1986 Pontiac Fiero Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 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
- Engine1557.7%
- Brakes726.9%
- Electrical27.7%
- Seat belts13.8%
- Transmission13.8%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL TO MY 1986 PONTIAC FIERO (VIN# 1G2PF3795GP23433) WAS NEVER COMPLETED DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A SERIOUS RECALL, AS IT INVOLVED A POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. GM RECALL NUMBER 88-C-24A. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 6/21/2006, UNAWARE THAT THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE. I TRIED TO GET PONTIAC TO COVER THIS RECALL BUT THEY REFUSE. FOR MY SAFETY, I'M MOVING FORWARD AND PAYING FOR THE RECALL TO BE DONE FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE FROM PONTIAC. *NM
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 90V104000 CONCERNING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. WHEN THE TRUNK IS OPENED IN THE RAIN WATER DRIPS THROUGH THE TRUNK ONTO THE OXYGEN SENSOR. A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED, BUT THE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM OF THESE VEHICLE'S MAY CONTAIN A NONFUNCTIONAL PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN 91V055000; THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR HER VEHICLE. *TC
THE CONSUMER STATED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL, IT WOULD ROLL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THAT THIS WAS CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO PASS STATE INSPECTION.*AK *SC *JB
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
OIL LEAK FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN. LOCATED APPROXIMATELY AT UPPER PART OF ENGINE DOWN TO PULLY AND BELTS. ALSO WIRES LOCATED NEAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN ENGINE ARE EXTREMELY HOT, DISCOLORED AND BRITTLE HARNESS..CONCERN FOR ? OF FIRE, ESPECIALLY WITH OIL LEAKAGE NEAR BY...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON..AND IS UNKNOWN PROBLEM TO THE DEALER
SPARK PLUG WIRE CAME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE AND BURST INTO FLAMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE METAL IN THE LOCKING PORTION OF THE SEATBELT SNAPPED AND IT FLEW OFF AND SMACKED ME IN THE FACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT AND THE PLASTIC CASING AROUD THE BELT BROKE WHEN IT DID THIS. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
4 SPEED SHIFTER ASSY WILL NOT ENGAGE BACK UP LIGHT SWITCH AND IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR AT TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED SHIFTER TWICE, THIS BEING THE 3RD ONE FOR THE CAR. EACH TIME THE FAILURE HAS BEEN DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR ON TWO RIVITS COMING LOOSE ON FORWARD RIGHT SIDE OF ASSY AND THE SUBSQUENTAL WEAR OF SHIFT EGAGEMENT ARM MECHANISM FOR REVERSE GEAR. UNLESS YOU HOLD THE GEARSHIFT ARM IN THE FULL REVEARSE POSITION, YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY BACKUP LIGHTS. AT TIMES THE SHIFTING MECHANISM WILL JAM AND YOU CANNOT SHIFT .
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .