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

1997 vs 1998 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 347 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 39.7% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

1997 184 complaints 1998 111 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 1997 share 1998 share Share change
STEERING 21.2% 9.9% ▼ 11.3 pts smaller share
ENGINE 14.1% 19.8% ▲ 5.7 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 6.5% 0.9% ▼ 5.6 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.6% 6.3% ▲ 4.7 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 0.5% 4.5% ▲ 4.0 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 12.5% 9.0% ▼ 3.5 pts smaller share
WHEELS not reported 2.7% ▲ 2.7 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 3.8% 1.8% ▼ 2.0 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 1.6% 3.6% ▲ 2.0 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 1.6% 3.6% ▲ 2.0 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3.3% 4.5% ▲ 1.2 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 4.4% 3.6% ▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 10.3% 9.9% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.5% 0.9% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13.6% 13.5% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 71.7% 78.4% ▲ 6.6 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1997 9

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

1998 7

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, STEERING, and WHEELS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
8 → 1
◆ Injuries
19 → 6