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#BS-1986-PONSUN-7FB2

1986 Pontiac Sunbird

Based on reports from 6 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Recalls
2
TSBs
1
✅

Preliminary Verdict

Green Light

Based on 6 complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Steering:rack And PinionHIGH

2 owners reported steering:rack and pinion issues.

!Inspect the Engine And Engine Cooling:engineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 3 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering:rack And Pinion (2 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering:rack And Pinion2 (33%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine2 (33%)
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch1 (17%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings1 (17%)

1986 Pontiac Sunbird: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering:rack And Pinion Issues

Steering:rack And Pinion complaints account for 33% of all reports filed for the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 33% of all reports filed for the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch Issues

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings Issues

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

06E043000Oct 2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

86V056000May 1986

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Pontiac Sunbird is the 1994 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

1986 Pontiac Sunbird vs. Class Average (Subcompact Cars)

This vehicle

6

Class avg

10

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical subcompact cars vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 6 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Pontiac Sunbird Model Years

200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219801979197819771976
View all Pontiac Sunbird years →

1986 Pontiac Sunbird: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird is related to the steering:rack and pinion, with 2 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird reliable?
The 1986 Pontiac Sunbird has 6 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How much does it cost to fix 1986 Pontiac Sunbird problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird have any recalls?
Yes, the 1986 Pontiac Sunbird has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Pontiac Sunbird problems start?
Mileage data is limited for this vehicle. The full report analyzes available data to identify failure patterns by mileage range.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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