mr
My wreck happened in 2006. The air bag deployed and crushed my face I had to have titanium plates put in my face crashed my legs broke many bones.
Related recalls
Air bags
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Because of certain calibrations in the air bag's sensing and diagnostic module, an inadvertent air bag deployment could occur in a low speed crash or when an object strikes the floor pan.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.
NHTSA investigations
Oversensitive air bag deployments
There is no summary currently available
Airbag complaints in other Sunfire years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire, 16% of the model year's 201 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Pontiac Sunfire airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-146 (air bags, Jun 29, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Pontiac Sunfire airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 210,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 1 fire and 15 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.