Complaints
83
Crashes
9
Fires
2
Injuries
9
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 2001 Pontiac Sunfire Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#19 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:80,652 mi
Crash-related:1
#26 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:43,160 mi
Crash-related:5
#35 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:91,533 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 9 | 1 | — | 80,652 mi | |
| Airbags | 6 | 5 | — | 43,160 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | — | 91,533 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 | — | — | 56,793 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical Faults
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,652
Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
43,160
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
91,533
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
56,793
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Traction Control System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Pontiac Sunfire Years
2001 Pontiac Sunfire — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2001 Pontiac Sunfire has 83 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (9 complaints, avg 80,652 mi); Airbags (6 complaints, avg 43,160 mi); Engine & Cooling (5 complaints, avg 91,533 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 69,058 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire include 9 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Pontiac Sunfire reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2001 Pontiac Sunfire
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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