Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1996 vs 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 359 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 7.1% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

1996 198 complaints 1997 184 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1996 share 1997 share Share change
STEERING 7.6% 21.2% ▲ 13.6 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 7.6% 0.5% ▼ 7.0 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 3.0% 6.5% ▲ 3.5 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 15.2% 12.5% ▼ 2.7 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3.0% 1.6% ▼ 1.4 pts smaller share
ENGINE 15.2% 14.1% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
WHEELS 1.0% not reported ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 2.5% 1.6% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE 0.5% not reported ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
TIRES 1.0% 0.5% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 2.0% 1.6% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 4.0% 4.4% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3.5% 3.3% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 3.5% 3.8% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 10.1% 10.3% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13.6% 13.6% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 74.2% 71.7% ▼ 2.5 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1996 10

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING, and SUSPENSION

1997 9

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING, STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION, and WHEELS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
11 → 8
◆ Injuries
24 → 19