36 of the
802 complaints filed about the Pontiac Firebird
are about the lighting —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
FRONT TURN SIGNALS GO OUT EVERY FEW WEEKS. THE PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN OF THE SOCKET, WHICH IS NOT SEALED WELL CAUSING THE SOCKET TO SHORT OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE SOCKET AND LIGHT-BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I FEEL TURN SIGNALS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT, AND ACCIDENTS COULD AND DO OCCUR WITHOUT THEM. ALSO, SINCE THE SOCKETS ARE SHORTING OUT, I AM WORRIED THAT A BIGGER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COULD MANIFEST BECAUSE OF THAT. I KNOW THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT I AM CONFUSED WHY A RECALL FOR SUCH A BAD AND DANGEROUS DESIGN HAS NOT BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #11004641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT SOCKETS ON THE 1997 FIREBIRD (AND PROBABLY OTHER MODEL YEARS) BURN UP AFTER A TIME CAUSING SIGNAL FAILURE AND MARKER LIGHT FAILURE. THE CAUSE IS THE EXCESSIVE HEAT GIVEN OFF BY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. PONTIAC USED THE TURNING SIGNAL ELEMENT OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AS A FULL ON,ALL THE TIME, VISIBILITY LIGHT FOR DAYTIME DRIVING. I LOVE THE IDEA FOR SAFETY REASONS BUT I FEEL THE SIGNAL SOCKET NEEDS TO BE BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE THE HEAT OF THESE LIGHTS BEING ON ALL THE TIME. VISIBILITY IS GREAT BUT HAVING THESE SOCKETS FAIL AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SIGNAL SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE SOCKETS BURN BLACK AND HAVEN'T CAUGHT ON FIRE ON MY CAR AND I'M NOT SURE OF THE FIRE POTENTIAL OF THIS, BUT BEING THAT THE BUMPER FENDERS AND VIRTUALLY MOST OF THE CAR IS PLASTIC, IF THEY EVER DID CATCH FIRE I'D HATE TO SEE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WOULD BURN!. I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO USING A SMALL JUMPER WIRE TO GROUND THE DRL SIGNAL OUT SO THAT I EFFECTIVELY DISABLED THE LIGHTS SO THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO CONTINUALLY HAVE TO REPAIR THE SOCKETS OR RISK HAVING A FIRE. THE NEXT QUESTION ASKS FOR A DATE OF INCIDENT AND I'M NOT SURE HOW TO ANSWER SO I'LL PUT TODAY'S DATE IN THERE. THE SOCKETS SEEM TO BURN OUT ONCE EVERY FEW YEARS, EVEN THE REPLACEMENTS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE AFTER A COUPLE YEARS. MY SOCKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 134,000 MILES AND THIS THIRD SET OF SOCKETS ARE SCORCHED AFTER BEING REPLACE SIX MONTHS AGO SO I DISABLED THE DRL BEFORE THEY GOT WORSE.
NHTSA complaint #10274054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WATER WAS SEEPING INTO THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT FROM RAIN CORRODING THE REFLECTIVE MATERIALS IN THE TAIL LIGHT, WHICH DIMINISHED THE ILLUMINATION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 12/1/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10170510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH I HAVE TO CHANGE EITHER A PARKING LIGHT OR A FOG LIGHT BECAUSE IT HAS BURNT OUT. ONE OF MY FOG LIGHTS IS COMPLETELY RUINED AND I HAVE TO PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW PIECE, BECAUSE IT WAS MELTED. I HAVE NOTICED WHEN PASSING OTHER CARS LIKE MINE, 9 TIMES OUT OF 10 THEY HAVE A LIGHT OUT IN THE FRONT. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10138300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH I HAVE TO CHANGE EITHER A PARKING LIGHT OR A FOG LIGHT BECAUSE IT HAS BURNT OUT. ONE OF MY FOG LIGHTS IS COMPLETELY RUINED AND I HAVE TO PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW PIECE, BECAUSE IT WAS MELTED. I HAVE NOTICED WHEN PASSING OTHER CARS LIKE MINE, 9 TIMES OUT OF 10 THEY HAVE A LIGHT OUT IN THE FRONT. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10138300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
THE PLASTIC GEARS THAT DRIVE THE HEADLIGHT PODS ON MY 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD HAVE FAILED. RETRACTION OF THE HEADLIGHT CAUSES LOUD GRINDING NOISES. OCCAISIONALLY, ONE OR OTHER OF THE HEADLIGHT PODS DOES NOT RASIE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. IT CAN ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE PODS NO LONGER OPERATE AT ALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE GIVEN THE LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AMONG FIREBIRD OWNERS AND SOME ENTERPRISING SOUL HAS EVEN COME UP WITH A "FIX". NOTE THIS FIX REQUIRES THE DISASSEMBLY OF PARTS THAT WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE TAKEN APART. HTTP://WWW.BFRANKER.BADZ28.COM/HEADLIGHTFIX/INDEX.HTM GM CHARGE OVER $200 DOLLARS FOR THE POD DRIVE MOTOR. THAT IS SIMPLY EXTORTION.
