Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1989 Pontiac Firebird
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
834.8%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Brakes
313.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Equipment & Accessories
28.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
28.7%
Steering
28.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
28.7%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Doors, Latches & Locks
14.3%
Tires
14.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
14.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
14.3%
When owners complained
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.
Jan 1995peak 2Mar 2024
Recalls on the 1989 Pontiac Firebird
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 1990091106,318 units in Canada
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.
Recall 1990081603 units in Canada
Fuel System
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8.L V6 ENGINES. THE FUEL FEED HOSES MAY PULL OUT OF THE CRIMPED COUPLING AT THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CORRECTION: A REDESIGNED FUEL FEED HOSE WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Pachuta, MSFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS HAPPENED WAS UNDETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10113605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Patrick, SCCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
WHEN SON APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. DRIVER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, WHERE THE BRAKE BOOSTER ROD CLIP WAS FOUND BROKEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #830673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Puente, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE SURGED LIKE THE DRIVER WAS STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE ZOOMED RIGHT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD, BACK END FIRST HITTING A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP TO BE CHECK FOR TROUBLE. A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED LIKE THIS IN JULY OF 1993 AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE SYSTEM WILL JUST KICK BACK IN.
NHTSA complaint #818585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID COLLISION, WAS REAR ENDED AT APPROX. 25MPH; UPON IMPACT, SHOULDER/LAP BELT FAILED TO RETRACT ENOUGH. ALSO, FEMALE PORTION (PLASTIC COVER) BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CRACKED IN HALF, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY AS RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #812531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE DRIVING STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID COLLISION, WAS REAR ENDED AT APPROX. 25MPH; UPON IMPACT, SHOULDER/LAP BELT FAILED TO RETRACT ENOUGH. ALSO, FEMALE PORTION (PLASTIC COVER) BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CRACKED IN HALF, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY AS RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #812531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunnellon, FLCrash
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CAPABILITY WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, COULDN'T TURN RIGHT OR LEFT, UPON BRAKING VEHICLE SPINNED OUT, THEN ROLLED OVER.
NHTSA complaint #980625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Woodsboro, MD
SEAT BELTS
The seatbelts do not click into the buckle properly and the springs have broken.
NHTSA complaint #11577040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown, DC
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO RECALL CONCERNS FOR 1989 FIREBIRD . *MR THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY LEAVING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SLACK.
NHTSA complaint #10120394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pachuta, MSFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS HAPPENED WAS UNDETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10113605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crossville, TN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
GM WON'T FIX THE RECALLS FOR MY 1989 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THEY SAY THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE, BUT THERE ARE.
NHTSA complaint #10062719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crossville, TN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
GM WON'T FIX THE RECALLS FOR MY 1989 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THEY SAY THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE, BUT THERE ARE.
NHTSA complaint #10062719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fredericksburg, VA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, STEERING COLUMN BROKE INSIDE HOUSING AND CAUSED STEERING WHEEL TWO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE GOING INTO A COMPLETE CIRCLE ON A BUSY STREET. CONSUMER FELT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *AK THE STEERING COLUMN/HOUSING WAS REPLACED, THE 4 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE COLUMN TO THE HOUSING GET FATIGUED AND BREAK AFTER YEARS OF PEOPLE PUSHING AGAINST THE COLUMN TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8017282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNK, UN
TIRES
2 OUT OF 3 ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TRIATHLON II TIRES ARE CRACKING AROUND THE TIRE ALONG THE RADIAL. NLM
NHTSA complaint #555174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olympia, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT SEAT BELTS BUCKLE BUT DO NOT PROVIDE ANY RESTRAINT, EVEN WHEN STOPPING AT A HIGH SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #711608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cherry Hill, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES, AIR CONDITIONING, POWER DOOR LOCKS, HORN RELA
NHTSA complaint #537642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deer Park, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxnard, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 90V105000 MY CAR WAS INSPECTED AT THE FIRST DEALER SERVICE AND FOUND THAT THE BUCKLES WERE OK. THE NATURE OF THIS DEFECT IS THAT THE CAR AND INTERIOR NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO DIRECT SUN LIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES, THIS CAR HAS LITTLE SUN EXPOSURE (ABOUT 12 DAYS A YEAR) UNTILL 2 YEARS AGO, NOW IT IS STORED OUT SIDE AND NOW THIS DEFECT HAS OCCURRED. A LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS NO LONGER COVERED BY THIS RECALL. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS ON GETTING THIS REPAIRED?? THANKS
NHTSA complaint #702138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Patrick, SCCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
WHEN SON APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. DRIVER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, WHERE THE BRAKE BOOSTER ROD CLIP WAS FOUND BROKEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #830673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Puente, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE SURGED LIKE THE DRIVER WAS STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE ZOOMED RIGHT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD, BACK END FIRST HITTING A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP TO BE CHECK FOR TROUBLE. A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED LIKE THIS IN JULY OF 1993 AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE SYSTEM WILL JUST KICK BACK IN.
NHTSA complaint #818585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID COLLISION, WAS REAR ENDED AT APPROX. 25MPH; UPON IMPACT, SHOULDER/LAP BELT FAILED TO RETRACT ENOUGH. ALSO, FEMALE PORTION (PLASTIC COVER) BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CRACKED IN HALF, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY AS RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #812531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE DRIVING STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID COLLISION, WAS REAR ENDED AT APPROX. 25MPH; UPON IMPACT, SHOULDER/LAP BELT FAILED TO RETRACT ENOUGH. ALSO, FEMALE PORTION (PLASTIC COVER) BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CRACKED IN HALF, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY AS RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #812531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunnellon, FLCrash
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CAPABILITY WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, COULDN'T TURN RIGHT OR LEFT, UPON BRAKING VEHICLE SPINNED OUT, THEN ROLLED OVER.
NHTSA complaint #980625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.