Steering complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Going down hill, turned my car to the right and the car keep going straight. It did not turn at all. I almost got hit by on coming traffic, but my car hit the curve first stopping an accident from occurring I have replace window motor twice and they have went out again now. And I have also replaced window motor buttons for a second time in the past 3 years
Date: 5/2/07 Sunfire 2005 was purchased brand new in 9/05 investment purpose in a new car for safety, reliability, gas mileage, non-repair and price of vehicle. At 26,000 miles, $900 of repairs were placed on the car in upgrades to keep the vehicle running, to-date, counting 10 failures, first date of failure requiring car repair 12/27/06. (not including vehicle maintenance) repairs demand at a minimum 3hrs of time at each repair visit. Repairs on vehicle demand just a few more hundred dollars in cash payments and cost of a car rental while vehicle is down. Incidences of failure on vehicle remain unresolved due to Pontiac's denial and refusal to fix the vehicle. Supportive documents will show price gouging, harassment and a defective vehicle. …
My daughter was on her way to college and she was going around a curve and the steering of her 2002 Pontiac Sunfire locked up and she could not steer. Due to this she hit a telephone pole and the car was turned sideways and hit a tree then went over a embankment. The damage is all to the rear of the car. I have called Pontiac several times and gotten transferred to several departments and no one ends up helping me. I also have a tried my insurance company and they just want to fix the exterior and not worry about the problem. She is having a very hard time driving. She does not want to get back into this car after it's fixed. She feels if it's fixed on the outside that doesn't mean the problem is solved. I am not having any luck with any of the people I have contacted. There are recalls for early year sunfires but not 2002. …
My son was driving home the night before his wedding, was not drunk according to the coroner. The police report said he must have went off the road, overcorrected and began spinning and rolling.the car went 469 feet before it came to rest on top of him, the report says he must have been ejected through the sunroof. My son was 34 very muscular. I do not believe that unless there was something mechanically wrong with the car thar he could not have controlled it. I have seen other reports of the same thing happening to other people with the same car. Also the airbags did not deploy that alone might have saved my sons life. There were two other people in the car, both hurt seriously. Please let me know if this same thing is happening to other people and if there is anything I can do. I still have the car exactly as it was, in storage.
Daughter was traveling down interstate and steering wheel locked up. She was unable to control car so she pulled and jerked the wheel. In doing so when the steering unfroze her car rolled over twice. Car was totaled. We advised GM, who told us they would investigate. At this time they are admiting to finding no problem.
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 …
I was purchasing this used car from a dealer. They replaced the ignition assembly 3 times. The car would mysteriously shut off, the ignition assembly would not allow the key to be removed and multiple times this happened. I lost allot of money I put on the car as it became obvious they could not fix it and I had to let them take it back with no refund to me.........they said at the dealer that I was lucky that I didn't have a fire.
For about three months a loud noise was heard coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, who stated there was not a remedy for this problem. The noise had come from the steering area.
Related recalls (1)
Steering › Rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles and Mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between January 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began January 24, 2003.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Sunfire years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (42), 1996 (19), 1998 (14), 2002 (11) and 1999 (6) model years. Steering complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Pontiac Sunfire steering problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 02V-286 (rack and pinion, Nov 4, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Pontiac Sunfire steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles; 23% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the rack and pinion (35 mentions), followed by the steering wheel/handle bar (13).
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.