Known Recalls

Model year record

2004 Pontiac Sunfire

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 41 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V300000

Seat belts: rear/other

Component
Seat belts: rear/other
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
37
Reported to NHTSA
2004-06-23
Owners notified
2004-08-23

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.' THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH AN INCORRECT NUT AND BOLT.

Safety risk

IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND INSTALL A NEW NUT AND BOLT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system755,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel656,000 mi
Engine374,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery212,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling212,500 mi
Structure: body2—
Unknown or other218,000 mi
Air bags: frontal12,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1—
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)132,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine133,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe11,000 mi
Equipment: electrical1441 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1441 mi
Exterior lighting1—
Exterior lighting: headlights1350 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: high/low beam dimmer switch110 mi
Service brakes1102,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1107,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip145,000 mi
Steering1102,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid1—
Vehicle speed control1112,000 mi
Wheels: hub145,000 mi

The 2003 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.