1986 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 1986 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 belts1356.5%
- Steering28.7%
- Fuel system28.7%
- Brakes28.7%
- Heating & air conditioning14.3%
- Interior & seats14.3%
- Driver assistance14.3%
- Electrical14.3%
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
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 90V105000 CONCERNING ACTIVE RESTRAINT: BELT BUCKLES: RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER HAS CHARGED THE CONSUMER FOR DOING THE RECALL REPAIRS FOR THE SECOND TIME.*AK
SEAT BELT CASINGS IN THE FRONT BACK ARE CRACKING. SEAT BELT COMES OUT OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BUCKLES HAVE RELEASED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *SLC
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
TILT STEERING COLUMN PIVOT PINION LOOSENS DUE TO VIBRATION, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHEN PIN BACKS OUT FAR ENOUGH. *DSH
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
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
FUEL GUAGE CONSTANTLY READ EMPTY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, WHEN PARKING ON A SLOPE, THE BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE IN PLACE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FAILS ALSO ON A MINOR INCLINE, WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END WHEN VEHICLE STRUCK A CURB AFTER THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE INCLINE.*JB
ALLEGED REAR BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT PE86-025C. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I INTEND TO SEND MORE INFORMATION ON THIS GMCPRODUCT AT A LATER DATE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMRY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I'M AMAZED TO FIND THIS SITE AND FIND THAT ABOUT A DOZEN DEFECTS/RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON MY FIREBIRD AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM PONTIAC! WHILE THIS HAS BEEN THE "BEST" CAR I'VE EVER HAD, IT APPEARS NOW THAT I'VE SPENT WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON KNOWN DEFECTS! WHY ARE OWNERS NOT APPRISED OF THESE PROBLEMS? I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE A/C, THE SEATBELTS, THE FUEL INJECTORS, THE REAR HYDRAULICS FOR THE HATCH, STARTER, IGNITION, ETC., ETC. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE AT THIS LATE DATE? I REALLY WANT TO KEEP MY CAR, BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING SOMEONE QUALIFIED TO WORK ON IT. ANY SUGGESTIONS? I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE VIN NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S IN THE SHOP YET AGAIN! I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT ABOUT 3 WEEKS SINCE FEBRUARY - MOSTLY DUE TO INCOMPETENCY OF SHOP. OVERALL, IT REALLY HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR -- STILL ORIGINAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. BUT THE "LITTLE THINGS" ARE REALLY ADDING UP. ANY SUGGESTIONS AND OR EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALLS AND/OR BULLETINS WOULD BE APPRECIATED, AS WELL AS ANY RECOURSE AT THIS LATE DATE. THANK YOU! CATHERINE SIKES
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHENEVER AT A STOP SIGN ENGINE IDLED HIGH, HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO BRING RPMS BACK DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, THEY INDICATED VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
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
I'M AMAZED TO FIND THIS SITE AND FIND THAT ABOUT A DOZEN DEFECTS/RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON MY FIREBIRD AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM PONTIAC! WHILE THIS HAS BEEN THE "BEST" CAR I'VE EVER HAD, IT APPEARS NOW THAT I'VE SPENT WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON KNOWN DEFECTS! WHY ARE OWNERS NOT APPRISED OF THESE PROBLEMS? I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE A/C, THE SEATBELTS, THE FUEL INJECTORS, THE REAR HYDRAULICS FOR THE HATCH, STARTER, IGNITION, ETC., ETC. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE AT THIS LATE DATE? I REALLY WANT TO KEEP MY CAR, BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING SOMEONE QUALIFIED TO WORK ON IT. ANY SUGGESTIONS? I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE VIN NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S IN THE SHOP YET AGAIN! I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT ABOUT 3 WEEKS SINCE FEBRUARY - MOSTLY DUE TO INCOMPETENCY OF SHOP. OVERALL, IT REALLY HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR -- STILL ORIGINAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. BUT THE "LITTLE THINGS" ARE REALLY ADDING UP. ANY SUGGESTIONS AND OR EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALLS AND/OR BULLETINS WOULD BE APPRECIATED, AS WELL AS ANY RECOURSE AT THIS LATE DATE. THANK YOU! CATHERINE SIKES
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 .