15 of the 112 complaints about the 1995 Pontiac Firebird are about the braking system — 13% of everything reported for this model year.
15
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LIGHT APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD, AND PEDAL GOING DOWN TO THE FLOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10024836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT SPEED INCREASED IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH. VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. SAME DAY VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AGAIN, SPUN OUT, AND HIT A TREE. BRAKE WAS APPLIED BOTH TIMES, CRUISE WAS ON BUT NOT SET. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN, NO INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #8011297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERELY LONGER BRAKING DISTANCES DURING RAINY WEATHER (I.E. WITH WET DISC BRAKES). THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. ONCE THE DISCS ARE DRY (E.G. AFTER BRAKING SEVERAL TIMES) BRAKING RETURNS TO NORMAL. THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES BY A FACTOR OF 2-3 X AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO REAR-END OTHER VEHICLES SEVERAL TIMES. IT IS PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM IF THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN A RAIN STORM AND IS THEN DRIVEN. THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO PERIODICALLY SNUB THE BRAKES DURING WET WEATHER IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM DRY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET GM TO EVEN RESPOND--THEY SIMPLY CREAT A FILE AND THAT IS THE LAST I EVER HEAR (I HAVE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES). I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE DAY I WILL BE UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WET PAVEMENT OR WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY SKIDING, ETC. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS IN HEAVY RAINS AND IS ELIMINATED AFTER SEVERAL HARD STOPS WHICH DRIES OFF THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #747870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
TOOK VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR MAINTENANCE DUE TO BRAKES SQUEALING WHEN APPLIED. HAD BRAKES CHECKED. MECHANIC NOTICED THAT REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE CRACKED. NO EXPLANATION OF HOW THEY BECAME CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #887970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
COME TO SLOW STOP, LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, CAR SLIPS FORWARD SLIGHTLY, ABS SYSTEM CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH SCANNER THOUGH ALL OTHER AREAS DO.
NHTSA complaint #723702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #708467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILING 3 TO 4 TIMES IN THE 3 YRS OWNED. THE IDIOT LIGHT ABS INOP LIGHT SOMEHOW LIGHTS UP. EACH TIME THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND REALIGNES MY BACK BRAKES. BLEW OUT AGAIN, BOTH FRONT HUB AND SENSORS ARE TOTALLY OUT AND NEED REPLACING.
NHTSA complaint #540514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN REAR BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT ABS BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION. POSSIBLE CAUSE CROSS UP OF WIRES. CONSUMER HAD PARTS REPLACED, BUT CONDITION STILL EXIST. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
NHTSA complaint #825713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE FAILURE; ALSO REPLACED IGNITION WIRES/FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL/INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS.
NHTSA complaint #515423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ABS WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING WHEN LIGHT APPEARS FOR NO APPARENT REASON, DLR. CAN'T CORRECT.
NHTSA complaint #803880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR IN JUNCTION BLOCK LEAKED , CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID/BRAKES. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #489985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES DO NOT RESPONED DURING WET WEATHER, RESULTING IN LONG STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #968594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES KEEP GOING OUT AND EVERY TIME THE BRAKE IS APPLIED THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #966292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILED, LEAKED HADRAULIC FLUID. TT
NHTSA complaint #965181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES WHEN APPLIED ARE SPONGY AND PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. TT
NHTSA complaint #958329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.