Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||||
| 3447 | 10017086 | 4t40e or 4t45e will not shift no diagnostic trouble codes. *tt | 10/24/2005 | ||
| 030730021 | 05/01/2003 | 10002392 | Neutral flare and/or rpm flare while in drive, no 1-2 upshift, service engine soon (ses) light illuminated, diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p1810, diagnostic trouble code p1815 set. *tt | 08/27/2003 | |
| 020730050 | 12/01/2002 | 10000759 | Engineering changes to the valve body, pressure regulator valve, 2-3 accumulator valve and bore for 2002-2003 model year 4t45e transaxles and subsequent overhaul procedures which affect 1995-2001 model year transaxles. *tt | 03/28/2003 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 3253 | 3253B | 10017096 | Vehicle will not move in either direction. transmission may show over full. p90 4t40e 4t45e no movement drive or reverse. converter may be empty of fluid. *tt | 10/24/2005 | |
| 030730021A | 11/01/2003 | 030730021 | 10005579 | Neutral flare and/or rpm flare while in drive, no 1-2 upshift, service engine soon (ses) light illuminated, diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p1810, diagnostic trouble code p1815 set. *tt | 03/04/2004 |
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 990730030A | 04/01/2001 | 990730030 | 619370 | Owners of some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3t40, 4t60, 4t60-e or 4t65-e transaxles may comment on a grinding and / or growling noise that is noticeable when standing in park on a hill or slope with the engine running and the parking | 05/24/2001 |
| 990730030 | 12/01/1999 | 575113 | 6089996 | Some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3t40, 4t60 or 4t60-e transxales may comment on a grinding and / or growling noise that is noticeable when in park on incline. *tt | 03/01/2000 |
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 677160 | 02/01/1997 | 52592 | Delay engagement into drive after cold soak (replace with revised forward clutch housing assembly complete). *tw | 08/21/1997 | |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT | |||||
| 637205 | 01/01/1997 | 51268 | Leak in the axle seal area (shorten vent hose). *tw | 06/27/1997 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 10/14/2007 | 10500 | 2 | |
| When turning off a road onto a highway, i noticed that the car was stuck in 2nd gear. i carefully drove to the nearest gas station. now the car won't engage on reverse, drive, 2nd & 1st. *tr | |||
| 05/29/2003 | 08/10/1998 | ||
| -the horn on 1996 pontiac sunfire has quit working and been repaired three times. the people at the shop said that it was getting wet apparently everytime i went through water because of it being pointed downward. -the muffler has been fixed three times -there are more that i can not remeber right off hand -their is an electrical problem with the whole car. the light on the radio time and staion display has not worked since i bought it, the driver's rear door light has not come on, the passenger rear window lets down but will not let up when needed since right after i got the car, the lights in the dashboard go on and off without even being touched, while riding down the road, the widshield wipers will just come on without being turned on and then stop halfway down impairing vision, the passenger rear tail light blows all of the time, it has never stayed with a bulb that works, etc. -the valve cover gasket leaks and has leaked since i got it -the gas light will not tell you when you are running low on fuel -the radio will eat your tapes since i got the carthe transmission has been replace on the car with less than 80,000 miles on it -the rack and pinion had to be replaced a few years ago along with the complete brake system the power steering has leaked fluid and will stop turning in the middle of a turn. i have almost wrecked on it sveral times because of it and the brakes. -the air conditioning compressor works when it gets ready to if even then and has always done that. | |||
| 01/27/2001 | 1 | 05/01/1996 | |
| Total transmission failure with no warning at all.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Transmission failure, dealer replaced transmission, consumer wants reimbursement. *slc | |||
| 11/15/1999 | 0 | ||
| In the morning when moving the pawl from park to drive, and when transmission shifts from first to second gear, vehicle will feel like somebody had bumped it on the rear. taken to a technician who said that problem was with the power control module. *ak | |||
| 07/07/1999 | |||
| When driving at any speed vehicle won't shift. also, vehicle vibrates due to the governor gear inside transmission malfunctioning. *ak | |||
| 02/13/1999 | 1 | 01/01/1996 | |
| Transmission failure seems to occur with no warning. this vehicle was 4 weeks passed the 3- year warranty when the transmissiom flew apart. pontiac would not cover any cost of replacement. the transmission had a defective part, and should not have failed. i have owned gm products for over ten years. gm has now lost a customer. *ak | |||
