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Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (1)
Exterior lighting: turn signal
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN ADDITION, IF ONE BULBS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE REMAINING BULB WAS ACTIVATED. IF BOTH LAMPS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.
Risk and remedy
Risk: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
Canadian recalls (1)
Show 1 Canadian recall
Lights and instruments
2004-10-29 · campaign 2004-388
Certain vehicles were produced without the required dielectric grease being applied to the rear light bulb socket assemblies. Absence of the grease can result in electrical arcing between the light bulb major filament contact and the socket terminal that can render the stop and turn signal bulb inoperative. An inoperative rear turn signal lamp will not convey the driver's intention to turn to drivers in following vehicles. If a stop lamp is inoperative, indication of brake application to a following vehicle will be reduced, although during braking, warning to the rear of the vehicle will be conveyed by the remaining functional stop lamp and the center high-mounted stop lamp. Correction: Dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb socket assemblies.
Owner complaints (72)
Owners filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire (4 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries reported). Among 14 model years of this model, it ranks #8 for the most complaints (median 82).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Exterior lighting | 25 | |
| Electrical system | 23 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 6 | |
| Air bags | 6 | |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 5 | |
| Power train | 4 | |
| Visibility | 4 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2003 Pontiac Sunfire 2-DR. | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2003 Pontiac Sunfire version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Sunfire 2.2 L Automatic 4-spd | 21 | 30 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Sunfire 2.2 L Manual 5-spd | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,700 |
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Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.