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.
May 1995peak 3Jun 2008
NHTSA investigations into the 1988 Pontiac Fiero
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.
EA88036Opened 22 Jul 1988Closed 30 Aug 1991SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
Recalls on the 1988 Pontiac Fiero
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.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 19901018,919 units in Canada
Engine
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8 LITRE,6 CYLINDER ENGINES. AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHICH COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL HAVE A MANIFOLD DEFLECTOR INSTALLED, A PCV SYSTEM MODIFICATION, A MINOR CHANGE TO DECK LID SEALING AND A GENERAL INSPECTION (AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY) OF UNDERHOOD FLUID AND WIRING SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, 1985-86 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL HAVE A NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD INSTALLED TO BRING THEM UP TO 1987-88 SPECIFICATIONS.
Recall 199010017,419 units in Canada
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.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 106,986 milesMertztown, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 PONTIAC FIERO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE VAL COVER OF THE ENGINE. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT OIL WOULD DRIP ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSE A FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VAL COVER AND DRIP SHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,986.
NHTSA complaint #10232275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Durham, NC
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO AN ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH GM ABOUT NECESSARY RECALL WORK ON AN 1988 PONTIAC FIERO WHILE REPAIRING SOME ITEMS ON THIS AUTO, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE UNIVERSITY GM DEALERSHIP IN DURHAM, NC AND REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL ON DECEMBER 16, 2006. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN OFFICIALLY FROM GM WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE EVEN AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE. THEY ONLY RECENTLY EVEN ORDERED THE RECALL KIT ONLY TO THEN FIND OUT THE PARTS IN THAT KIT WERE ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. NOW, THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO AND THAT THEIR POSITION IS THAT THE RECALL WORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND SO THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER THEY WILL DO. I WOULD LIKE TO BOTH LODGE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR INACTION AND INABILITY TO OFFICIALLY CONFIRM THIS VEHICLE'S RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND ALSO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION FROM GM. I THINK GM AND THIS DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING IN PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION, PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS RECALL, AND I AM EXTREMELY DISPLEASED ABOUT THE TREATMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED. THIS VEHICLE, THOUGH OLD, WAS REFURBISHED INTO GOOD WORKING ORDER AND IS CURRENTLY ENSURED FOR AN AS-IS VALUE OF $3000. IT IS OUR FAMILY'S SECOND VEHICLE AND WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT IT FOR 2 MONTHS NOW, A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AND ISSUE FOR OUR FAMILY. I DO NOT BELIEVE GM AND THIS DEALERSHIP INACTION IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STIPULATIONS OF THE RECALL. I AM ULTIMATELY ONLY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION SHOWING THAT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP REMEDY THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10182573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Durham, NC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO AN ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH GM ABOUT NECESSARY RECALL WORK ON AN 1988 PONTIAC FIERO WHILE REPAIRING SOME ITEMS ON THIS AUTO, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE UNIVERSITY GM DEALERSHIP IN DURHAM, NC AND REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL ON DECEMBER 16, 2006. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN OFFICIALLY FROM GM WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE EVEN AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE. THEY ONLY RECENTLY EVEN ORDERED THE RECALL KIT ONLY TO THEN FIND OUT THE PARTS IN THAT KIT WERE ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. NOW, THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO AND THAT THEIR POSITION IS THAT THE RECALL WORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND SO THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER THEY WILL DO. I WOULD LIKE TO BOTH LODGE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR INACTION AND INABILITY TO OFFICIALLY CONFIRM THIS VEHICLE'S RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND ALSO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION FROM GM. I THINK GM AND THIS DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING IN PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION, PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS RECALL, AND I AM EXTREMELY DISPLEASED ABOUT THE TREATMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED. THIS VEHICLE, THOUGH OLD, WAS REFURBISHED INTO GOOD WORKING ORDER AND IS CURRENTLY ENSURED FOR AN AS-IS VALUE OF $3000. IT IS OUR FAMILY'S SECOND VEHICLE AND WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT IT FOR 2 MONTHS NOW, A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AND ISSUE FOR OUR FAMILY. I DO NOT BELIEVE GM AND THIS DEALERSHIP INACTION IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STIPULATIONS OF THE RECALL. I AM ULTIMATELY