The 2000 Pontiac Sunfire has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,415,231 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence
IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO…
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
10
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
10
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
5crashes5injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
5
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
4
1fires
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
4
Total complaints169
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My car was driving perfect until 3 weeks ago, it has since then wont start back up. Thought it was something to do with spark, then tried spark plug wires, new battery, checked alternator and fuses, coils all good. Then I was lead to maybe the gas that was in it. Dropped gas tank, put new fuel…”
“My car was driving perfect until 3 weeks ago, it has since then wont start back up. Thought it was something to do with spark, then tried spark plug wires, new battery, checked alternator and fuses, coils all good. Then I was lead to maybe the gas that was in it. Dropped gas tank, put new fuel…”
“"takata recall" while driving at night on a county road and switching from low beams to high beams, the headlights went completely dark and did not come back on until switching back to low beams. After inspection, noticed the day runners also were not working. All fuses were plugged in and good.…”
“"takata recall" while driving at night on a county road and switching from low beams to high beams, the headlights went completely dark and did not come back on until switching back to low beams. After inspection, noticed the day runners also were not working. All fuses were plugged in and good.…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 pontiac sunfire. The contact stated that the vehicle's turn signals would intermittently fail to operate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was a recall that involved a similar…”
“Daughter hydroplaned, went into ditch on right side of road, traveled across road into left ditch and hit tree, opening the convertible top during crash and totaled vehicle airbags didn't deploy during crash.”
“My daughters car was having starting problems (not enough gas getting to the engine to start, had to pump the gas). I took it for a test drive in a empty parking lot once it started. I was going approx 10mph the first time I pushed the gas pedal to the floor. When I released the pedal it stayed in…”
“My daughters car was having starting problems (not enough gas getting to the engine to start, had to pump the gas). I took it for a test drive in a empty parking lot once it started. I was going approx 10mph the first time I pushed the gas pedal to the floor. When I released the pedal it stayed in…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA02028 Opened 2002-09-30 · closed 2003-12-30
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE
ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS…
InvestigationEA02028 Opened 2002-09-30 · closed 2003-12-30
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE
ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS…
InvestigationPE02066 Opened 2002-09-06 · closed 2003-11-03
ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED…
InvestigationPE02066 Opened 2002-09-06 · closed 2003-11-03
ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED…
InvestigationPE02066 Opened 2002-09-06 · closed 2003-11-03
ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED…
InvestigationPE02066 Opened 2002-09-06 · closed 2003-11-03
ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED…
InvestigationSQ01002 Opened 2001-01-26 · closed 2002-09-30
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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