Complaints
41
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2004 Pontiac Sunfire Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#17 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:62,833 mi
Fires:1
#26 complaints
Instrument Cluster
Avg mileage:63,925 mi
#33 complaints
Engine Problems
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 7 | — | 1 | 62,833 mi | |
| Instrument Cluster | 6 | — | — | 63,925 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Hub | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
62,833
Instrument Cluster
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,925
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Hub
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Pontiac Sunfire Years
2004 Pontiac Sunfire — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2004 Pontiac Sunfire has 41 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (7 complaints, avg 62,833 mi); Instrument Cluster (6 complaints, avg 63,925 mi); Engine Problems (3 complaints). 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 2004 Pontiac Sunfire?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 63,337 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire include 4 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 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 2004 Pontiac Sunfire have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2004 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 2004 Pontiac Sunfire?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
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 2004 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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