1985 Pontiac Firebird 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 1985 Pontiac Firebird, 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
- Seat belts1263.2%
- Brakes421.1%
- Body & structure210.5%
- Fuel system15.3%
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
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE ARE TWO NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGN 85V169000 AND 91V055000 CONCERNING THE FRONT SEAT BELT WEBBING AND PARKING BRAKE. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALLS, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN. *AK
UPON RECEIVING MY 1985 PONTIAC FIREBIRD, THE SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. THE RETRACTING BELT IN THE CEILING WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE UNIT ON BOTH SIDES AND THE PLASTIC ON THE LOCKING PIECE NEXT TO THE SEAT IS DESTROYED BY UV RAYS. THE LOCKING PART DOES NOT WORK. THERE IS A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THIS CAR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 85V169000 AND 90V105000 BUT WHEN I CALL GM, THEY ASK FOR MY VIN AND THEN TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON MY CAR. *NM
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V055000 (PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL). THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE REAR DISC BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING AND FEELS THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. UPDATED
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE ARE TWO NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGN 85V169000 AND 91V055000 CONCERNING THE FRONT SEAT BELT WEBBING AND PARKING BRAKE. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALLS, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FIRE UNDERNEATH REAR OF VEHICLE. TT
CONSUMER'S SON WAS KILLED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE; HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE; SPEED (BOTH CARS) 55 MPH; T-TOP DISCONNECTED; VEHICLE TOTALED.GLASS CUT SPINAL CORD.
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
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE LEFT REAR AREA, BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY A FUEL LINE CONNECTOR.
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 .