ONLY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION SHOWING THAT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP REMEDY THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10182573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,491 milesOttumwa, IA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BECAME LOUD AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS A RESULT OF THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THE BELT TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, STARTER (REPLACED FOUR TIMES), VALVE COVER GASKET (REPLACED TWICE), OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, HEATER HOSES, RADIATOR HOSES, AND RADIATOR FAN MOTOR WERE REPLACED. LAST WEEK THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE DEALER CONCERNING A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 89V232000 ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, ADDED AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAT SHIELD, REMOVED DUST SHIELDS FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND REPLACED A PART OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE. THE RECALL REMEDY AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO REPLACE ALL OF THE PARTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY THE CONTACT AS A RESULT OF DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE DEFECTIVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND DUST SHIELD. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE PARTS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE NOTIFICATION. THE CONTACT INQUIRED PREVIOUSLY WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NEVER AN OFFICIAL RECEIPT OF THIS 1989 RECALL UNTIL LAST WEEK. *AK UPDATED 04/11/06.
NHTSA complaint #10153437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 91,096 milesLOS Banos, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RECALLS 89V232000 AND 90V104000. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER ABOUT ABOVE RECALLS MENTIONED ON THE INTERNET. MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM THAT THE RECALLS WERE OVER, AND VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME ANTIFREEZE LEAKING AND ENGINE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10083576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orangeburg, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN - 88-C-24 MR
NHTSA complaint #768049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orangeburg, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DEALER CLAIMS RECALL 1988 C 24 IS NOT IN EFFECT DESPITE FACT THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS NEVER DONE NOR WAS I ADVISED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #765998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morgan Hill, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHEN VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK OF GAS THERE ARE FUEL AND AN OIL LEAKAGES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #895370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morgan Hill, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK OF GAS THERE ARE FUEL AND AN OIL LEAKAGES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #895370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Snohomish, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE 88C24; WHERE DEALERSHIP IS WILLING TO FIX ONLY A PART OF LISTED COMPONENTS ON VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #885328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plano, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE MECHANISM TO RAISE AND LOWER THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUES TO FAIL. REAR BRAKES WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #529678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plano, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
THE MECHANISM TO RAISE AND LOWER THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUES TO FAIL. REAR BRAKES WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #529678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plano, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHT MECHANISM CONTINUALLY FAILS, IT WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER. IN ADDITION, PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #529391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plano, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
THE HEADLIGHT MECHANISM CONTINUALLY FAILS, IT WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER. IN ADDITION, PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #529391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY DURING RECALL CAMPAIGN 88C24
NHTSA complaint #529771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
ENGINE FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIR DUE TO OLD PCV HOSE STILL BEING CONNECTED TO AIR CLEANER, CAUSING EXCESSIVE AIR AND FAILURE OF ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #519302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middletown, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THE BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE CALIPER (REAR), THE RIM WAS DAMAGED , THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BRACKET PADS WERE NO GOOD,AND THE BRAKE PAD ON THE LEFT REAR WAS SPLIT
NHTSA complaint #964595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middletown, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE CALIPER (REAR), THE RIM WAS DAMAGED , THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BRACKET PADS WERE NO GOOD,AND THE BRAKE PAD ON THE LEFT REAR WAS SPLIT
NHTSA complaint #964595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middletown, CT
WHEELS:RIM
THE BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE CALIPER (REAR), THE RIM WAS DAMAGED , THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BRACKET PADS WERE NO GOOD,AND THE BRAKE PAD ON THE LEFT REAR WAS SPLIT
NHTSA complaint #964595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.