FaultScore report
Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 1985 Pontiac Firebird with NHTSA between 1995 and 2008. The largest single group is the seat belts.
22
Complaints
3
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
2 complaints report a death.
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.
Median failure at 100,000 miles
0 crashes, 2 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
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.
THROTTLE STICKING
REAR AXLE SHAFT FAILURE
REAR DISC BRAKES
SAFETY BUCKLE BREAKAGE
SAFETY BELT BUCKLE BREAKAG
SUMMARY:REPORTEDLY THE PLASTIC BUCKLE COVER BREAKS AND PIECES FALLINTO THE BUCKLE MECHANISM MAKING THE BUCKLE INOPERATIVE.===
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.
FRAME CRACKING
SUMMARY: GM'S MAY '88 TSB CONCERNS REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR FRAME RAIL CRACKING ON 82-85 CAMAROS. ODI DATA BASE CONTAINS THREE REPORTS OF FRAME RAIL CRACKING ON CAMAROS AND FIREBIRDS.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS
SUMMARY:GM BELIEVES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED THROUGH ITS PUBLI-CATION OF 7 SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IN ADDITION, GMDOES NOT BELIEVE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.ANALYSIS: THREE FAILURE MODES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED; INSULATING FILM MAYBUILD UP BETWEEN THE BRUSH FACE AND THE COMMUTATOR OF THE WIPER MOTOR,CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE WIPER MOTOR BRUSH AND DISENGAGEMENT OF THEWIPER ARMS MAY OCCUR. IN VIEW OF THE EXISTING LEGAL PRECEDENT, THE LARGENUMBER OF WARRANTY CLAIMS CONCERNING WIPER MOTOR FAILURES (114,000) ANDTHE HIGH WIPER MOTOR AND MOTOR KIT PART S...
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 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.
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the seat belt buckle assemblies may not latch or release due to fracture of the red push button. This would prevent a person from using his or her seat belt thereby increasing the risk of injury in the event of a sudden stop or collision. Correction: Seat belt buckles will be inspected and defective assemblies will be replaced.
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS.
Engine
Certain Camaro, Firebird, Monte Carlo and Grand Prix equipped with a 5.0L engine, and 5.7L Corvettes. High ignition coil temperatures combined with the stress of higher voltage may break down the coating of the high output ignition coil secondary windings. Declining ignition voltage may lead to engine misfire, hesitation sags or no re-start. Depending on road condition, this could result in a significant safety hazard. Correction: High output ignition coil will be replace, spark plug gap will be revised and a spark plug gap revision label will be installed.
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the front seat shoulder belt webbing may not retract into the retractor. This condition may be caused when the plastic spring cover becomes dislodged allowing the unwinding of the retractor spring. In the event of a vehicle crash in which belt restraint is required, failure of a front seat belt would increase the likelihood of injury to the wearer of the seat belt.
Brakes
On certain vehicles, the rear brake backing plates may develop a corrosion condition which could result in loss of rear brake fluid and loss of rear braking capabilities. This recall affects vehicles sold in the Maritime provinces only.
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE LEFT REAR AREA, BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY A FUEL LINE CONNECTOR.
NHTSA complaint #530177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
VEHICLE FIRE UNDERNEATH REAR OF VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #500774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
VEHICLE FIRE UNDERNEATH REAR OF VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #500774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH SLID AND WENT TO THE CRUB AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAD UNLOCKED AND THE SPRING FROM THE SEAT BELT WAS FOUND ON THE FLOOR. TT
NHTSA complaint #977569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SEAT BELT BROKEN. TT
NHTSA complaint #964889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
CONSUMER'S SON WAS KILLED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE; HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE; SPEED (BOTH CARS) 55 MPH; T-TOP DISCONNECTED; VEHICLE TOTALED.GLASS CUT SPINAL CORD.
