Pontiac SunbirdModel year report

1991 Pontiac Sunbird Problems

Complaints: 27filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 81,914miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 2campaigns on record
Trend: StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating: —overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy: 23 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 6 complaints (22% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (5) and seat belts (4). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 81,914 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “When my cooling system was not working I brought my car back to the dealer that I bought the car from and when they replaced the fan motor they purposly put an extra washer on one side causing the fan to hit the radiator which then caused my head gasket to blow. I contacted the dealer again and was told that this was not their problem!! I then took my car to a shop in millax and had a different used engine placed in it now, this engine has no acceleration due to a bad cam shaft, so I again have to have my car repaired.”

NHTSA complaint #700722, filed 1998-11

Vehicle speed control: “Had vehicle in reverse & backing out of parking lot. The throttle stuck & vehicle took off. Vehicle had front wheel drive & the wheels just kept spinning. Will be taking vehicle to dealer.”

NHTSA complaint #846259, filed 1999-09

Brakes: “Brakes did not seem to stop vehicle within a reasonable distance and had a soft pedal. In addition, when vehicle is cold and has not been driven recently when transmission is placed in reverse/drive it will not go into gear at once and then lurches into gear.”

NHTSA complaint #523063, filed 1997-11

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 81,914 and 81,914 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 81,914 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Side pole	Rollover
Sunbird · sedan	not rated	4 / 5	—	—	—

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1991 Pontiac Sunbird version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
Sunbird FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	23	33	26	$2,600
Sunbird FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	3-speed automatic	21	29	24	$2,800
Sunbird FWD	3.1L 6-cyl	3-speed automatic	18	25	20	$3,350
Sunbird FWD	3.1L 6-cyl	5-speed manual	17	26	20	$3,350
Sunbird Convertible FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	21	30	24	$2,800
Sunbird Convertible FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	3-speed automatic	19	28	23	$2,900
Sunbird Convertible FWD	3.1L 6-cyl	3-speed automatic	18	25	20	$3,350
Sunbird Convertible FWD	3.1L 6-cyl	5-speed manual	17	26	20	$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

92V003000Jan 10, 1992
Seat belts
Covers: Pontiac Sunbird 1991, Chevrolet Cavalier 1991, Oldsmobile Cutlass 1991 +3 more
The front door shoulder belt guide loops may be cracked and are not in compliance with fmvss 208.
91V165000Sep 23, 1991
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
Covers: Pontiac Sunbird 1991, Chevrolet Cavalier 1991
Front door interlock striker may fail, causing door frame collapse and insufficient strength for the shoulder belt anchorage.

Recall details for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.

10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

Other model years of the Pontiac Sunbird

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
1994	42	109,000	1	—	24	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1993	37	129,000	2	—	24	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1992	30	159,000	3	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1991	27	81,914	2	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1990	11	—	0	—	22	—	Not enough data
1989	7	167,000	1	—	22	—	Not enough data
1987	6	—	1	—	25	—	Not enough data
1986	6	—	1	—	24	—	Not enough data
1984	5	—	2	—	—	—	Not enough data

All Pontiac Sunbird model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird have?

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 6 complaints (22% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 5.

Has the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird get?

The EPA rates the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird (Sunbird Convertible, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 19 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 81,914 miles and the middle half falls between 81,914 and 81,914 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.