2002 Pontiac Sunfire Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 29%of 82 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire, 29% of the 82 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,000 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Turned off the vehicle, got my fuses and relay's all checked and turned the car on the next morning, nothing on my dash panel is working. No mileage, none of the gauges work, fuses and relays are all good.”
NHTSA complaint #10745149, filed 2015-07, 194,460 miles“The gauges stopped working when the lights and heater was turned on thus causing me to have the vehicle towed home where I was able to identify the problem as the wiring harness for the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10258241, filed 2009-02, 136,200 miles“I have a 2002 pontac Sunfire I bought on 10/22/2003. Every since I have owned it, I have had to keep taking it back for electrical problems. As a matter of fact ,it is at the dealer right now , for a problem in the fuse box. The car had only 23,000 miles when I bought it.”
NHTSA complaint #10068104, filed 2004-04, 24,000 miles“I have been the only owner of my 2002 Pontiac Sunfire; well back in 2011 it just would not start; took it to a trusty mechanic who told me I had to go to the dealership cause most likely I needed an ignition switch; so I took it to the dealer in town; being they are a GM dealer; I mentioned what it needed; they looked at it for several days and told me I needed a new computer system; and it was 703.00 for labor and everything; okay so we decide to fix it; get it back and guess what several weeks later it dies on the interstate while my husband was going 70mph; he had to throw it into neutral…”
NHTSA complaint #10637142, filed 2014-09, 92,488 miles“I have had the car since august of 2002, and have only had a problem with the rear defroster. It would work when it wanted to. I was told that it was a fuse, that wasn't the problem. I figured that it was a short in the wiring, but it wasn't covered by the warranty, and I don't have the money to let a mechanic go probing around my car to find out what was wrong. On 11/28/07 while I was driving only a few miles, upon starting the car - smoke started pouring out of my vents and the gas gauge (which the tank was full) started dropping down to 'e'. …”
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Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 60 | 88% |
| 2004 | 16 | 50% |
| 2003 | 23 | 32% |
| 2002 | 24 | 29% |
| 2001 | 21 | 32% |
| 2000 | 23 | 24% |
| 1999 | 21 | 23% |
| 1998 | 21 | 18% |
| 1997 | 30 | 16% |
| 1996 | 38 | 19% |
| 1995 | 27 | 23% |
Other parts of the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire
16 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsSteering
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsInterior lighting
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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