Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 Pontiac Firebird
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
440.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
220.0%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Seat Belts
110.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
110.0%
Steering
110.0%
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires
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.
Mar 1995peak 3Dec 2014
Recalls on the 1990 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 1990084214 units in Canada
Fuel System
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0 LITRE AND 5.7 LITRE ENGINES. VEHICLES MAY HAVE FUEL RETURN HOSES WHICH COULD BREAK AT EITHER OR BOTH CRIMPED COUPLINGS. IF A COUPLING WERE TO SEPARATE, FUEL LEAKAGE AND A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD RESULT. CORRECTION: A PROPERLY CRIMPED FUEL RETURN HOSE WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
FT. Myers, FLFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
PURCHASSED CAR 9/98 FROM ACCENT AUTO ANOTHER CHANCE FINANCE, RETURNED TO DEALER WITH OVERHEATING PROBLEMS NEXT DAY. THEY SAID IT WAS A MINOR PROBLEM & SAID IT WAS FIXED. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AT LEAST 1 TIME A MONTH. TOOK IT TO OTHER MECHANICS AND HAD MANY ITEMS FIXED BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING. FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE RIGHT ENGINE FOR THE CAR. CONTINUED TO HAVE HEATING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM AGAIN, THEY DID NOT. THE CAR STARTED BACKFIRING AND DIED. THE DEALER TOWED THE CAR, SAID THEY WOULD PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN. THIS TOOK 3/4WKS, I PICKED IT UP GOT TO WORK AND THE ENGINE DID THE SAME BACKFIRE & HEATING AS BEFORE. THEY TOWED IT AGAIN AND SAID THEY WOULD PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN. I TOOK IT FOR TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER, IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, THE DEALER DROVE IT BACK TO THE LOT AS FIRE STARTED COMING OUT OF ENGINE. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE DEALERS NON-COMPLIENCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. I HAD NO USE OF THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. NO LONER CAR TILL LAST 3 DAYS BEFORE GETTING CAR AGAIN. TODAY IS THE SECOND DAY I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK AND IT IS STARTING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN PICKED UP CAR WAS TOLD THAT I MADE THE PROBLEM BY OUTTING IN A RADIO! THEY SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND MADE ME PAY FOR FIXING THAT PROBLEM AND TOWING COSTS. DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY PAPER WORK ON REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ALSO WILL NOT GIVE ME COPY OF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CAR. I AM WORRIED THAT ENGINE WILL CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS AND PAY INSURANCE ON THIS CAR. I FEEL THE CAR IS DANGERIOUS AND DEALER WILL NOT MAKE PROPER REPAIR OR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. I DO THINK THAT THE ENGINE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR THEY WOULD GIVE ME RECEIPTS. I KNOW THIS CAR IS AND HAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAS TO DO W/ENGINE AND ACCENT AUTO KNOWS THAT. . MY LIFE IS IN DANGER DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK.
NHTSA complaint #708125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Adamsville, ALCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION (12:00) AT 45 MPH. TT
NHTSA complaint #978810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Moraga, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE FIRE WHEN TURNING ON IGNITION, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #963930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alameda, CAFire5 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #962861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Gaylord, MI
SEAT BELTS
INSIDE PLASTIC PARTS BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. REPLACEMENT DOES NOT STAY BUCKLED. RECALLS - SEARCH RESULTS SEARCH RESULTS REPORT DATE : DECEMBER 2, 2014 AT 11:21 PM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): CHEVROLET / CAMARO 1984-1990 PONTIAC / FIREBIRD 1984-1990 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: MAY 14, 1990 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 90V105000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA90001 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1,500,000 SUMMARY: PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS. CONSEQUENCE: THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. REMEDY: REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE. NOTES: SYSTEM: SEAT BELT BUCKLE.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10661845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT. Myers, FLFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
PURCHASSED CAR 9/98 FROM ACCENT AUTO ANOTHER CHANCE FINANCE, RETURNED TO DEALER WITH OVERHEATING PROBLEMS NEXT DAY. THEY SAID IT WAS A MINOR PROBLEM & SAID IT WAS FIXED. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AT LEAST 1 TIME A MONTH. TOOK IT TO OTHER MECHANICS AND HAD MANY ITEMS FIXED BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING. FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE RIGHT ENGINE FOR THE CAR. CONTINUED TO HAVE HEATING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM AGAIN, THEY DID NOT. THE CAR STARTED BACKFIRING AND DIED. THE DEALER TOWED THE CAR, SAID THEY WOULD PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN. THIS TOOK 3/4WKS, I PICKED IT UP GOT TO WORK AND THE ENGINE DID THE SAME BACKFIRE & HEATING AS BEFORE. THEY TOWED IT AGAIN AND SAID THEY WOULD PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN. I TOOK IT FOR TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER, IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, THE DEALER DROVE IT BACK TO THE LOT AS FIRE STARTED COMING OUT OF ENGINE. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE DEALERS NON-COMPLIENCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. I HAD NO USE OF THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. NO LONER CAR TILL LAST 3 DAYS BEFORE GETTING CAR AGAIN. TODAY IS THE SECOND DAY I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK AND IT IS STARTING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN PICKED UP CAR WAS TOLD THAT I MADE THE PROBLEM BY OUTTING IN A RADIO! THEY SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND MADE ME PAY FOR FIXING THAT PROBLEM AND TOWING COSTS. DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY PAPER WORK ON REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ALSO WILL NOT GIVE ME COPY OF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CAR. I AM WORRIED THAT ENGINE WILL CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS AND PAY INSURANCE ON THIS CAR. I FEEL THE CAR IS DANGERIOUS AND DEALER WILL NOT MAKE PROPER REPAIR OR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. I DO THINK THAT THE ENGINE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR THEY WOULD GIVE ME RECEIPTS. I KNOW THIS CAR IS AND HAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAS TO DO W/ENGINE AND ACCENT AUTO KNOWS THAT. . MY LIFE IS IN DANGER DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK.
NHTSA complaint #708125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Concord, CA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG IS COMING OUT CONSTANTLY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ANY REASON.PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Concord, CA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG IS COMING OUT CONSTANTLY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ANY REASON.PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Concord, CA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG IS COMING OUT CONSTANTLY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ANY REASON.PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Adamsville, ALCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION (12:00) AT 45 MPH. TT
NHTSA complaint #978810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malboro, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK WHEN VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #976165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newport News, VA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND FELL INTO DRVER'S LAP. TT
NHTSA complaint #963919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Moraga, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE FIRE WHEN TURNING ON IGNITION, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #963930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alameda, CAFire5 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #962861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.