VehicleVerdict

1997 Pontiac Sunfire engine problems

The 1997 Pontiac Sunfire has 35 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

35

Engine complaints

14%

Share of year

1

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

SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THUMPING AND CLANKING NOISES.. CAR STARTED TO STALL UNDER 1X RPM... ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POSSIBLE SOLUTION WAS CRANKSHAFT. THEN THEY SAID IT WAS POSSIBLY A BUSHING. I NOTICED IN YOUR FILES SOMEONE ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 2, 2001 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire have?

NHTSA has 35 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Sunfire engine — 14% 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.