Most common 1998 Pontiac Sunfire problems
Share of the 120 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Sunfire complaints by model year
Best Sunfire years: 2004, 2001, 2005. Years to avoid: 1996, 1997, 1995, 1998. Compare all years →
1998 Pontiac Sunfire recalls (3)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Remedy: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the…
Steering › Rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles and Mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between January 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began January 24, 2003.
Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The wheel lug nuts were not tightened securely resulting in a fracture of the wheel studs.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the torque of all wheel nuts and, if necessary, tighten any that May be below required torque.
What 1998 Pontiac Sunfire owners say
Engine & cooling all 32 →
In my 98 Sunfire gt I have some major problems with yet I still own the car. A little bit ago it seems like my exhaust pipe falls off from the exhaust manifold from the flange. With causing your car to sound like it was a drag racer. Well I went to Pontiac and figured out that it was going to cost me a pretty penny $500 some odd dollars. And the funny thing is that this has not just happened to me. It has happened to a few of my friends as well. I don't how know many times you have gotten letters about the faulty exhaust flanges.
The temperature guage flutters from time to time. Then it will go all the way down to 0.when it starts to flutter again the engine seems to be racing. The tach. Guage will bounce about 200-300 prm. I also noticed that when the car is in park and you idle the engine up to about 3000 RPM, it acts like there is a rev limiter. It has never done that untill a few months ago. The check engin light has never come on until today. I changed plugs and plug wires and it didnt help at all.
Electrical system all 21 →
While driving the vehicle will shut down and the theft system light with start flashing will start again and but shut down again I was driving on a city street and had it at a dealer they replaced the ECU the gauges and the ignition they replaced the ECU 3 times with no avail this has happened to all 4 of my pontiacs
Brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and rear defroster all stopped functioning. Problem initially happened about 5 minutes after starting vehicle, but now is persistent and none of these items function posing a major safety hazard.
Brakes
My daughter was driving my 1998 Pontiac Sunfire and had a collision with another car. She reported that the brakes failed and would not stop the car at all. We have also reported to the dealer on multiple occasions that the gas pedal gets stuck. This May have also contributed to the collision.
Brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, and rear defroster all stopped functioning. Problem initially happened about 5 minutes after starting vehicle, but now is persistent and none of these items function posing a major safety hazard.
1998 Pontiac Sunfire engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 30 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire a good car?
Based on 120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Sunfire rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sunfire at the same age. It is one of the Sunfire years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire?
The engine & cooling — 32 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the electrical system (21) and brakes (15).
How many recalls does the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire, the most recent from January 27, 2004 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Sunfire?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2001 and 2005. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996, 1997, 1995 and 1998. See the full Pontiac Sunfire years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Pontiac Sunfire problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 77,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.