VehicleVerdict

1996 Pontiac Sunfire engine problems

The 1996 Pontiac Sunfire has 54 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 17% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

54

Engine complaints

17%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Sunfire engine complaints by model year54 complaints1991: 1 complaints1995: 40 complaints1996: 54 complaints1997: 35 complaints1998: 34 complaints1999: 20 complaints2000: 27 complaints2001: 14 complaints2002: 12 complaints2003: 10 complaints2004: 7 complaints2005: 5 complaints
Sunfire engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DETERIORATION. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO BEEN LOSING COOLANT FOR THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 3, 2003

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire have?

NHTSA has 54 complaints about the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire engine — 17% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.