DEFECTFILE
Vehicles / Pontiac / Firebird

Pontiac Firebird

793 federal complaints across 21 model years (1982-2002) ยท 20 recall campaigns

Complaints by model year

Federal complaints filed against each model year of the Pontiac Firebird. Hover a bar for the count.

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Three most-complained-about yearsAll other years

Which years to avoid

Ranked from the same federal record. Click any year for its full file.

Years to look at twice

  1. 1995 Pontiac Firebird - 112 complaints
  2. 1998 Pontiac Firebird - 91 complaints
  3. 1999 Pontiac Firebird - 76 complaints
Highest raw complaint counts. Counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Quieter years

  1. 1996 Pontiac Firebird - 50 complaints
  2. 1997 Pontiac Firebird - 59 complaints
  3. 1994 Pontiac Firebird - 72 complaints
Fewest complaints among years with a meaningful record; the two newest model years are excluded because they have had little time to accumulate filings.

What fails, all years combined

Brakes
136
Electrical system
84
Fuel system
69
Seat belts
68
Engine & cooling
66
Power train
54

Every model year

Model yearComplaintsRecalls
2002 Pontiac Firebird481
2001 Pontiac Firebird360
2000 Pontiac Firebird350
1999 Pontiac Firebird761
1998 Pontiac Firebird910
1997 Pontiac Firebird591
1996 Pontiac Firebird500
1995 Pontiac Firebird1121
1994 Pontiac Firebird721
1993 Pontiac Firebird180
1992 Pontiac Firebird332
1991 Pontiac Firebird293
1990 Pontiac Firebird102
1989 Pontiac Firebird232
1988 Pontiac Firebird102
1987 Pontiac Firebird111
1986 Pontiac Firebird272
1985 Pontiac Firebird224
1984 Pontiac Firebird206
1983 Pontiac Firebird62
1982 Pontiac Firebird53

Recall campaigns, all years

Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Recall repairs are free at the dealer.

CampaignYearsComponentSummary
01V3810002002StructureVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHI
99V2390001999Power TrainVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RETAINING RING.
96V2190001997Seat BeltsTHESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS OUT OF DESIGN POSITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE RETRACTOR TO LOCK-UP ON SLOPES LESS SEVERE THAN THE FMVSS REQUIREMENT. THIS DO
95V0460001995SteeringTHE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED CAUSING THE SHAFT LOWER COUPLING TO LOOSEN AND ROTATE ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT.
94V0770001991-1992Fuel System, GasolineTHE FUEL FILLER NECK SOLDER JOINT CAN DEVELOP CRACKS OR PIN HOLE LEAKS, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE CRACKS AND HOLES CAN ALLOW FUEL VAPOR
93V1990001994Fuel System, GasolineTHE FUEL LINES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED AND MAY CONTACT THE "AIR" CHECK VALVE. THE HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM THE "AIR" CHECK VALVE COULD ALLOW IT TO MELT THROUGH AND
92V1540001992Power TrainTHE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE CAN SEPARATE.
91V0670001991Seat BeltsTHE METAL LATCHPLATES MAY NOT ENGAGE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES, CAUSING A "NO LATCH" CONDITION. MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE LATCHPLATE RELEASE FROM THE
91V0550001982-1986Parking BrakePARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
91V0310001991VisibilityPOOR BOND ADHESION BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD GLASS AND THE MOUNTING, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A COLLISION. THIS FAILS TO CONFORM WITH FMVSS
90V1150001988-1989Fuel System, GasolineFUEL FEED HOSES MAY PULL OUT OF THE CRIMPED COUPLING AT THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.
90V1140001990Fuel System, GasolineFUEL RETURN HOSES MAY BREAK AT EITHER CRIMPED COUPLING.
90V1050001984-1990Seat BeltsPLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLA
85V1690001983-1985Seat BeltsDISLOCATION OF A SPRING COVER WILL NOT ALLOW THE SHOULDER BELT TO RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ALTHOUGH INERTIAL FEATURE THAT LOCKS THE LAP BELT AND SHOULDE
85V0180001984-1985WheelsTHE HUB AREA OF THE WHEELS MAY NOT BE STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND THUS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE WHEELS COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CAR CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS
84V0930001984Service Brakes, HydraulicREAR BRAKE HOSES WERE NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 106, "BRAKE HOSES". HOSES COULD COME LOOSE FROM THE
84V0110001984SeatsSOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNC
82V0890001982Seat BeltsTHE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES". THE NON-COMPLIANCE EXISTS BECAUSE THE REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORA
82V0760001982Fuel System, GasolineFUEL TANK VENTILATOR VALVE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM MAY PRODUCE A LOUD AND PERSISTENT "WHISTLE" DURING VENTING OF THE TANK. IF THE FUEL FILLER CAP IS REMOVED WHILE THIS CONDITION EXISTS
81V0600001981Seat BeltsON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITIONS CONTAIN FIRST LOCK POSITIONS WHICH WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USED BY SMALLER PASSENGERS. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY W