1991 Pontiac Sunbird: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 27 owner complaints on record; most reports concern engine and engine cooling; the 1990 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Had vehicle in reverse & backing out of parking lot. The throttle stuck & vehicle took off. Vehicle had front wheel drive & the wheels just kept spinning. Will be taking vehicle to dealer. *ak”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jul 1999
“Engine head gasket cracked, causing the oil and the coolant to mix together and leak, may have caused fire or engine damages. Common problem. Please provide further information and VIN#. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 1998
“When my cooling system was not working I brought my car back to the dealer that I bought the car from and when they replaced the fan motor they purposly put an extra washer on one side causing the fan to hit the radiator which then caused my head gasket to blow. I contacted the dealer again and was told that this was not their problem!! I then took my car to a shop in millax and had a different used engine placed in it now, this engine has no acceleration due to a bad cam shaft, so I again have to have my car repaired.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 1998
Show 7 more owner reports
“Shoulder portion of seat/lap belt failed to restrain upper portion of owner's body, allowing contact with steering wheel. *ak”Owner report · Seat Belts · Sep 1996
“The tension pully for the power steering is out of round and the belt keeps slipping off and causes loss of steering. Please describe. *ak”Owner report · Steering · May 1996
“Vehicle was parked put gears into reverse, acclerator pedal stuck to floor, put into drive impact 12:00 psotion speed unknown. Tt”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 1995
“Drivers head hit seat belt molding when struck on side. Vehicle equipped automatic seat belts with separate lap. Please describe details. Tt”Owner report · Seat Belts · Aug 1995
“Consumer experienced complete failure of engine cooling system,causing the vehcile to shutdown which could have resulted in an accident.the vehicle has been at the dealer 3 times, and almost the entire cooling system parts have been replaced, but defect is still occurring. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling
“Brakes did not seem to stop vehicle within a reasonable distance and had a soft pedal. In addition, when vehicle is cold and has not been driven recently when transmission is placed in reverse/drive it will not go into gear at once and then lurches into gear. *ak”Owner report · Power Train
“The engine has a malfunction that causes the car to not accelerate very fast. Dealer replaced first engine, and now the second is malfunctioning. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling
When filing, owners marked a crash in 6 of these complaints and injuries in 6 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
FRONT DOOR INTERLOCK STRIKER MAY FAIL, CAUSING DOOR FRAME COLLAPSE AND INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE.
Remedy: REPLACE THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT INTERLOCK STRIKER STUDS ON FRONT DOORS.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.
Remedy: INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.
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 THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sunbird by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird reliable?
NHTSA has 27 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling.
Does the 1991 Pontiac Sunbird have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning structure:body:door:hinge and attachments. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.