FaultScore report
Owners have filed 44 complaints about the 1984 Pontiac Fiero with NHTSA between 1995 and 2013. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
44
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
REAR DISC BRAKES
REAR DISC BRAKES
SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.
THROTTLE CABLE BINDING
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TIE ROD BREAKAGE
TIE ROD BREAKAGE
ENGINE FIRES
ENGINE FIRES
REAR BRAKES
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:GMREVIEWED THE MATTER AND...HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED BRAKE CONDITION THAT REQUIRESFIELD CORRECTION.ANALYSIS:IT APPEARS THAT THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATION SYSTEM OR THEPISTONS WITHIN THE CALIPER CAN SEIZE PROHIBITING REAR DISC BRAKE FUNC-TION.A SEIZED CALIPERS CAN RESULT IN UNEVEN BRAKE OPERATION (PULL)AND/OR TOTAL LOSS OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FUNCTION.STATUS:TEST REQUEST AT ETF AND NEAR COMPLETION.AWAITING GM RESPONSE TO JUNE 17, 1988 INFORMATION REQUEST.===
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
SUMMARY: AMONG 135 COMPLAINTS, 122 FIRES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. POSSIBLECAUSES INCLUDE 13 DUE TO COOLANT LEAKS, 16 FROM FUEL LEAKS, 8 CAUSED BYBATTERY CABLE RUBBING ON ENGINE BLOCK,26 DUE TO OIL LEAKS RESULTINGFROM CONNECTING ROD FAILURE, 12 FROM ELECTRICAL WIRE SHORTS, AND 59 UN-IDENTIFIED.AS OF 12/14/87, 238 FIRE REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.STATUS:TEST REQUEST SENT TO ETF 12/11/86. FIRST IR SENT 8/28/86,RESPONSE DATED 10/30/86. SECOND IR SENT 12/11/86, PARTIAL IR RESPONSEDATED 2/5/87.REMAINDER OF RESPONSE DATED 5/12/87. RECALL REQUESTSENT TO GM ON 9/8/87.GM RESPONDED WITH RECALL 87V-181 ON 1...
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
Risk: PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DUE TO AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, THERE IS A RISK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
Risk: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DUE TO AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, THERE IS AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF CONNECTING ROD FAILURE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
Risk: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Brakes
On certain vehicles, the parking brake system may contain a non-functional parking brake adjuster. This may result in a gradual loss of parking brake effectiveness as the rear disc pads wear. As a result, the parking brake may not hold the vehicle on a steep incline. If the vehicle is parked with the transmission in neutral or a forward gear, the vehicle may roll away and result in personal injury or property damage. Correction: A new parking brake adjuster will be installed.
Engine
AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE RELATED FACTORS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHICH COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CORRECTION: A MANIFOLD BARRIER WILL BE INSTALLED, DECK LID SEALING WILL BE CHANGED AND UNDERHOOD FLUID AND WIRING SYSTEMS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED AS NECESSARY. ADDITIONALLY, 1984-86 VEHICLES WILL HAVE A NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD INSTALLED TO BRING THEM UP TO 1987-88 SPECIFICATIONS. NOTE: 2.5L 4 CYL ENGINES.
