86 of the 802 complaints filed about the Pontiac Firebird are about the electrical system — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.
86
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
19
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE ROAD & THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE .
NHTSA complaint #10533166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON ,SOMETIMES CAR WILL NOT START AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE DRIVING AND LOSES POWER AT ANY GIVING TIME. THE KEY THAT HAS A THE SENSOR DOES NOT READ OR GIVE THE CORRECT RESISTANCE TO THE VATS SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTS THE CAR OFF. I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KEY RESISTANCE AND THE IGNITION IN WHICH IT GOES INTO. SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS NOT READING OR MAKING CONTACT MESSING UP ALL THE SECURITY IN THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10479380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 94 PONTIAC FIREBIRD 3.4 THAT IS GIVING ME A VATS PROBLEM. THE SECURITY LIGHT DOES NOT BLINK BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR ANYTHING.
NHTSA complaint #10353218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. WITH THE GEAR IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE WHEELS BEGAN SMOKING DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. THE FOLLOWING DAY, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE ECM AND THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 4/25/08
NHTSA complaint #10223708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN STARTING THE CAR COLD, AND IDLING THE CAR... HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL OPERATION IS NORMAL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR (NOT IDLING) THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO DARK WITHOUT WARNING (THE HEADLAMP DOORS REMAIN OPEN), AND THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO OPERATE. EVERY 6 TO 10 SECONDS, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROCEEDS TO PULSE AFTER THIS OCCURS, UNLESS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED FROM LOW BEAM POSITION TO PARKING LIGHT POSITION. THE PULSING THEN STOPS, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT LIT AND IF TURNED OFF... THE DOORS WILL NOT LIFT UP AGAIN AND THE LIGHTS WILL NOT LIGHT. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR SEEMS TO "RESET" ITSELF AND THE LIGHTS AND SIGNALS WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS CREATES AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAUSE IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. I PLAN TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER, NORRIS AUTO MALL FOR EVALUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10182526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE TRUNK AND NOTICED A BEACH TOWEL HAD TWO BURN MARKS ON IT. THE TOWEL WAS MOVED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10165621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN WITH NO NOTICE AT ALL, THE ENGINE JUST DIES. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS OR MORE AND I'M TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT SO I GO AND GET IT AND IT DIES ON ME. ONCE THIS HAPPENED WITHIN MINUTES. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AFTER I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP, I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I DROVE IT FOR A WEEK , BEFORE IT DIED ON ME AFTER THEY HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS AT THE MOMENT STATING THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG SO THEY RESET THE TROUBLE CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND WAIT TO SEE IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT HAS DIED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND THAT'S VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A WHILE IT USUALLY STARTS BACK UP, AND DRIVES AS IF NOTHING HAS EVER HAPPENED TO IT UNTIL IT DIES AGAIN BUT ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN EVERYTHING WILL JUST GO DEAD. IT DOES TURN OVER BUT HAS NO IGNITION AND AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES OF INTERMITTENT CRANKING IT WILL START BACK UP. THEY CHANGED A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS AND THEN THEY CHANGED IT IN MARCH OF 2005 AND THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN WITH THE VEHICLE DOING BASICALLY THE SAME THING BUT I'M TOLD ITS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE 10 FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF. THERE ARE SITES ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS BEING DISCUSSED ABOUT GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES. THE DATE OF OCT 20 2005 IS THE LAST TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM APPEARED, AND THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE THE 24TH OF OCT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THEM ON THE 24TH BECAUSE THAT'S THE EARLIEST THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT IT SO I WAS TOLD.
