1998 Pontiac Sunfire Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1998 Sunfire most often describe a clunking or grinding steering column and steering that becomes hard to turn, along with stalling, hesitation and rough idling from the engine. Ignition switch, no-start and electrical faults also recur, and brake complaints describe long stopping distances or ABS behavior that owners did not expect. Reports span a wide mileage range, from cars with a few thousand miles to those past 150,000.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering column clunk and hard steering

   • 11 complaints (9%)
   • median 66,241 mi at 9.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2011

   Complaints describe a bumping, clicking or grinding noise from the steering column when the wheel is turned, and in some cases steering that becomes stiff or loses power assist, making turns difficult. Owners say dealers greased the intermediate shaft or recommended rack and pinion and power steering hose replacement, and several report being told their vehicle was not covered by the rack and pinion recall. Reported from about 50,000 to 100,000 miles and beyond, most often noticed during low-speed turns.

   Recall 02V2860002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine running and listen for clunks or grinding; ask whether the rack and pinion recall was performed on this vehicle by VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is an ongoing problem with my steering column. When I turn my steering wheel to the right or left, it makes a bumping noise. It happens every time the wheel is turned to the right or left. Now it has gone out and the recalls r the same but they say it does not cover my car I need to know how this is going to be fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10083180, filed 2004-08

   “This is an ongoing problem with my steering column. When I turn my steering wheel to the right or left, it makes a bumping noise. It happens every time the wheel is turned to the right or left. It sounds like something is knocking.”

   NHTSA complaint #10058181, filed 2004-02
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Stalling, hesitation and rough idle

   • 23 complaints (19%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2005

   Complaints describe the engine stalling at intersections or while driving, hesitating under acceleration, and idling roughly, sometimes with long cranking before it starts. Owners mention work on spark plug wires, an EGR valve stuck open, and ignition parts, and several say the dealer could not reproduce the condition or that repairs did not resolve it. Reported across a wide range, from cars with a few thousand miles to those over 100,000, sometimes when cold or wet.

   What to check: Test drive long enough to include idle time and a cold start, and ask whether the EGR valve, plugs and wires have been serviced and whether any fault codes are stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The temperature guage flutters from time to time. Then it will go all the way down to 0.when it starts to flutter again the engine seems to be racing. The tach. Guage will bounce about 200-300 prm. I also noticed that when the car is in park and you idle the engine up to about 3000 RPM, it acts like there is a rev limiter. It has never done that untill a few months ago. The check engin light has never come on until today. I changed plugs and plug wires and it didnt help at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #10062071, filed 2004-03, 24,000 miles

   “Consumer was having problems with the EGR valve. Dealer notified. While driving the EGR valve became stuck in the open position which caused the engine to rough or stall without warning.”

   NHTSA complaint #10029932, filed 2003-08, 52,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   No-start, ignition switch and electrical faults

   • 13 complaints (11%)
   • median 73,500 mi at 9.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2018

   Owners describe the car failing to start or shutting down while driving, sometimes with the theft system light flashing, and some connect starter trouble to ignition switch recall work. Others report a fuse blowing with melted wiring at the rear defogger, and one reports brake lights, turn signals, hazards and the defroster all failing at once. Reported from around 50,000 miles up past 165,000, including cases shortly after recall service.

   Recall 04V0360002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm by VIN whether the ignition switch recall was completed, and after a cold start check that the lights, rear defogger and theft system all behave normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the vehicle will shut down and the theft system light with start flashing will start again and but shut down again I was driving on a city street and had it at a dealer they replaced the ecu the gauges and the ignition they replaced the ecu 3 times with no avail this has happened to all 4 of my pontiacs”

   NHTSA complaint #11098157, filed 2018-05, 165,000 miles

   “I took my Sunfire to the dealership for the specified ignition switch recall and am now having problems with my starter. The starter I have is not even one year old - I am sure this has something to do with the recent recall work done at the dealership.”

   NHTSA complaint #10081305, filed 2004-07, 82,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake and ABS problems, long stopping distance

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2009

   Complaints describe the vehicle continuing to roll or failing to stop when the pedal is pressed, ABS releasing the front brakes, and in one case only the rear brakes slowing the car. Owners report repeated dealer visits that produced only adjustments, and one describes a corroded rear brake line that leaked fluid. Reported from as little as 2,000 miles up to about 111,000, with some cases tied to corrosion on older cars.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the brake lines inspected for corrosion and ask for records of ABS or hydraulic brake work; check pedal firmness on a clear road.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My daughter was driving my 1998 Pontiac Sunfire and had a collision with another car. She reported that the brakes failed and would not stop the car at all. We have also reported to the dealer on multiple occasions that the gas pedal gets stuck. This may have also contributed to the collision.”

   NHTSA complaint #10020534, filed 2003-05, 77,000 miles

   “My ABS brake module went out, along with my regular brakes as well. If my car goes over 30 miles per hour, the car skids to a stop and my tires lock up. My car is just out of warranty and I know GM has a code a that covers repair if the vehicle is out of warranty, but the car doesn't yet have 60,000 miles on it. Only a GM dealership can fix it, but they won't cover it under code a. …”

   NHTSA complaint #760319, filed 2002-04
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leaks and overheating

   • 10 complaints (8%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 8.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2009

   Owners describe coolant leaking on and off for months, the temperature gauge climbing toward the warning mark in traffic, and repeated overheating. Some mention a front-engine noise that preceded a water pump failure and leak, and others describe stop-leak products used as a temporary fix while the leak returned. Mostly reported between about 24,000 and 120,000 miles, often developing gradually.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for residue or dye around the water pump, hoses and radiator, and ask whether the water pump or intake gaskets have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “March 24, 2003 dear sirs, I recently had a water pump failure on my 1998 Sunfire convertible. The car has had a noise from the front of the engine for about a year, I thought it was an alternator bearing. The car has been in a GM dealer twice in that time for oil changes and of all the things the dealer has tried to sell me they never said anything was wrong with the water pump. On the night of friday, march 14th the car began leaking antifreeze and the noise increased. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10016442, filed 2003-04, 42,000 miles

   “Coolant had been leaking for over 3 months off and on. Put in stop leak for a temp fix. However dexcool continued to eat away at my coolant system. Car has overheated on many occasions. Finally able to use jb weld to fix leak .”

   NHTSA complaint #10197189, filed 2007-07, 110,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, service history and a hands-on inspection matter more than mileage. Verify recall completion by VIN and have a mechanic check steering play, brake lines, coolant leaks and cold-start behavior before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.