1996 Pontiac Sunfire vs 1998 Pontiac Sunfire
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Pontiac Sunfire | 1998 Pontiac Sunfire |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 201 | 120 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 85 | 101 |
| Investigations | 3 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 30 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 136,050 mi | 71,621 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Pontiac Sunfire | Pontiac Sunfire |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 39 | 32 |
| Electrical System | 38 | 21 |
| Air Bags | 33 | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 24 | 13 |
| Steering | 19 | 14 |
| Power Train | 20 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
| Stalling | 6 | 21 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
1996 Pontiac Sunfire
1998 Pontiac Sunfire
Compare all Pontiac Sunfire vs Pontiac Sunfire years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.