1988 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 1988 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
- Engine1055.6%
- Brakes316.7%
- Fuel system211.1%
- Exterior lighting211.1%
- Other / unspecified15.6%
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 PONTIAC FIERO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE VAL COVER OF THE ENGINE. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT OIL WOULD DRIP ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSE A FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VAL COVER AND DRIP SHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,986.
DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO AN ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH GM ABOUT NECESSARY RECALL WORK ON AN 1988 PONTIAC FIERO WHILE REPAIRING SOME ITEMS ON THIS AUTO, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE UNIVERSITY GM DEALERSHIP IN DURHAM, NC AND REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL ON DECEMBER 16, 2006. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN OFFICIALLY FROM GM WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE EVEN AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE. THEY ONLY RECENTLY EVEN ORDERED THE RECALL KIT ONLY TO THEN FIND OUT THE PARTS IN THAT KIT WERE ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. NOW, THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO AND THAT THEIR POSITION IS THAT THE RECALL WORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND SO THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER THEY WILL DO. I WOULD LIKE TO BOTH LODGE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR INACTION AND INABILITY TO OFFICIALLY CONFIRM THIS VEHICLE'S RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND ALSO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION FROM GM. I THINK GM AND THIS DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING IN PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION, PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS RECALL, AND I AM EXTREMELY DISPLEASED ABOUT THE TREATMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED. THIS VEHICLE, THOUGH OLD, WAS REFURBISHED INTO GOOD WORKING ORDER AND IS CURRENTLY ENSURED FOR AN AS-IS VALUE OF $3000. IT IS OUR FAMILY'S SECOND VEHICLE AND WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT IT FOR 2 MONTHS NOW, A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AND ISSUE FOR OUR FAMILY. I DO NOT BELIEVE GM AND THIS DEALERSHIP INACTION IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STIPULATIONS OF THE RECALL. I AM ULTIMATELY ONLY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION SHOWING THAT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP REMEDY THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *JB
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HEADLIGHT MECHANISM CONTINUALLY FAILS, IT WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER. IN ADDITION, PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKES. *AK
THE MECHANISM TO RAISE AND LOWER THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUES TO FAIL. REAR BRAKES WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO AN ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH GM ABOUT NECESSARY RECALL WORK ON AN 1988 PONTIAC FIERO WHILE REPAIRING SOME ITEMS ON THIS AUTO, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE UNIVERSITY GM DEALERSHIP IN DURHAM, NC AND REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL ON DECEMBER 16, 2006. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN OFFICIALLY FROM GM WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE EVEN AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE. THEY ONLY RECENTLY EVEN ORDERED THE RECALL KIT ONLY TO THEN FIND OUT THE PARTS IN THAT KIT WERE ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. NOW, THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO AND THAT THEIR POSITION IS THAT THE RECALL WORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND SO THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER THEY WILL DO. I WOULD LIKE TO BOTH LODGE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR INACTION AND INABILITY TO OFFICIALLY CONFIRM THIS VEHICLE'S RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND ALSO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION FROM GM. I THINK GM AND THIS DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING IN PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION, PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS RECALL, AND I AM EXTREMELY DISPLEASED ABOUT THE TREATMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED. THIS VEHICLE, THOUGH OLD, WAS REFURBISHED INTO GOOD WORKING ORDER AND IS CURRENTLY ENSURED FOR AN AS-IS VALUE OF $3000. IT IS OUR FAMILY'S SECOND VEHICLE AND WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT IT FOR 2 MONTHS NOW, A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AND ISSUE FOR OUR FAMILY. I DO NOT BELIEVE GM AND THIS DEALERSHIP INACTION IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STIPULATIONS OF THE RECALL. I AM ULTIMATELY ONLY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION SHOWING THAT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP REMEDY THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *JB
WHEN VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK OF GAS THERE ARE FUEL AND AN OIL LEAKAGES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HEADLIGHT MECHANISM CONTINUALLY FAILS, IT WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER. IN ADDITION, PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKES. *AK
THE MECHANISM TO RAISE AND LOWER THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUES TO FAIL. REAR BRAKES WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE CALIPER (REAR), THE RIM WAS DAMAGED , THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BRACKET PADS WERE NO GOOD,AND THE BRAKE PAD ON THE LEFT REAR WAS SPLIT
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 .