17 of the 72 complaints about the 1994 Pontiac Firebird are about the fuel system — 24% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.
17
Complaints
0
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
THE CAR ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE IS THE MAJOR THING, BUT ALSO YOU COULD ALWAYS HEAR NOISES FROM THE WHEELS GOT THEM INSPECTED TWICE AND THE PEOPLE SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #10135716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
GAS CAP FAILURE IN NORMAL USE ON 1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD FORMULA (V8 ENGINE ). (1) THREADED PORTION OF GAS CAP, PART THAT THREADS INTO THE FILLER TUBE, BECAME SWOLLEN THRU NORMAL USE (EXPOSURE TO NORMAL GASOLINE VAPORS), TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAP WOUOLD NO LONGER THREAD PROPERLY AND SEAL. (2) SINCE THE CAP COULD NOT BE PROPERLY THREADED INTO THE FILLER TUBE, THE GAS TANK LOST PROPER PRESURIZATION/VACUUM AND THIS AFFECTED GASOLINE VAPOR RECOVERY FROM THE TANK AND ULTIMATELY, WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, FROM THE VAPOR CANISTER. GASOLINE VAPORS WERE PRESENT IN MY GARAGE. SINCE THE SEAL WAS NOT CONTACTING THE FILLER TUBE, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME POSSIBILITY OF GASOLINE SPILLAGE IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER. (3) REPLACED THE CAP, DRIVEABILITY AND GAS MILEAGE INCREASED. CAN NO LONGER SMELL GASOLINE IN MY GARAGE. THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM IN THAT THE GAS CAP, MADE OF SOME SORT OF PLASTIC IS AFFECTED BY NORMAL GAOLINE VAPORS (THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE METHANOL ADDITIVE THAT IS FOUND AT MOST GAS STATIONS NOW-A-DAYS). THE PLASTIC SWELLS TO THE POINT THAT THE CAP IS DIFFICULT TO THREAD INTO THE FIILLER TUBE, CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN HEARING THE "THREE CLICKS", IT IS A FALSE TIGHTENING AND THE SEAL DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FILLER TUBE. SINCE THE SEAL DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT, DIRT AND OTHER CONTAMINATES WORK THEIR WAY UNDER THE SEAL AND FURTHER DETERIORATE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10100748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
NHTSA#93-V-199-000: FUEL LINES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED AND MAY CONTACT THE "AIR" CHECK VALVE. THE HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM THE "AIR" CHECK VALVE COULD ALLOW IT TO MELT THROUGH AND DAMAGE A FUEL LINE. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10024357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
APPARETLY A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED A FIRE, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #756738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR NON-SPECIFIC TIME. PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. NOTICABLE WHEN GETTING IN THE CAR TO START AND GO. SOMETIMES SO STRONG BOTH WINDOWS HAVE TO BE PUT DOWN IN ORDER TO BREATHE. IT GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND AIRED OUT. THIS CAN HAPPEN ONCE IN A DAY, OR WEEK, OR SEVERAL WEEKS, OR IT CAN GO ON ALL DAY, THEN NOT AGAIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. OR HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN A WEEK. THE GAS CAP IS TIGHT AND A VACUUM SOUND IS RELEASED WHEN THE CAP IS LOOSENED. THE SMELL IS NOT OBVIOUS OUTSIDE THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #741546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE FUEL LINES HAVE BEEN MISROUTED AND CONTACTED THE AIR CHECK VALVE WHICH BURNED AND DAMAGED OTHER PARTS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-4 WHEN CAR SEEM TO LOSE POWER, SO I TOOK NEXT AVAILABLE EXIT. I SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BACKFIRE. AT THAT MOMENT OF SHUT OFF SMOKE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BOTH SIDES AND THEN INTO THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. I AND PASSERBY'S TRIED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE BUT IT WAS TO HOT AND HOPELESS. FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED VERY QUICKLY BUT THE FRONT OF MY CAR IS COOKED. PLEASE HELP ME, THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY RIGHT TO THAT POINT! I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER FIRES. THIS MUST BE A DEFECT, THANK YOU MERRY KNUTSON
NHTSA complaint #709475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE CONSUMER HAD JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING FROM HOSE (HOT AIR HOSE BELOW FUEL LINE) WAS IN FLAMES. PUT THE FLAMES OUT. THE ENGINE WAS BURNT .RECALL 93V199000.
NHTSA complaint #841202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GAS SMELL AFTER RUNNING ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #705618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
IE97060, VEHICLE HAD A BURNED HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE, AFTER A DEALER INSPECTED THE FUEL LINES AND BELTS AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, WHICH CAUSED A FUEL LEAK AND RESULTED IN A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #836498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RUBBERIZED STYLE FUEL LINE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #534240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
PLASTIC FUEL LINE LOOM IS HELD IN PLACE WITH A PLASTIC CLIP SECURED TO THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER. WHEN CLIP POPS OUT DUE TO HEAT/AGE OT BREAKAGE, PLASTIC LOOM/PLASTIC PIPE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH HOT AIR INJECTION PIPE AND MELT PLASTIC FUEL LINE.
NHTSA complaint #518782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL LINE LEAK, CAUSED FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #505459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO FUEL LEAKAGE OF NYLON HOSE LEFT SIDE ENGINE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #973616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL #93V199000 ON THE FUEL LINE DEALER SAY CONSUMER IS NOT UNDER RECALL PURCHASE CAR NEW THERE ARE BAD GAS FUMES.
NHTSA complaint #972960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON HWY, UNKNOWN CAUSES. TT
NHTSA complaint #967984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
FUEL ODOR COMES THROUGH HEATER/AIR CONDITION VENTS AFTER FUEL FILLER NECK RECALL REPLACEMENT. (94V-077)
NHTSA complaint #480333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.