1992 Pontiac Sunbird

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Pontiac Sunbird, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Service brakes	10	26%
Engine and engine cooling	6	15%
Vehicle speed control	4	10%
Electrical system	4	10%
Seats	2	5%
Structure	2	5%
Seat belts	2	5%
Steering	2	5%
Service brakes	1	3%
Exterior lighting	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ON MY SUNBIRD KEEPS FAILING, CAUSING ABRUBT MALFUNCTIONS. IT IS DANGEROUS IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURS USUALLY ON A COLD OR RAINY DAY. THE CABLE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SOME SUNBIRDS HOWEVE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

WHILE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 40 MPH THE DRIVER SEAT TO COLLAPSED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
NHTSA complaint: Seats

WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED THE BRAKES RELEASE ALLOWING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCCURED NUMEROUS OF TIMES BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG SINCE THE COMPUTER DOES NOT RECORD
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

WHEEL WELL RUSTED, CAUSING SHOCKS TO COME THROUGH THE TRUNK, AND THE BODY FRAME OF THE VEHICLE TO FALL ON THE REAR AXLE. THIS CAUSED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure

SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING CAR. THERE AFTER TURNING SIGNAL WOULD NOT OPERATE. TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SERVICE AND HAD PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, BUT PART IS UNAVAILABLE FROM GENERAL MOTORS. I PERS
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I KNEW IT HAD BEEN IN A WRECK BECAUSE THE HOOD AND TRUNK DID NOT LINE UP. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD, BUT THE AUTO DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THIS, EITHER. IS THERE ANY ACT
NHTSA complaint: Power train

PROBLEMS OF HEATING/COOLING DEVELOPED, LEADING TO EXTENSIVE SERVICE TO CORRECT. GASKET FAILURE RECOGNIZED BY MECHANIC AFTER REPLACING HEATER CORE AND RADIATOR FAILED TO CORRECT PROBLEMS. (SISTER'S 1991 PONT SUNBIRD W/ SA
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN BELT SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1992 Pontiac Sunbird. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Exterior lighting 09E012000

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch 91V166000

THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING IS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR MISSING, LEADING TO A CONDITION WHERE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH DOES NOT ENGAGE THE SECONDARY STRIKER.

Risk: IF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT ENGAGED, AND THEPRIMARY HOOD LATCH WAS ALSO NOT ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. IFTHIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THE WIN

Fix: INSPECT HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES AND, WHERE NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING.

Vehicle speed control 93V190000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VERY COLD WEATHER, WATER THATN ENTERS THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT FREEZES AND CAUSES THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO DEVELOP A HIGH EFFORT OR BINDING CONDITION.

Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, LOSS OF NORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL CAN RESULT, OR THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, CAUSING POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL ASSEMBLY.

Vehicle speed control 92V048000

THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN KINKED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THE KINK IN THE CABLE CAN CAUSE EITHER A HIGH EFFORT ACCELERATOR CABLE, STICKING ACCELERATOR CABLE, OR A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CABLE.

Risk: IF THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE STICKS OR BREAKS IT CANRESULT IN LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL. IF LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL OCCURS WHILE THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR

Fix: REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE ASSEMBLY.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	90	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	45	below average
Efficiency	43	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 46% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 63% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 100% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 85: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1992 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 90: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1992 Pontiac Sunbird?

Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 10 of them (26%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Pontiac Sunbird reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1992 Pontiac Sunbird last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1992 Pontiac Sunbird?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.