RoadVitals

1985 Pontiac Fiero Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Jul 26, 2008
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 Pontiac Fiero, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine1448.3%
  • Brakes517.2%
  • Driver assistance26.9%
  • Transmission26.9%
  • Powertrain (other)13.4%
  • Suspension13.4%
  • Visibility13.4%
  • Heating & air conditioning13.4%
  • Electrical13.4%
  • Fuel system13.4%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

14
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

GM WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALLS ON MY CAR. I HAVE CALLED GM CUSTOMER CARE AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THEY WON'T HELP ME. IT HAS NOT BEEN THROUGH ANY OF THE 2 IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALLS APPLICABLE TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10235825 · filed Jul 26, 2008

VEHICLE HAS EXHAUST LEAK. PER VIN # RECALL 88C24 APPLIES TO VEHICLE, I'VE READ THE RECALL INFO, AND THERE ARE NO UPDATED PARTS INSTALLED. IVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT CHECK FOR RECALLS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE CONTACTED PONTIAC THEY SAY THERE IS NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. YET PER THE INFO IT DOES APPLIY AND WAS NOT DONE, PONTIAC COULD NOT TELL ME IF IT WAS DONE PER THERE RECORDS. I'VE GOT A FILE # AT PONTIAC 71-611369143

NHTSA ID 10221399 · filed Mar 17, 2008
All 14 reports naming engine

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

GM WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALLS ON MY CAR. I HAVE CALLED GM CUSTOMER CARE AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THEY WON'T HELP ME. IT HAS NOT BEEN THROUGH ANY OF THE 2 IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALLS APPLICABLE TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10235825 · filed Jul 26, 2008

PONTIAC REFUSES TO PERFORM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V055000. THEIR POSITION IS THE RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 1990, WELL BEFORE THE RECALL DATE, AND THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED. SMAIL AUTOMOTIVE REFUSES TO INSPECT THE CAR TO VERIFY THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THEY ARE RELYING ON INACCURATE INFORMATION FROM THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM. I WOULD LIKE PONTIAC TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN TO A GENERAL MOTORS SERVICE DEPARTMENT SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE ME. *AK

NHTSA ID 749182 · filed Jul 25, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CV JOINTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 511271 · filed Nov 13, 1996

ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE, RESULTING IN A FIRE PRIO TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (90V-104). *AK

NHTSA ID 961750 · filed Mar 10, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CLUTCH AND SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED DUE TO SPRINGS CATCHING THE FINGERS IN THE PRESSURE PLATE STRIPPING THE RELEASE BEARING. YUH

NHTSA ID 782034 · filed Mar 8, 1999

CV JOINTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 511271 · filed Nov 13, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CV JOINTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 511271 · filed Nov 13, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CV JOINTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 511271 · filed Nov 13, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CV JOINTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 511271 · filed Nov 13, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CV JOINTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 511271 · filed Nov 13, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE, RESULTING IN A FIRE PRIO TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (90V-104). *AK

NHTSA ID 961750 · filed Mar 10, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE, RESULTING IN A FIRE PRIO TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (90V-104). *AK

NHTSA ID 961750 · filed Mar 10, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .