The 1996 Pontiac Sunfire has 33 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.
33
Airbags complaints
10%
Share of year
16
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG'S SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE, AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.
Consequence
AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANTS WHO ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE.
“WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE WINSHIELD TO BUST. WHEN LOOKING AT THE CAR THE WINDSHIELD IS PUSHED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG. WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THIS CASE?”
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire airbags — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 98V146000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.