NHTSA complaint #964889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V055000 (PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL). THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE REAR DISC BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING AND FEELS THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10229645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE ARE TWO NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGN 85V169000 AND 91V055000 CONCERNING THE FRONT SEAT BELT WEBBING AND PARKING BRAKE. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALLS, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10143433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE ARE TWO NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGN 85V169000 AND 91V055000 CONCERNING THE FRONT SEAT BELT WEBBING AND PARKING BRAKE. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALLS, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10143433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
UPON RECEIVING MY 1985 PONTIAC FIREBIRD, THE SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. THE RETRACTING BELT IN THE CEILING WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE UNIT ON BOTH SIDES AND THE PLASTIC ON THE LOCKING PIECE NEXT TO THE SEAT IS DESTROYED BY UV RAYS. THE LOCKING PART DOES NOT WORK. THERE IS A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THIS CAR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 85V169000 AND 90V105000 BUT WHEN I CALL GM, THEY ASK FOR MY VIN AND THEN TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10141452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
UPON RECEIVING MY 1985 PONTIAC FIREBIRD, THE SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. THE RETRACTING BELT IN THE CEILING WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE UNIT ON BOTH SIDES AND THE PLASTIC ON THE LOCKING PIECE NEXT TO THE SEAT IS DESTROYED BY UV RAYS. THE LOCKING PART DOES NOT WORK. THERE IS A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THIS CAR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 85V169000 AND 90V105000 BUT WHEN I CALL GM, THEY ASK FOR MY VIN AND THEN TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10141452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE REMEDY SCOPE FOR RECALL 90V105000 SUBJECT: INTERIOR SYSTEMS: ACTIVE RESTRAINTS: BELT BUCKLES. MANUFACTURER HAS NO RECORD OF THE RECALL, AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS UNTIL RECALL IS VERIFIED. CONSUMER DOES HAVE A COPY OF THE RCALL NOTICE THAT WAS SENT BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10034377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
EACH OF THESE PROBLEMS HAS A CORRESPONDING RECALL. THE DEALER (WADE RAULERSON) CLAIMS MY VIN IS NO GOOD. THEIR SYSTEM RECEIVES AN ERROR. I CALLED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-762-2737. JOHN JONES WAS EXTREMELY RUDE AND UNHELPFUL. HE HUNG UP THE PHONE. HE DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE VIN WAS WORKING WITH THEIR DEALER WORLD SERVICE, THE SAME SERVICE THAT ALL DEALERS USE. HE RECEIVED NO COMMENTS WITH MY VIN. HE COULD NOT VERIFY WHETHER THIS WORK HAD BEEN DONE UNDER THE RECALL OF A DIFFERENT OWNER. HE ONLY TOLD ME THAT SINCE THERE IS NOTHING COMING UP, THEN THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO, AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. GM IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT COOPERATING IN FIXING THESE SAFETY RELATED ISSUES (RECALLS). NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #755231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CAMPAIGN NUMBER 90V105000 APPEARS TO COVER THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #742419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPER STICKS CAUSING OVERHEATING AND UNEVEN BRAKING ABILITY ON ONE SIDE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #550046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RUST ACCUMULATION UNDER FLEX BRAKE HOSE CENTRE SUPPORT WHICH HAS CRIMPED HOSE AND CAUSING FLEX BRAKE LINE FAILURE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #550046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELTS DON'T WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT WON'T HOOK AT ALL, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT IS HARD TO HOOK IN, IT WOULD COME APART.
NHTSA complaint #836641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE LEFT REAR AREA, BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY A FUEL LINE CONNECTOR.
NHTSA complaint #530177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FEMALE PORTION OF ALL THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE BROKEN IN THE VEHICLE. CANNOT FASTEN THE SEAT BELTS. THESE BUCKLES HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #813148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY AFTER RECALL REPAIRS 90V-105.
NHTSA complaint #807282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE WHEN OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING.
NHTSA complaint #506332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
VEHICLE FIRE UNDERNEATH REAR OF VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #500774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
VEHICLE FIRE UNDERNEATH REAR OF VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #500774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH SLID AND WENT TO THE CRUB AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAD UNLOCKED AND THE SPRING FROM THE SEAT BELT WAS FOUND ON THE FLOOR. TT
NHTSA complaint #977569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SAFETY BELT REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #486194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SAFETY BELT BUCKLE REPLACED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #486194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SEAT BELT BROKEN. TT
NHTSA complaint #964889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
CONSUMER'S SON WAS KILLED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE; HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE; SPEED (BOTH CARS) 55 MPH; T-TOP DISCONNECTED; VEHICLE TOTALED.GLASS CUT SPINAL CORD.
NHTSA complaint #964889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.