54 of the
802 complaints filed about the Pontiac Firebird
are about the transmission —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
54
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CLUTCH SYSTEM DISENGAGED WHENEVER THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V239000 (POWER TRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
NHTSA complaint #10478085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC FIRE BIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE WHEN BEING DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V239000 (POWER TRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY) BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,200. UPDATED 10/27/11*BF UPDATED 11/16/11
NHTSA complaint #10426798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. WHILE LOOKING UP RECALLS ON WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV, I CAME UPON A RECALL FOR MY CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V239000). I CALLED THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER, AND INQUIRED ABOUT SPECIFICS. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE CHECKED MY VIN, THEN TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO RECALLS SHOWING FOR IT. MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT IS STATED IN THE RECALL. WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT, THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION, COSMETICALLY AND MECHANICALLY OTHERWISE. THE RECALL STATES THAT A 'POTENTIAL' 69 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. DOES THE WORD 'POTENTIAL' MEAN AN AVERAGE OR POSSIBLY MORE?
NHTSA complaint #10228523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 99 V 239 000, REGARDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB SCC
NHTSA complaint #10015420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. I HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AT 37500 MILES (WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 37000). THE MOTOR IN DRIVER SIDE DOOR WENT BAD FOR NO REASON. HAD TO REPLACE REAR SEAL AND PINS 4 TIMES OR MORE. I BELIEVED FOR A LONG TIME THAT IT WAS JUST ME BUT AFTER READING THROUGH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I REALIZE IT'S THE CAR! I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL OF THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS MENTIONED BY OTHERS ON THIS SITE. PURCHASED NEW, DROVE IT OFF THE PONTIAC LOT. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS, WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE FRONT BACK OF THE UPPER SEAT WAS DISCOLORED(REPLACED), FOAM FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD COME APART, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK WITH OF WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED FROM STOP, AFTER A HEAVY RAIN STORM, THE HORN WOULD SOUND DIFFERENT, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT THE SPEED OF 50 MPH, THERE WOULD BE A RUMBLE NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL, THE DRIVESHAFT WAS OUT OF BALANCE(WARRANTY REPLACED), AND THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE(REPLACED THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR). SCC
NHTSA complaint #10011425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN CAR IS SITTING STILL AND IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THERE IS A VIBRATION THRU OUT CAR @ 2200 RPM'S. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE THE VIBRATION OCCURS AT 48-51 MPH. THIS VIBRATION IS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS SAY THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS CAR. BOTH DEALERSHIPS HAVE AGREED THERE IS A VIBRATION BUT SAY "THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT". THEY HAVE ALSO SAID THAT SOME OF THESE CARS VIBRATIONS ARE WORSE THAN MINE.
NHTSA complaint #10000140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN CAR IS SITTING STILL AND IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THERE IS A VIBRATION THRU OUT CAR @ 2200 RPM'S. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE THE VIBRATION OCCURS AT 48-51 MPH. THIS VIBRATION IS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS SAY THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS CAR. BOTH DEALERSHIPS HAVE AGREED THERE IS A VIBRATION BUT SAY "THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT". THEY HAVE ALSO SAID THAT SOME OF THESE CARS VIBRATIONS ARE WORSE THAN MINE.
NHTSA complaint #10000140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
WHEN CAR IS SITTING STILL AND IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THERE IS A VIBRATION THRU OUT CAR @ 2200 RPM'S. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE THE VIBRATION OCCURS AT 48-51 MPH. THIS VIBRATION IS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS SAY THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS CAR. BOTH DEALERSHIPS HAVE AGREED THERE IS A VIBRATION BUT SAY "THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT". THEY HAVE ALSO SAID THAT SOME OF THESE CARS VIBRATIONS ARE WORSE THAN MINE.
NHTSA complaint #10000140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN COLD OR DAMP OUTSIDE ENGINE IDLE WILL RACE AND STICK AT 2500 TO 3000 RPM. VEHICLE HAS MANUAL TRANSMISSION - 5 SPEED. SOMETIMES (OCASSIONALLY) TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING SOLVES THE PROBLEM, MOST TIMES NO. COULD BE DANGEROUS IN THE WINTER CAUSING EXCESS TORQUE TO REAR WHEELS.
NHTSA complaint #754168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CLUTCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED. THIS MAKES VEHICLE DIFFICULT IN SHIFTING. ALSO, ENGINE STALLS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER REFERRED TO RECALL# 99V239000. CONTACT DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #896801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.