Model year guide

2002 Pontiac Sunfire

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 16 on record.

2002 Pontiac Sunfire — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2002 Pontiac Sunfire at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints91
Combined21–25 mpg
Typical price$1,265

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2002 Pontiac Sunfire recalls 2

Steering NHTSA Campaign #08E063000 · 17/10/2008

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WEL…

Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.

Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:pressure Relief Devices NHTSA Campaign #07E021000 · 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2002 Pontiac Sunfire common problems

Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

2002 Pontiac Sunfire safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2002 Pontiac Sunfire MPG & running costs

Combined21–25 mpg
City20 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,867

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire worth?

Low
$850
Typical price
$1,265
High
$2,500

From 10 comparable 2002 Pontiac Sunfire listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,335
Depreciation (5 yrs)$600
Total$14,935
Per mile$0.20

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($1,265) with the same model 3 model-years older ($911), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2002 Pontiac Sunfire trims & engines on record

Trims
SE
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl · 2.4L 4-cyl · 2.2L 4-cyl 170 hp

2002 Pontiac Sunfire vehicles on record

2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124827263484 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124227396919 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124427260680 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB524X27199102 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB524327276831 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124527473136 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124727385544 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB12F427299934 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB52T527186524 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124527201380 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124927335602 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB12F127246530 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124027160978 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124427103344 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB124X27104868 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE1G2JB52T527172123

Other Pontiac Sunfire model years

2005 2004 2003 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

2002 Pontiac Sunfire — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire?

Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, power train, steering.

What is the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 1★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire get?

The 2002 Pontiac Sunfire has U.S. EPA estimates of 21–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

How much is a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire worth?

Comparable 2002 Pontiac Sunfire listings run roughly $850–$2,500, typically around $1,265 (from 10 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.