NHTSA complaint #10141599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
WAS THERE A RECALL ON PONTIAC FIREBIRDS FOR HOT STARTING PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE STARTER AND SOLENOID BEING MOUNTED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK, CLOSE TOO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD? IT OCCURS WHEN THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD EFFECT THE STARTER SOLENOID SO THAT NO CHARGE GETS THROUGH TO THE STARTER. AS A RESULT, THE CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL THE SOLENOID COOLS DOWN. WHY CAN'T THE SOLENOID BE MOUNTED ELSEWHERE? I BELIEVE THAT GM NEVER ADDRESSED THE HOT STARTING PROBLEM IT IS A DANGER, ESPECIALLY IF ONE BREAKS DOWN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH INADEQUATE SHOULDERS OR CANNOT GET TO A SHOULDER. BEING UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE COULD CREATE A TRAFFIC HAZARD. ADDITIONALLY IN EMERGENCIES (MEDICAL OR NATURAL DISASTER), ONE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE THE EFFECTED VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. SINCERELY, JOHN OLIVA.
NHTSA complaint #10136425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
MY ORIGINAL 1978 PONTIAC FB FORUM ON OCCASION HAS HOT STARTING PROBLEMS (MEANING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL THE STARTER SOLENOID COOLS DOWN). THIS HEAT RELATED PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE STARTER SOLENOID BEING TO CLOSE TO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MY CONCERN IS IF THE VEHICLE BREAKS DOWN ON THE ROAD WITHOUT A SHOULDER AND CAN'T START, IT MIGHT OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC AND BE A POSSIBLE HAZARD, MOREOVER IF IT CAN'T START DUE TO HEATING PROBLEM DURING ANOTHER TYPE OF EMERGENCY SUCH AS A FLOOD OR TSUNAMI IT COULD BE DISASTROUS. WHY DOESN'T GM FIX THIS PROBLEM ON ALL AUTO'S EFFECTED WITH HOT STARTING PROBLEMS, BY MOVING THE SOLENOID OFF THE STARTER TO A LOCATION WHERE IT WILL NOT RECEIVE HEAT.? LUCKILY, MY PROBLEM OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AFTER SHOPPING. THANK YOU, SINCERELY, JOHN OLIVA 09/11/2005.
NHTSA complaint #10136158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10133477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING GM CORP PLACING ELECTRONIC RECORDING DEVICES IN VEHICLES WITHOUT INFORMING THE CUSTOMER.*MR
NHTSA complaint #10132399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DT: WIRING LOOSENED ON FRONT HEADLIGHTS, HAD TO PULL OVER AT NIGHT, AND PLUG IN AGAI. CHECKED FUSES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE THE ACTUAL ONES. ALSO, THE BULBS THAT WORKED THE BLINKERS FAILED, AND THE BACK LIGHTS WENT IN/OUT DUE TO A SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #10124650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE FIRE CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10117803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL POWER TRUNK AND CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK. THE HOUSING OVER THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD BURNED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10003734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON (STEADY AND FLASHING). ALL IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, PATH LOCK SENSOR AND IGNITION CYLINDER, REMOTE ALARMS AND KEYS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT AND UPGRADED MY GAS OCTANE IN A V6. AND NOW THE STUPID SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND THE ENGINE IS HESITATING AND THE BEARINGS ON PULLEYS ARE MAKING A NOISE (AFTER REPLACING THE SERPENTINE BELT). I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF IT SO FAR. I AM GOING TONIGHT TO READ THE CODE FOR WHAT IS WRONG NOW!!!!! ALSO I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, MY RADIO VOLUME KNOB HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND MY LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #10093781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON (STEADY AND FLASHING). ALL IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, PATH LOCK SENSOR AND IGNITION CYLINDER, REMOTE ALARMS AND KEYS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT AND UPGRADED MY GAS OCTANE IN A V6. AND NOW THE STUPID SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND THE ENGINE IS HESITATING AND THE BEARINGS ON PULLEYS ARE MAKING A NOISE (AFTER REPLACING THE SERPENTINE BELT). I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF IT SO FAR. I AM GOING TONIGHT TO READ THE CODE FOR WHAT IS WRONG NOW!!!!! ALSO I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, MY RADIO VOLUME KNOB HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND MY LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #10093781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON (STEADY AND FLASHING). ALL IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, PATH LOCK SENSOR AND IGNITION CYLINDER, REMOTE ALARMS AND KEYS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT AND UPGRADED MY GAS OCTANE IN A V6. AND NOW THE STUPID SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND THE ENGINE IS HESITATING AND THE BEARINGS ON PULLEYS ARE MAKING A NOISE (AFTER REPLACING THE SERPENTINE BELT). I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF IT SO FAR. I AM GOING TONIGHT TO READ THE CODE FOR WHAT IS WRONG NOW!!!!! ALSO I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, MY RADIO VOLUME KNOB HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND MY LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #10093781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON (STEADY AND FLASHING). ALL IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, PATH LOCK SENSOR AND IGNITION CYLINDER, REMOTE ALARMS AND KEYS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT AND UPGRADED MY GAS OCTANE IN A V6. AND NOW THE STUPID SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND THE ENGINE IS HESITATING AND THE BEARINGS ON PULLEYS ARE MAKING A NOISE (AFTER REPLACING THE SERPENTINE BELT). I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF IT SO FAR. I AM GOING TONIGHT TO READ THE CODE FOR WHAT IS WRONG NOW!!!!! ALSO I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, MY RADIO VOLUME KNOB HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND MY LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #10093781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DEFECTS ON MY CAR AND I HAVE HAD IT JUST OVER 4 YEARS AND ABOUT 62,000 MILES. 1.) THE METAL AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SUNVISOR METAL SHAFT SHEARED AND WOULD NO LONG HOLD ASSEMBLY TOGETHER. ALMOST CAUSED CAR WRECK AND I WAS BLINDED BY THE SUNLIGHT COMING AROUND THE CORNER. REACHED UP TO PULL DOWN THE VISOR AND IT FELL INTO MY LAP. CAR'S AGE ~ 3 YRS OLD. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SUNVISOR DID THE SAME. DEALERSHIP WOULD DO NOTHING BUT CHARGE &80 FOR ONE NEW VISOR. 2. DURING VEHICLE WARRANTY I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN REPEATEDLY FOR A HEADLIGHT THAT WOULD NOT OPERATE. STILL EXPERIENCING INTERMITTEN OPERATIONS. 3. DURING VEHIVLE WARRANTY HAD TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR THE "LOSS OF POWER" COMPLANT MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED. SEEMED TO FIX THE ISSUE. 4. WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD BUT OUT OF WARRANTY I HAD THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE THAT SINCHES THE SEAT BELT BREAK OFF. I CAN NO LONGER SINCH MY SEATBELT TO A SAFE POSTION. I ADDRESSED WITH GM AFTER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD ORDER A NEW SEATBELT. GM DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. 5. FIRST OF THE LATEST ISSUES AT 62,000 MILES RADIO HAS STOPPED OPERATING IN THE CD PLAYER MODE. 6. SECOND ONE IS THAT THE CLUTCH (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) IS GOING OUT WHICH IS CAUSING THE AR TO "SLIP/JUMP" WHILE DRIVIGN DOWN THE HIGHWAY. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS ~$650.
NHTSA complaint #10072817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND THEFT DETERENT KEY CHIP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND THE RADIO FACE DISPLAY NOT WORKING AT ALL UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON UNTIL IT WORK SOMETIME 5 OR 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR NOW THE VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES AND IT IS MUCH WORSE WITH SOME DIFFICULTY SHIFTING ON ACCASION. THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS A WHINING NOISE AT 50-60 MPH AT CRUISING RPM AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL. I AM SEVERELY IRRITATED WITH GM FOR THE DISREGARD TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE WITHIN YOUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT GETTING A LOANER VEHICLE DURING ANY REPAIRS. THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS KEEPING ME FROM GIVING THEM MY CAR. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA HAVE ALL TOLD ME THAT WEAR PARTS ARE NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY WHICH IS "BUMPER TO BUMPER" FULL WARRANTY. I JUST DON'T THINK A TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE DOING THIS AT 17000 MILES. NOT TO MENTION I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE MOST OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 10000 MILES ON IT FROM A STICKING BRAKE CALIPER. I AM VERY DISPLEASED SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW.
NHTSA complaint #10068186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.