NHTSA complaint #10100419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
REAR TAIL LIGHT HAS A DESIGN FLAW. IT ALLOWS MOISTURE INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT AND HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH NUMEROUS REPLACEMENT BULBS AND A BUILD-UP OF MOISTURE. I FEEL IF THIS CONTINUES, IT WILL EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE INSIDE OF THE TAIL LIGHT COVER APPEARS VERY DARK, ALMOST AS IF THE TAIL LIGHT BULB IS BURNED OUT, THEREFORE CAUSING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FOLLOW AND WATCH MY EVERY MOVE ON SOME INSTANCES.
NHTSA complaint #10049076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CLUTCH, PISTONS, DASH FAN AND REAR RIGHT MOLDING. *MR THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. SATURN REPAIRED THE PART BUT WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIR COST DUE TO THE VEHICLE EXCEEDING THE WARRANTY. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD 96K PLUS MILES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: ENGINE KNOCKING/LOSS OF POWER (8 PISTONS WERE REPLACED), AFTER ENGINE PROBLEM/REPAIR, ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION OCCURRED (ONE QUART EVERY 1300 HUNDRED MILES, BANG NOISE IN THE CLUTCH (BEARING WAS REPLACED), WATER AND HAZE WAS IN THE HIGH/LOW BEAM INSIDE THE BULBS, LEFT HEADLIGHT SHORTED OUT/WIRE BURNT (ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED), THE BRAKE PEDAL RUBBER GUARD HAD DETACHED, THE GAS TETHER DETACHED, THERE WAS AN ENGINE KNOCK UPON ACCELERATION, THE IGNITION MODULE AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR EXPERIENCED PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIMMIES WHEN SHIFTING UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED, THE HEADLIGHTS, REAR LIGHT, DASH LIGHTS, RADIO LIGHTS, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FLICKER. *SCC IN COLD WEATHER THE SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE IN 2ND AND 4TH GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10044101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LEFT SIDE HEAD LIGHT IS OVERHEATING BURNING OUT THE AMBER BULB WHICH IS USED FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT. THE MOTOR FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE HEADLIGHT LID PERFORMS ERRATIC. THE HEADLIGHT MOTOR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE LID HAS SHUT AND CONTINUES TO RUN. THE OWNER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA complaint #8024085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIGHT HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT AFTER 7 MONTHES WITH VEY LITTLE NIGHT DRIVING SO USE OF HEADLIGHTS WAS MINIMAL. WOULDN'T HAVE COMPLAINED HAD I NOT READ OF MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHERS WITH THE SAME CAR ON THE WEBSITE LS1.COM IN THE WS6/FIREHAWK FORUM.
NHTSA complaint #766556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BATTERY AMP GAUGE FLUXUATES RANDOM, MAXING AMP (18) THEN DROPPING DRAMATICALLY DOW AS LOW AS (8). LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, DASH) BRIGHTEN AND DIMS AT RANDOM INCLUDING HIGH BEAMS. CAR DIES, STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT AT RANDOM WHEN TURNING SHARPLY TO LEFT OR RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #9006014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHENEVER TURN SIGNAL IS IN USE IT FAILS TO FLASH, IT WOULD REMAIN SOLID. VEHICLE WAS REARENDED DUE TO RIGHT SIGNAL NOT BLINKING. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND MECHANIC REPLACED TWO BULBS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #898973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.