1999 Pontiac Sunfire Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 6%of 93 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 126,050miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire, 6% of the 93 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 126,050 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have 1999 Pontiac Sunfire and I have had nothing but problems with the headlights. One is that I have no highbeams and the headlights go out after driving it for awhile,the driverside light flashes on and off from time to time I have talked to a mechanic about this problem and they said it was the headlight harness. I went to the local junk yard got a harness and it solved the problem but just recently it happened again.”
NHTSA complaint #10298920, filed 2010-01, 102,100 miles“Low beam headlights failed to operate. Daytime running lights operate erratically (sometimes blinking rapidly). I replaced both bulbs and drl relay. I took the vehicle to the dealer hoping that he would be most efficient and lowest cost troubleshooter based on his familiarity with this model. Calls to multiple michigan dealers acknowledge the existence of this issue on 1998 and 19'99 Sunfire/cavaliers. Root cause is corrosion of wiring within the wire harness. It took 6 hours ($500 worth of labor, $0 parts!) to locate and correct a broken wire within its insulation and within the harness. …”
NHTSA complaint #10065741, filed 2004-04, 67,000 miles“My headlights do not stay on. They turn off when I use my turn signal, or if I hit a bump. The hi-beams and drl's are fine, it's just the regular headlights. Also my engine shows that it is overheating on my temp. Guage, but does not act like it. When the A/C is turned on, it returns to a normal level. Another thing is my airconditioning line has a hole in it from another hose rubbing up against it. I think it's either my steering hose or radiator hose. When I turn left my car makes an awful grinding noise.”
NHTSA complaint #10185467, filed 2007-03“Starting about two months ago, the headlights have turned off when going over small bumps in the road. They come right back on. I'm concerned about driving a car with headlights that turn themselves off. So far, the dealer has not been much help. They tell me they need to see the failure before they fix the car. Possibly related to this, the left headlights don't always come on right away when I turn them on.”
NHTSA complaint #716644, filed 1999-12Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 | 4% |
| 2004 | 3 | 9% |
| 2003 | 25 | 35% |
| 2002 | 6 | 7% |
| 2001 | 2 | 3% |
| 2000 | 10 | 10% |
| 1999 | 6 | 6% |
| 1998 | 5 | 4% |
| 1997 | 11 | 6% |
| 1996 | 15 | 7% |
| 1995 | 4 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire
21 complaintsEngine cooling
17 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsSeats
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsInterior lighting
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology