1996 Pontiac Sunfire

The 1996 Pontiac Sunfire has 5 recalls, the most serious involving airbags that can deploy unexpectedly in low-speed impacts or minor floor pan strikes, and separately, airbags that can fire on their own after the vehicle is exposed to significant water.

On the mechanical side, the accelerator cable can kink, stick, or snap, causing the throttle to hang open or cut out entirely, which can result in unwanted acceleration or a sudden loss of engine response. A rear suspension trailing arm bolt can also break while driving, which affects vehicle control and can cause a crash without any warning beforehand. There is also an electrical issue where interior lamps can switch on by themselves five to thirty minutes after the car is started and cannot be turned off manually, though the lamp control module shuts them off after about thirty minutes.