| 06/26/1996 | 5 | 06/01/1996 | |
| I have constant problems with this vehicle. major difficulty stopping when pavement is wet. my complet brake and rotors have been replaced on at least 3 occasions. i've also had problems with leaks, right rear window has been replaced. problems with vibration when at a standstill, almost losing power. smell of gas fumes. problems with the transmission. *ak | |||
| 04/15/1998 | 1 | 12/21/1995 | |
| Transmission drum weld broke causing the gears to jump. | |||
| 04/15/1998 | 1 | 12/21/1995 | |
| The automatic transmission input drum broke where the shaft and the drum was welded together. | |||
| 1 | 03/01/1996 | ||
| Transmission lagging time is abnormal. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||
| 1 | 03/01/1996 | ||
| Enhanced traction system failed, causing drive tires to lose traction during hard exhilaration, or icy/wet conditions. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | |||
| 07/18/1996 | 1 | 07/10/1996 | |
| Shift cable failed. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER | |||
| 01/30/1999 | 1 | 10/01/1996 | |
| On 01/30/1999 after makeing a left hand turn my car lost all power. after having it towed to browns transmission service inc, 1035 wells ave, newark oh,43055; i found out that the transmission would need to be over hauled to replace the torc converter. the repair bill was $960.00. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/04/2001 | 1 | 08/01/2000 | |
| Right axle broke out of the transmission jerking the car harshly to the right and into a curb,front right tire was pushed back to where the front right clip and the door jam meet. *ak | |||
| 07/08/1996 | 4 | 09/07/1995 | |
| Engine oil pan gasket failed, resultin gin an oil leak, also replaced transaxle and stereo. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||
| 10/01/1996 | |||
| Engine runs hot at the very top of the gauge just before the over-heating mark on the gauge. losing coolant. car some times has trouble starting and back-fires. water pump had to be replaced at 43,000 miles as it had a hole in it and was leaking. oil leaks in several places, oil coming out of exhaust pipe, check engine light keeps coming on. replaced gasket between the transmission and engine due leaks. currently, the clutch sticks intermittently and i sometimes can't get the transmission to go into reverse. had to replace high-pressure power steering pump due to leaks. electrical system currently has a problem whereby i can't turn on the car alarm, the sensor alarms don't function right, drivers-side window only works intermittently and i've burned-out about 5 fues in six months. driver's leather seats ripped at the sewed ribbing at around 15,000. the trunk hydraulic lift pumps stopped working at 25,000 miles, and the trunk-lid wouldn't stay up and it's a heavy trunk lid to hold open and try to put something it at the same time. back-up lights stopped working at 10,000 miles. driver's-side seatbelt is twisted, and the seat casing holder for the seat adjustment broke-off. there has always been a rattle in the right rear trunk area?*ak | |||
| Consumer had the clutch replaced three times, this is the fourth one that's in. pontiac says clutch slipping cannot be duplicated. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 05/01/2011 | 75000 | ||
| Numerous failures with my car i am only listing the ones which have happened more than once 1..transmission failure, transmission failed 3 times first time while traveling 35mph car came to a dead stop tires locked up, car would not even roll, causing near accident. 2...window motors failed twice on each each door of my 4 door car 3...headlight switch has failed 3 times causing dangerous situation at night 4...severe water leak in trunk area , water getting in through fender well or trunk underbody, caused so much to puddle up a mushroom started growing from back seat,... water puddled underneath carpet in spare tire area so it was not visible to naked eye, but was sloshing back and forth with every stop and go of vehicle still to this day have not been able to pinpoint exact location water is getting in although it for sure is from underbody 5... other defects include radio display lights fail on 2 radios, seatbelts and steering wheel become too hot in summer brake pads wear unevenly,,,, fuel pumps go out often | |||
| 10/02/2002 | |||
| Consumer states that after recall was done,the engine light and other warning lights came on and vehicle would not accelerate. mr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION - SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR | |||
| 09/19/1997 | |||
| Vehicle never shifted into park even though the indicator showed park position, resulted in a roll away,tightened the shifter cable it was loose. | |||