Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While braking the brake pedal was working normally then suddenly went soft. Pumped brakes but pedal went to floor. Caused car to crash into vehicle in front of it. Failure was consistent with either mater cylinder failure or hydraulic brake line failure causing loss of fluid and pressure. Both vehicles were a total loss. Both front airbags went off in Sunfire. No serious injuries.
The ABS,trac and service light came on after I hit a deer because the traction control and ABS would not let me stop from hitting it. I now have the problem with ABS traction control and service light but it now makes it hard to stop till all those come on. I was told it was a sensor in the hub of rear end.
Bought a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire from a dealership 5 months ago. I told the owner/salesman I wanted a safe 1st car for my kid. My kid and some friends were driving,it was raining and the back tires started to slide,my kid regained control of the car briefly and said after a few minutes the steering locked up and they ended up in a spin. The car hit an object on the passenger side,spun around and hit another on the drivers side,then bounced off that and landed across a deep ditch where it was hit again in the rear when stopping. No steering. No brakes. The engine was still going even though the front end of the car was wedged into the edge of the pavement and the embankment of the ditch. By the grace of god no one was physically injured. We had the car towed to our home. My kid said that before the accident the steering wheel felt " wiggley". We looked at that area 1st. …
Brake rotors warped after less than 11,000 miles of travel; 2003 Pontiac-Sunfire purchased on April 29, 2003. I believe that this is a bad batch of brake parts or the component is either under designed or improperly specified to withstand day-to-day city driving conditions. A 2001 Chevrolet-cavalier that I previously owned exhibited the same insufficiency in it's brake rotors that required servicing three times in 60,000 miles of driving. Both of these cars are essentially the same with the exception of trims and GM division name. The cost to resurface salvagable rotors is approximately $140 at the dealer. If they can't be resurfaced then they have to be replaced entirely. Look forward to your response.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire. While driving between 35-40 MPH, the brakes failed. The vehicle struck and destroyed the rear bumper of the preceding vehicle. The contact's vehicle was destroyed and towed from the scene. A police report was filed. He was transported to the hospital by an ambulance and sustained injuries. The current and failure mileages were 26,000. Updated 01/29/08
On November 12, 2008 I was in an auto accident. I was driving my 2002 Pontiac Sunfire that I had purchased on October 28, 2008. As the car ahead of me began to brake I began to brake as well. However, it did not feel as thought the brakes "grabbed" causing me to collide into the car in front of me. I have a broken foot caused from pushing on the brakes.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire. The contact stated that the traction control, service engine and ABS warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
All of a sudden, my front brakes no longer worked properly?! Only rear, emergency brake and l front? Had r front caliper completely removed and replaced, yet problem still existed?! Was told something could be wrong with GM's anti lock brake unit installed into the master brake cylinder? Cost was going to be around $800.00 to replace unit that, on my vehicle was assembled in Mexico?
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Sunfire years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (29), 1997 (28), 2000 (17), 2002 (16) and 1998 (15) model years. Brake complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Pontiac Sunfire brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for any Pontiac Sunfire model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Pontiac Sunfire brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles; 50% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (75 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (18).
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.