Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Pontiac Sunfire owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I purchased the car in October 2003 and the car was great. In March 2006 I started having problems where the car when attempted to start would take a few seconds extra and then start, then 6 months later I was driving down the street and the car just cut off in the middle of an intersection. The car restarted about 10 minutes later. Then in November this started happening more an more frequently. One night in December the car cut off and would not restart at all. I was able to pull of the road. I waited an hour and still the car would not start. I came back the next day and the car would not start. I got the car towed to a mechanic who said that he thought it was the fuel pump so I replaced that and the car worked for 2 days and then the same problem again. He then tested the car and saw there was no power going to the fuel pump. …
Referring to the passenger-side headlight: while driving my children home after it was already dark, I noticed that the passenger-side headlight seemed a little dimmer than the driver-side headlight. I also had on my driving lights that are below the headlights. We were on a particularly dark road where there is a tendency to be deer, so when it was clear of opposing traffic, I put the high-beam lights on. After putting the high-beams on, all the lights.....headlights, high-beams, and driving lights went out....while I was driving. A red "service" light came on the dashboard. I was very startled at this and had to pull over to the side of the road. I switched the lights off and then on again and nothing would work and the "service" light remained on. Fortunately, I was not in a high traffic area or this could have been a very serious accident waiting to happen, especially if I panicked. …
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight was not working on the vehicle. The forward electric harness allowed water to enter into the light and caused it to fail. Soon after purchasing the vehicle in 2003, the headlights failed. The dealer informed him that there was a recall (GM recall number 03029) on the lights. The vehicle was repaired because it affected the signal lights and driver's side headlight. The contact recently took the vehicle back to the dealer for repair, but they stated that it was previously repaired and would not be repaired a second time. The failure mileage was 8,700. Updated 03/23/09. Updated 03/24/09.
Low beam headlights quit working. The bulbs tested fine, the fuse tested fine and the multifunction switch seems to be working properly. I replaced the switch with a known working switch and the low beams still do not work. I drive when it is dark outside and am forced to use my high beams to see and make sure that I am seen by other drivers. I talked to the dealership and they suggested replacing the multifunction switch which I did and the low beam lights still do not work.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire. While driving approximately 40 MPH at night, the headlights suddenly became extremely dim. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and repaired according to a safety recall. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on three separate occasions for identical failures, but the repairs did not correct the issue. The NHTSA campaign id number was unknown. The failure mileage was 3,000 and the current mileage was unknown.
While applying the brakes consumer had another driver stand behind the vehicle and watch for the brake lights to come on. Consumer had no brake lights. He drove the vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the bulbs needed to be replaced. This caused moisture to become trapped inside. Rear brakelights keep failing. The vehicle has been in the shop six times.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire. While driving at night, the low beam headlights failed to operate. The dealer stated that the headlamp circuit malfunctioned due to a failed wire and corroded connection. They made the repair. The current and failure mileages were 55,346. Updated 3/5/08 the rear turn signals were inoperative as well.
Failure to the headlight harness, with time, corrosion attack the headlight harness. Which will cause the headlight intensity to lower or worst, total headlight failure. That mean that you can be driving at night and totally lose your headlight. This defect has been repaired 4 times now, and I need to have it repaired a 5th time April 2004.
Dt*: the contact stated when water entered the headlight housing from underneath the vehicle the headlights did not work properly. The high beam illuminated. However, the low beam became inoperative. The vehicle was taken to a local dealership for inspection. The dealer rewired the headlights and replaced the headlight bulbs.
It took 3 different dealership , 9 service repairs before the rear light bulb socket assemblies recall 04V524000 was repaired correctly. Central Pontiac, Buick, GMC - repair 4 times. Inter haven fl [phone], teinle Oldsmobile-Pontiac-Cadillac-GMC truck, inc- fremont ohio, repaired 4 times.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear lamps that provide stop and turn signals and tail lamp functions stop working because of inadequate contact between the bulb and socket. In addition, if one bulbs were to become inoperative while the vehicle was operating in cruise control, the cruise control would disengage when the…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear lamp bulb socket assemblies and apply grease or replace them if necessary. The recall began on January 18, 2005.
NHTSA investigations
Turn signal malfunction
Complainants allege that the rear turn signals fail to illuminate and do not provide a signal to drivers in following vehicles.odi has received one report of a crash where the complainant braked and attempted to make a left turn and the following vehicle impacted the complainant's vehicle in the driver-side door.in May 2002, GM's supplier made changes to the bulb socket that included stopping the use of…
Turn signal malfunction
On May 14, 2004 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe04-043) based on consumer complaints alleging that the brake/tail turn signal lamps would not operate properly when either the tail lights were turned on, the brake pedal was depressed, or when the turn signal switch was activated.on September 14, 2004 odi upgraded pe 04-043 to an engineering analysis (ea04-028).GM states…
Headlight complaints in other Sunfire years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the lights of the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire, 35% of the model year's 72 complaints. The component named most often is turn signal (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Pontiac Sunfire headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-524 (turn signal, Nov 1, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Pontiac Sunfire headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 20,000 miles, and 69% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to lights 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.