Most common 2000 Pontiac Sunfire problems
Share of the 96 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 →
2000 Pontiac Sunfire recalls (1)
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire:
Erratic fuel gauge
There is no summary currently available
Engine stall due to fuel starvation
Odi opened pe02-066 to evaluate the scope and consequence of engine power-loss due to fuel starvation induced by in-tank modular fuel pump strainer restriction.the subject pumps use an external ?sock? Strainer to filter fuel flowing to the pump inlet.this filter can sometimes become clogged, resulting in a reduced flow of fuel to the engine.GM has subsequently modified the strainers to reduce this…
Erratic fuel gauge
Odi opened ea 02-028 to review complaints of consumers reporting that their fuel gauge was incorrectly displaying the amount of fuel in the gas tank.the fuel gauge receives an electrical signal from a fuel tank sending sensor circuit card.a float arm in the tank moves electrical contacts that rub against the card as the level of fuel rises and falls.disruption of the electrical signal (such as caused by corrosion of…
What 2000 Pontiac Sunfire owners say
Engine & cooling all 25 →
I have a problem and I dont know where to go for answers on my car. I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire...we have had no problems at all with it till I took it in last week for inspection. They told me it needed, brakes and rotors and 2 new tires.......then the day I got it, it left me stranded along the road, the temp gauge kept going passed 265 and the check gauges light kept coming on and I had to let the car sit. I called the garage where it was inspected at and told them the problem.....they have had my car for the last 4 days, driving to find a problem and they said they noticed antifreeze was leaking but had no idea where it was coming from. Now today they just called back and told me, my water pump and thermostat went out on it and that was the problem...is this sound normal to you guys????? It was running terrific until the inspection...I paid over 1200 so far. …
Car has had numerous problems since day one. Brakes chatter, overheating, service engine light, cd player and speakers did not work. Now it stalls with no warning at all. Stalls at 70 MPH going down highway. Has stalled while driving 3 or 4 times in the past two days. Checked out at service station on computer, and shows no problems. Have read many complaints here about the exact same problem. Bad fuel pump or something is causing car to stall. Then it takes from 10 to 15 minutes to start again. Some days it just won't start at all. Have had car checked many times, and no one can seem to find the problem. Anyone that can help here??? I think GMC owes many, many consumers an explanation and repair of this very serious and potentially dangerous problem!
Electrical system all 23 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, a small fire occurred in the steering column and instrument panel. In addition, the front driver's side windshield was cracked. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not repaired. In 2005, the vehicle was repaired under a recall related to the most recent failure under NHTSA campaign id number: 04V036000 (electrical system: ignition: switch). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 08/07/12 updated 08/15/2012
"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.
Brakes
My car was driving perfect until 3 weeks ago, it has since then wont start back up. Thought it was something to do with spark, then tried spark plug wires, new battery, checked alternator and fuses, coils all good. Then I was lead to maybe the gas that was in it. Dropped gas tank, put new fuel filter, checked fuel pump, gas lines, it did stay running one time since but was shaking roughly with a flashing check engine light. Will not run anymore since then. Have not been able to drive my vehicle for 3 weeks now and it is my only car.. Also before the car started having the above problems my brakes kept getting tons of air also losing a ton of brake fluid, ABS light stays on and all brake lines are good. It's dangerous. Also have bled the brakes. Not much help other than temporarily.
While on active duty in the army, I purchased a used 2000 Pontiac Sunfire in georgia. The car began giving me problems only 6 months after the purchase. Luckily, I forced the dealership to pay for a warranty because I had to have 3 major repairs within a 11/2 after that. Unfortunately, shortly after the warranty was up, I discover numerous other problems with the automobile, including the recall. This car is truly a lemon! I do not believe I should have to suffer with this defective car. I owe over 3 times the value of the car. Even though I have all the documentation to support my good care and maintenance, no one will touch this car because it has so many other defects besides the recall (front end suspension issues, fuel tank). I am a disabled veteran now with only a small pension to support myself and two children. …
2000 Pontiac Sunfire engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 31 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire a good car?
Based on 96 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Sunfire rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sunfire at the same age. 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 2000 Pontiac Sunfire?
The engine & cooling — 25 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the electrical system (23) and brakes (17).
How many recalls does the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire have?
There is 1 recall for the 2000 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 2000 Pontiac Sunfire problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 26% 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.