FaultScore

Pontiac Fiero engine problems

90 of the 163 complaints filed about the Pontiac Fiero are about the engine — 55% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1984.

90

Complaints

55%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

14

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1984 Fiero 24 26.7%

Median failure at 45,550 miles

1985 Fiero 21 23.3%

Median failure at 97,500 miles

1986 Fiero 15 16.7%

Median failure at 98,000 miles

1987 Fiero 19 21.1%

Median failure at 133,000 miles

1988 Fiero 10 11.1%

Median failure at 106,986 miles

1994 Fiero 1 1.1%

What owners said

1987 Pontiac Fiero at 133,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

ENGINE

I AM BOTH COMPLAINING AND REQUESTING HELP. I HAVE A 1987 PONTIAC FIERO V6 WHICH WAS NEVER TAKEN IN FOR RECALL WORK AND AS A RESULT HAS SEVERE OVERHEATING ISSUES AND WILL OCCASIONALLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF OIL HITTING THE EXHAUST HEADERS. SAW THE RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE SO I TRIED TO CALL GENERAL MOTORS BUT THEY SAID THAT THEIR COMPUTERS NO LONGER HAVE RECORDS OF CARS AS OLD AS MINE AND THEREFORE THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. I CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP WHICH LOOKED UP THE NHTSA RECALL BULLETINS 88-C-23 AND 88-C-24 WHICH AFFECTS THE 1987 FIERO V6 REGARDING ENGINE FIRES BUT SAID THAT SINCE THE FIERO IS TOO OLD THE VIN DATA IS NO LONGER IN THE GM DATABASE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THE RECALL WORK. I REALIZE IT IS AN OLDER CAR BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED OR TOTALED. I TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY COULD GIVE ME THE RECALL PARTS I WOULD DO IT MYSELF, BUT THEY WANT O CHARGE ME AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR PARTS THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR. MY CAR HAS CLEARLY NEVER HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE, IT HAS NONE OF THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PARTS IN IT. ALL I WANT IS FOR GENERAL MOTORS TO HELP ME FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10621526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1984 Pontiac Fiero at 51,000 miles Port Charlotte, FL

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.

1987 Pontiac Fiero Peoria Heights, IL

ENGINE

I CALLED PONTIAC TODAY ABOUT A RECALL THEY ISSUED THESE CARS. ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENT THEY SENT THERE DEALERSHIP CARS MY CAR FALLS IN THIS RECALL AND THEY ARE STATING THEY HAVE NO RECALLS ON THIS CAR. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE, I KNOW THIS IS A OLDER CAR BUT THIS CAN STILL LEAD TO A SERIOUS MATTER OF WHY THEY DID THE RECALL AN ENGINE FIRE!! I TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUS AND I WANT TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THE CAR SHOWS NO SIGNS OF ANY RECALL BEING COMPLETED. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS RESOLVED??

NHTSA complaint #10553825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1984 Pontiac Fiero Vero Beach, FL Fire

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.

1985 Pontiac Fiero Renton, WA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

GM WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALLS ON MY CAR. I HAVE CALLED GM CUSTOMER CARE AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THEY WON'T HELP ME. IT HAS NOT BEEN THROUGH ANY OF THE 2 IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALLS APPLICABLE TO IT.

NHTSA complaint #10235825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1985 Pontiac Fiero Renton, WA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

GM WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALLS ON MY CAR. I HAVE CALLED GM CUSTOMER CARE AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THEY WON'T HELP ME. IT HAS NOT BEEN THROUGH ANY OF THE 2 IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALLS APPLICABLE TO IT.

NHTSA complaint #10235825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Pontiac Fiero at 106,986 miles Mertztown, 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.

1985 Pontiac Fiero at 115,000 miles Algoma, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

VEHICLE HAS EXHAUST LEAK. PER VIN # RECALL 88C24 APPLIES TO VEHICLE, I'VE READ THE RECALL INFO, AND THERE ARE NO UPDATED PARTS INSTALLED. IVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT CHECK FOR RECALLS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE CONTACTED PONTIAC THEY SAY THERE IS NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. YET PER THE INFO IT DOES APPLIY AND WAS NOT DONE, PONTIAC COULD NOT TELL ME IF IT WAS DONE PER THERE RECORDS. I'VE GOT A FILE # AT PONTIAC 71-611369143

NHTSA complaint #10221399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Pontiac Fiero 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.

1986 Pontiac Fiero Kentwood, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

RECALL TO MY 1986 PONTIAC FIERO (VIN# 1G2PF3795GP23433) WAS NEVER COMPLETED DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A SERIOUS RECALL, AS IT INVOLVED A POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. GM RECALL NUMBER 88-C-24A. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 6/21/2006, UNAWARE THAT THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE. I TRIED TO GET PONTIAC TO COVER THIS RECALL BUT THEY REFUSE. FOR MY SAFETY, I'M MOVING FORWARD AND PAYING FOR THE RECALL TO BE DONE FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE FROM PONTIAC.

NHTSA complaint #10161182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Pontiac Fiero at 114,491 miles Ottumwa, 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.

1988 Pontiac Fiero at 91,096 miles LOS 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.

1986 Pontiac Fiero at 98,000 miles Medford, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 90V104000 CONCERNING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. WHEN THE TRUNK IS OPENED IN THE RAIN WATER DRIPS THROUGH THE TRUNK ONTO THE OXYGEN SENSOR. A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED, BUT THE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10064605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1986 Pontiac Fiero Trenton, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE DUMPED OIL FROM THE ENGINE UPON STARTING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY RECALL INFORMATION FROM EITHER DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10048757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1986 Pontiac Fiero Trenton, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT OIL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE GROUND.

NHTSA complaint #10048784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1984 Pontiac Fiero at 40,100 miles Cassville, MO

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.

1985 Pontiac Fiero at 80,000 miles Rocky River, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO PONTIAC'S PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN #88-C-24 WHICH I CURRENTLY HAVE A COPY OF SAME. THE RECALL ADDRESSES COOLANT LEAKS, OIL LEAKS, AND IMPROPER SEALING OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT LID ALLOWING FOR PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE FRONT (LEFT) EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MY MANIFOLD IS CRACKED DUE TO SUCH DECK LID FAILURE. IN CONTACTING PONTIAC(GM), THEY ALSO STATE THAT EITHER MY VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE RECALL(NO RECALL CAMPAIGN STICKER ARE ATTACHED TO MY CAR), OR THAT THE DOCUMENT I POSSESS IS FRAUDULENT. PONTIAC WILL NOT ANSWER MY LETTERS IN WRITTEN FORMAT, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO DO SO. THEY ALSO STATE THAT THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER(88-C-24) DOES NOT EXIST IN THEIR FILES. I NEED HELP IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761457

NHTSA complaint #10009192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Pontiac Fiero 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.

1984 Pontiac Fiero Indianopolis, IN

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.

1988 Pontiac Fiero 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.