Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 128 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire, and it carries 7 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 24 | 19% |
| Air bags | 11 | 9% |
| Steering | 11 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 10 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 4% |
| Power train | 4 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 3% |
| Tires | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WITH START FLASHING WILL START AGAIN AND BUT SHUT DOWN AGAIN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND HAD IT AT A DEALER THEY REPLACED THE ECU THE GAUGES AND
NHTSA complaint: Steering
CARS BATTERY CONSTANTLY RAN DOWN. BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND WAS OK AS IT WAS THREE MONTHS OLD. REPAIR STATION SAID THE HORN WAS SHORTED AND THE AIR BAG IS PART OF THE HORN SWITCH AND MUST BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PROBLEM INITIALLY HAPPENED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, BUT NOW IS PERSISTENT AND NONE OF THESE ITEMS FUNCTION POSING A M
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE EQUIPPED WITH DOUGLASS X-TRAC A-W TIRES, SIZE 205/55R16 (NA). THE CONTACT PURCHASED ONE TIRE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 AND ANOTHER IN JANUARY OF 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAL-MA
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING. WHEN TRYING TO USE THE BRAKE THE CAR STILL WILL NOT STOP. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
APPARENTLY, THEIR IS A KNOWN ISSUE W/THE 98 PONTIAC SUNFIRE STEERING RACK AND PINION GEAR MAKING IT FEEL LIKE THEIR IS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING, EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY. I PURCHASED
NHTSA complaint: Steering
1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WON'T DISENGAGE, CAR IS DEAD. (WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS TRIGGERED, THE FUEL PUMP IS SHUT OFF) IT MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY USING A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL KEY. FOLLOWING M
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire. 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.
DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DU
Risk: IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
CERTAIN DELPHI AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERSED. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY (IDLE ROUGH AND/OR STALL) DUE TO
Risk: A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MRAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 1-877-335-7443.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
| Reliability raw | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 128 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 24 of them (19%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) 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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.