1992 Pontiac Sunbird
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Pontiac › Sunbird › 1992
These records cover every 1992 Pontiac Sunbird. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 1992 Pontiac Sunbird. Newest first.
Sabersport IS recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. these headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. the safety recall began on may 11, 2009. owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. during very cold weather, water thatn enters the accelerator control cable conduit freezes and causes the accelerator cable to develop a high effort or binding condition.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If this occurs, loss of normal throttle control can result, or the throttle will not return to idle when the accelerator pedal IS released, causing possible loss of control and an accident.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the accelerator control assembly.
The accelerator cable may have been kinked during vehicle assembly. The kink in the cable can cause either a high effort accelerator cable, sticking accelerator cable, or a broken accelerator cable.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the accelerator control cable sticks or breaks it canresult in loss of throttle control. If loss of throttle control occurs while thevehicle IS in motion, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
Remedy
Replace the accelerator control cable assembly.
The secondary hood latch spring IS improperly installed or missing, leading to a condition where the secondary hood latch does not engage the secondary striker.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the secondary hood latch IS not engaged, and theprimary hood latch was also not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. Ifthis occurs while the vehicle IS in motion, the hood may contact the windshield,reducing the forward vision area of the driver and a vehicle crash could occur.
Remedy
Inspect hood latch assemblies and, where necessary, install a new secondary hood latch spring.
Owner complaints
30 complaints3 involved a crash1 involved a fire1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Vehicle speed control › Cables
The accelerator cable on my sunbird keeps failing, causing abrubt malfunctions. it IS dangerous in the midst of traffic. this occurs usually on a cold or rainy day. the cable has been recalled on some sunbirds however; after phoning pontiac they informed me my car did not have such a recall. I…
The accelerator cable on my sunbird keeps failing, causing abrubt malfunctions. it IS dangerous in the midst of traffic. this occurs usually on a cold or rainy day. the cable has been recalled on some sunbirds however; after phoning pontiac they informed me my car did not have such a recall. I am unable to drive this car at this time and want some resolution. as I have kept it in excelent condition.i have had to exit the vehicle in traffic and pull on the cable myself. at one point the cable was stuck and the car accelerated on its own. *la
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
While vehicle was rear ended at 40 mph the driver seat to collapsed. Dealer and the manufacturer has not been notified at this time. feel free to provide any further information. *mr
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Vehicle speed control
When the car IS stopped the brakes release allowing the car to lurch forward without any warning. this failure has occcured numerous of times but the dealership says nothing IS wrong since the computer does not record any failure codes. this failure has occured with the original brakes system as well as the new brake drums and calipers.
- Structure › Body · Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
Wheel well rusted, causing shocks to come through the trunk, and the body frame of the vehicle to fall on the rear axle. This caused a momentary loss of control. manufacturer has been contacted. *ak
- Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft · Structure › Body › Hood · Structure › Body › Trunk lid
When I bought this car, I knew it had been in a wreck because the hood and trunk did not line up. Then I found out that 3 out of 4 wheel bearings were bad, but the auto dealer would not fix this, either. IS there any action I can take against them?
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
Problems of heating/cooling developed, leading to extensive service to correct. Gasket failure recognized by mechanic after replacing heater core and radiator failed to correct problems. (Sister's 1991 pont sunbird w/ same engine faled 6/99 while on highway)
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
While driving the vehicle stalled and died because the timing chain belt separated from vehicle. dealer has been notified. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
The brake line to the calipers & struts had been severed. Was losing brake fluid. When brakes were applied, the pedal went to the floor. Had no brakes. Will be taking to dealer for repairs. *ak
- Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle was involved in a collision at 45 mph, and the airbags did not deploy, resulting in minor injuries. the manufacturer has been notified. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
In cold weather the horn will become extremely cold and short out, causing the horn to go off continuosly without any stopping. have to remove the fuse before it will work! *Ak
- Seat belts
The seat belts are mounted into the doors the door came open with myself and I was nearly throwed out of the car if this car IS ever roll over and the doors coes open there are no seat belts there . *Ak
- Structure › Body › Door
Power door locks in both rear doors have failed.
- Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
Pin in differential broke and went into transmission locking all gears and exploding transmission into clutch and locking up front wheels.
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
While vehicle was parked for two days there was an electrical fire which started under the dash behind the glove box. the vehicle was totalled. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Intermittent stalling.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
When coming to a stop the vehicle engine shuts down, causing the vehicle to stall. *ak
- Vehicle speed control
While in a parking lot the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly twice and the owner could not control it. this vehicle has been involved in two diffrent recalls for the throttle and the problem has not been fixed. 93V190000. *ak
- Seat belts
The driver's side automatic shoulder belt IS inoperative when in use. please describe details. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Brake line hose broke, causing brake failure.
- Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers · Structure › Body
Horn wire shorted out, resulting in horn malfunctioning, also problems with firewall sealant
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper · Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
Steering knuckles failed. *Dh
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Failure of the driver and passenger side seat belt buckles, belt will not stay engaged in the buckle, seat will not retract. tt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
Rotors were replaced three times due to rust pits/pulsation.*sd
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
When apply the brake in dry condition brake grabs and release have ABS anti-lock brake . tt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
ABS brakes; warning intermittently may acknowledge failure. Brakes may lockup or brake pedal goes to floor. Please describe details. tt
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10009220Vehicles may set anyone or a combination of front-wheel speed sensor anti-lock brake system codes as intermittent or hard failures. Gm voicemail express.
- 10007816Anti-lock braking system (ABS) front wheel speed codes - jumper harness.
- 10007293ABS front wheel speed codes - jumper harness.
- 6089996Some 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.
- 619370Owners 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 brake not applied.
- 615073Some V6 engines may, on a very infrequent basis, have an oil odor condition that IS generally encountered after the engine's oil has been changed.typically the odor lasts approximately 1000 miles after the change of oil and then does not reappear until the next change of oil.
- 613590Information regarding snow intrusion into rear drum brake assemblies. **Mr
- 54419Comment that the ABS light IS on with diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) 46 and 86 set as current or history.
- 45881Grinding and/or growling noise in park on incline.*sd
- 43034Unknown
- 43021Unknown
- 37924General motors has determined that some 1992-93 pontiac sunbird model vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine may have been assembled with the incorrect coolant pump. Coolant may leak past the internal coolant pump seal and into the pump bearings. This may cause premature bearing failure resulting in a coolant pumping noise. If not repaired, this condition may result in a loose timing belt tensioner which could cause the engine to fail. To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers will inspect the vehicle's coolant pump and replace the pump if necessary.
- 37843Crunch noise from right side dash area when turning steering wheel.
- 37840Buzzing sound when rear defogger IS on.
Every Pontiac Sunbird model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.