The 1991 Pontiac Sunbird has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 389,584 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS92V0030001992-01-10347,866 affected
Defect
THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.
Consequence
THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.
STRUCTURE91V1650001991-09-2341,718 affected
Defect
FRONT DOOR INTERLOCK STRIKER MAY FAIL, CAUSING DOOR FRAME COLLAPSE AND INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE.
Consequence
THE DOOR FRAME WOULD COLLAPSE. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLYWITH FMVSS 210.
Remedy
REPLACE THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT INTERLOCK STRIKER STUDS ON FRONT DOORS.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
1fires
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
2
2injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
2
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
1fires1injuries
Total complaints30
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My wife and I had a firestone "firehawk ss wl" passenger car tire come apart while we were traveling at freeway speeds on interstate 5 in northern california on june 25, 2000. We filed a claim with firestone tire on july 3, 2000 after the tire was inspected at the local firestone store where it…”
“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. *ak”
“Engine head gasket cracked, causing the oil and the coolant to mix together and leak, may have caused fire or engine damages. Common problem. Please provide further information and vin#. *ak”
“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…”
“The hood latch failed and the hood flew off of vehicle while traveling 55 miles per hour.”
“Engine compartment fire. (ohio state police report)”
“While applying the brakes the vehicle sudden accelerated. This happened several times. *ak”
“Vehicle was involved in an accident, seat belt buckle broke during accident. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA92024 Opened 1992-06-26 · closed 1994-01-31
STICKING THROTTLE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE93090 Opened 1993-10-08 · closed 1994-02-28
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.