Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Pontiac Sunfire owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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!
Pontiac Sunfire 2000 will be driving the cars, it stalls out, then restarts without turning the key. Have talked to the Pontiac dealer. Bringing it in on 12/20/2004 for further diagnostics from what I have read this is a common problem related to a collapsed fuel strainer thatwill caost in the area of $200 to repair. Odi action no. Pe02-66 was filed in 2002, needs to be pushed forward to hold Pontiac accountable for their poor design. See (http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_42762.html) for further confirmation.
I own a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire and the car shuts off while driving at 60-65 MPH. Car has been taken to the Pontiac dealer, they have not been able to find anything wrong with the vehicle, also left the vehicle with another mechanic who drove the car for a couple of days but it did not shut off. I am concerned because I was driving on the highway in the fast lane and the car just decelerated and stopped.
The consumer applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. The vehicle slowed down on its on. The consumer was able to control the vehicle. The driver was able to drive it to dealer. The mechanic informed the driver that the problem could not be duplicate. The engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained. There was leaking boiling under the dash on both sides.
While traveling vehicle shut down on the highway at 70 MPH. Vehicle was towed to a dealer and the alternator was replaced. After getting back on the road vehicle continued to shut down. However, it restarted. After arriving home the vehicle was still defective.
While driving 60 MPH the vehicle stalled and the driver lost power steering. The consumer managed to pull over to side of road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but they have not been able to resolve the problem.
The vehicle experienced a knocking noise. There was not warning. (engine or oil light) the vehicle wasn't low of oil and was changed regularly. The vehicle never made a knocking noise before. Scc
Exhaust system was replaced due to it getting hot melting the carpet and paint inside trunk, fumes filled interior of vehicle at this time exhaust system is running just as hot again, dealer stated factory representative instructed him not to do anything about the exhaust system, there was nothing that could be done. Consumer states the vehicle has bad gas mileage, starter motor seized and failed, power steering fluid was leaking, coolant was leaking from left front and back of the vehicle, replaced radiator, heater blows cold air at idle, trunk leaks, head lamp is out of adjustment, glove box will not close, muffler fell off, key comes out of ignition with vehicle running, transmission has no reverse, there was brake pulsation at high speed or when stopping, brake pedal goes to floor, speakers inoperative, seat spring failed, suspected motor oil smell and replaced thermostat, horn was …
A few days after we purchased this vehicle we noticed that the engine made a "grinding, rough" noise when put into park. There is also a vibration that can be felt inside of the car. The first time the dealer looked at the car he said it had a "miss" and he pulled up information in his computer and noted that we were the 16th people to complain of the same problem. He pulled a car off the lot and compared it to ours. It did the same thing. He said there was nothing he could do to correct the problem. The second time we took it in for this problem they hooked the car up to the computer and said it was within specs. Again, we were told nothing could be done to correct this problem. We purchased a new vehicle in hopes that there would be little problems with it. This problem with the engine will run into bigger, expensive problems. Please help!
Engine complaints in other Sunfire years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire, 26% of the model year's 96 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Pontiac Sunfire engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Pontiac Sunfire engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 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.