Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Pontiac Sunfire, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 16% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 8% |
| Air bags | 8 | 8% |
| Visibility | 8 | 8% |
| Power train | 7 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 4% |
| Steering | 3 | 3% |
| Interior lighting | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I WAS PURCHASING THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY 3 TIMES. THE CAR WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY SHUT OFF, THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED AND MULTIPLE TIMES THIS HAPPENED
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST AFTER I PURCHASED IT AND BECAME COLD SO I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS SMOKE FILLED THE CAR. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING OIL OR GAS. I CALLED DELPHI
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ON MY 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE RECENTLY STARTED FUNCTIONING ERRATICALLY I.E. GAUGES (GAS GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER) WOULD START FLUCTUATING WILDLY. LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED TH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED DOWN A HILL DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES LOCKED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF A 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 4DR, 2.2 LITER ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE WIRING HARNESS AT THE DRIVERS DOOR FRAME, AT THE CONNECTION OF THE UNDERDASH HARNESS AND THE REAR OF VEHICLE HARNESS S
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *BF WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER FELT A THUMP AND BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. ONCE THE CONSUMER STOPPED, HE NOTICED FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. OHIO TRA
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I HAVE 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. ONE IS THAT I HAVE NO HIGHBEAMS AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER DRIVING IT FOR AWHILE,THE DRIVERSIDE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF FROM TIME
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1999 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 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING MAY NOT FUNCTION AFTER ADJUSTING THE INTERIOR LIGHT INTENSITY.
Risk: IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT LIT AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
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 | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 17 of them (16%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (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 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 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.