Engine
AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIROMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE FACTORS CAN RESULT IN AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. SUCH A FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CARRY OUT CERTAIN REPAIRS.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ENGINE
A FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY 1984 PONTIAC FIERO WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY DETERMINED AN OIL LIKE SUBSTANCE WAS SPRAYED ON THE MANIFOLD. MY FRIEND WAS ARRESTED FOR ARSON & I WAS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL SOLICITATION. AFTER GOING THROUGH THE COURT PROCEDURES AND BEING CONVICTED OF A FELONY I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM PONTIAC RECALLING MY CAR FOR POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE. THE CAR WAS ALREADY GONE THOUGH & I NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION AND HAVE HAD A FELONY RECORD FOLLOWING ME FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS! I WANT SOMETHING DONE TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10533104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES HE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTDUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-89-165)
NHTSA complaint #562258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. ANOTHER CONSUMER HELP PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE WIRES HAD BURNED UP. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS GETTING TOO HOT AND CATCHING ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #832741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ON THE ENGINE . OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A SLOPE FIRE CAME OUT FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #817643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #502074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, LEFT VEHICLE, FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD SUDDENLY, ENTIRE FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #985801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 PONTIAC FIERO (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD BOLT WOULD BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE CAUSED OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND ENGINE BLOCK. IN ADDITION, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
NHTSA complaint #10555740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
A FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY 1984 PONTIAC FIERO WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY DETERMINED AN OIL LIKE SUBSTANCE WAS SPRAYED ON THE MANIFOLD. MY FRIEND WAS ARRESTED FOR ARSON & I WAS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL SOLICITATION. AFTER GOING THROUGH THE COURT PROCEDURES AND BEING CONVICTED OF A FELONY I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM PONTIAC RECALLING MY CAR FOR POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE. THE CAR WAS ALREADY GONE THOUGH & I NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION AND HAVE HAD A FELONY RECORD FOLLOWING ME FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS! I WANT SOMETHING DONE TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10533104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 1984 PONTIAC FIERO ON APRIL, 4 2003. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE SAFETY RECALL ON THIS AUTO. FROM THE INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 89V232000 CONCERNING ENGINE FIRE APPLIES TO THIS AUTOMOBILE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS SAFETY RECALL AND DETERMINED THE REQUIRED WORK HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON MY AUTO. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS RECALL EITHER HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE, OR THAT IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY AUTO. BY THE INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND ALL 1984 FIERO'S WERE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE VIN NUMBER OF MY AUTO IS [XXX]. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO DETERMINE IF THE ABOVE RECALL DOES OR DOES NOT APPLY TO MY AUTO. IF IT DOES, IT APPEARS THAT I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING PONTIAC TO PERFORM THE SPECIFIED SERVICE TO THIS AUTOMOBILE. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10033074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
RECALL 89 V 232 000 ENGINE. CONSUNER STATES THAT THE DEALER ( TOM WOOD PPONTIAC INDIANOPOLIS, IN 317-352-9311) IS REFUSING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8018604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES HE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTDUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-89-165)
NHTSA complaint #562258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE HAS A LOUD KNOCKING/RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE BLOCK IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CONNECTING ROD IS ABOUT TO COME APART , I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AFTER I FOUND A CAMPAIGN ON THE PONTAIC FIERO ENGINES. AND THE CANT TELL ME IF THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED OR NOT THEY JUST TOLD ME THERE IS NO OPEN CAMPAIGN ON THE VEHICLE AND I ALSO CALLED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS ON THE CAR. THE VECHICLE IS EXHIBITING THE SAME NOISE AS THE CAMPAIGN STATES.
NHTSA complaint #728851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUSING THE IGNITION SYSTEM NOT TO WORK. NLM
NHTSA complaint #783839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUSING THE IGNITION SYSTEM NOT TO WORK. NLM
NHTSA complaint #783839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE ENGINE IN THIS FIERO WAS ONE OF THOSE RECALLED. NO SAFETY DEFECT, REQUESTS RECALL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #720033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. ANOTHER CONSUMER HELP PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE WIRES HAD BURNED UP. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS GETTING TOO HOT AND CATCHING ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #832741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PONTIAC (800 PM-CARES) TOLD ME I HAD TWO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 1998. WHEN CALLED IN FEBRUARY OF 1999, THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE (NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE YET). WHEN CALLED IN MARCH OF 1998, THEY SAID THEY HAD NO VIN RECORDS FOR ANY 1980S CARS. LOCAL DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DO RECALL WITHOUT PONTIAC AUTHORIZATION. MORE THAN 25 OTHER PONTIAC FIERO OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES WITH ATTEMPTING TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #711511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #705468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #705468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #541044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO WIRING TO THE ECM BURNING UP.
NHTSA complaint #538415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ON THE ENGINE . OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A SLOPE FIRE CAME OUT FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #817643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER CLAIMS RECALL REPAIRS REGARDING POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRES WERE NOT DONE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT ABOUT RECALL, CLAIMING THEY ALREADY HAVE BEEN DONE (89V-232).
NHTSA complaint #520808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT WORKING BEFORE THE RECALL, AND AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WORKED ONLY FOR A MONTH. RECALL 91V-055000.
NHTSA complaint #816115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK DUE TO DRAINED BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #511877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PISTON RINGS AND BEARINGS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #511877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM EXHAUST.
NHTSA complaint #511877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE OIL LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #511877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
RADIATOR HOSES LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #511877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR PARKING BRAKE PROBLEMS, CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ENGINE. RECALL (91V-055).
NHTSA complaint #987231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP , PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #987066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.