Headlight complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I had just bought the car in December 2007 and the cigarette lighter next to driving wheel was not working. Car was in storage for over a year and around May 2010 the drivers window stopped "rolling up" so we got the window motor changed as they said it was burnt. Window worked for about a week and then it turned out to be another electrical issue having to do with the switch controlling the windows. Around April 2011 a new issue, high beams stopped working on and off. They eventually stopped working and leading to no beams at all, not signals and no light in dashboard. Another part had to be replaced. May 2013 - stereo light is not working, but stereo is operating. July 2013 - trunk will not lock.
In looking up what the problem with my car I have found that several other cars seem be having the same problems. The instrument panel cluster works when it feels like it. Most days the only instrument that is working is the speedometer. Generally I use a garmin to make sure that I am at the correct speed. The temperature gauge and the tachometer is no longer working. Recently I have notice that the lights in the radio are not all lighting up. Seems that this should be a recall issue that the dealer should be handling for the amount of complaints I am finding on this vehicle. This problem seems to be a common problem with the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire.
Dt: the low beam headlights are not bright enough to see. There is no adjustment for the high beam to low beam, only a dim bulb. Has been to a dealer and tried other headlamps, but these were not any better with the visibility. Contacted GM, and GM stated that this was the way the car was designed, and they would not redesign the vehicle. This was still a problem, no corrections done. GM suggested to put in a brighter bulb, but GM said this would void the warranty.
The low beam lights are so low that during the night the vision is very poor. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, who indicates that there is nothing they can do. The brightness for the low beam bulbs are so bad that it is almost as if driving without. Headlights.
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. …
I filed a complaint on a 2002 grand am gt VIN [redacted] concerning steering problems. I cannot find it in your consumer complaint data base, nor any other information related to this vehicle or recalls, safety issues, etc on 2002 grand am gt in general. Am I looking in the wrong place? Please help. Also, I now own a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire VIN [redacted]. I took delivery on 10.31.02 as part of lemon law byback by GM on above discussed grand am. I am having several problems with this new car I consider safety hazards. GM so far has had the car more than I have. How can I file a complaint and find out more information on the areas of concern with this vehicle. So far, it went of park into reverse and hit me in the head causing injury my doc is looking into, the car on the same trip completely shut down, losing all power except radio, and the ABS off light went on. …
Was not notified by Pontiac that my sunroof should be serviced yearly to prevent leaks. I contacted the dealer where I purchased the car and was told GM has no recommended service yet everywhere I have asked has told me it needs serviced or you will have leaks. Dealer said there is nothing they can do for me. Now I have clogged drain lines and have water leaking into my trunk, and the water has damaged my back speakers. Also, I am very upset with the design of the shifter light. I have called around and the only place I can have it fixed at is the dealer and I am looking at $130.00 just in labor for a bad light bulb. I think it is unfair to your customers to have a part, such as a light that will burn out, unreplaceable by anyone but the dealers who then in turn charge outrageous prices to do the repairs. …
Related recalls (4)
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.
Interior lighting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 101, "control location, identification, and illumination." the instrument panel backlighting May not function after adjusting the interior light intensity.
Remedy: Dealers will test the body control module, and if necessary, replace it.
Interior lighting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with the potential for the interior lamps to come on unexpectedly while the vehicles are being driven. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 101, "controls and displays."
Remedy: Dealers will run a diagnostic test on the lamp control module and, if necessary, replace it.
Exterior lighting › Hazard flashing warning lights
The front and/or rear hazard warning lamps (four-way flashers) do not flash when the hazard switch is activated. This fails to comply with FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: Dealers or vehicle owners will inspect for proper function of the hazard warning lamps. If necessary, dealers will replace the hazard lamp switch.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Sunfire years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (25), 1996 (17), 1997 (11), 2000 (11) and 1999 (8) model years. Headlight complaints make up 35% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Pontiac Sunfire headlight problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 04V-524 (turn signal, Nov 1, 2004); 99V-218 (interior lighting, Aug 11, 1999); 98V-027 (interior lighting, Feb 17, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Pontiac Sunfire headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles; 49% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights (25 mentions), followed by the turn signal (11).
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.