1990 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 1990 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
- Airbags333.3%
- Electrical222.2%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Seat belts111.1%
- Steering111.1%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE AIR BAG IS COMING OUT CONSTANTLY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ANY REASON.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE AIR BAG IS COMING OUT CONSTANTLY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ANY REASON.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *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
VEHICLE FIRE WHEN TURNING ON IGNITION, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. TT
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. TT
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
THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK WHEN VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASSED CAR 9/98 FROM ACCENT AUTO ANOTHER CHANCE FINANCE, RETURNED TO DEALER WITH OVERHEATING PROBLEMS NEXT DAY. THEY SAID IT WAS A MINOR PROBLEM & SAID IT WAS FIXED. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AT LEAST 1 TIME A MONTH. TOOK IT TO OTHER MECHANICS AND HAD MANY ITEMS FIXED BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING. FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE RIGHT ENGINE FOR THE CAR. CONTINUED TO HAVE HEATING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM AGAIN, THEY DID NOT. THE CAR STARTED BACKFIRING AND DIED. THE DEALER TOWED THE CAR, SAID THEY WOULD PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN. THIS TOOK 3/4WKS, I PICKED IT UP GOT TO WORK AND THE ENGINE DID THE SAME BACKFIRE & HEATING AS BEFORE. THEY TOWED IT AGAIN AND SAID THEY WOULD PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN. I TOOK IT FOR TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER, IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, THE DEALER DROVE IT BACK TO THE LOT AS FIRE STARTED COMING OUT OF ENGINE. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE DEALERS NON-COMPLIENCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. I HAD NO USE OF THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. NO LONER CAR TILL LAST 3 DAYS BEFORE GETTING CAR AGAIN. TODAY IS THE SECOND DAY I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK AND IT IS STARTING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN PICKED UP CAR WAS TOLD THAT I MADE THE PROBLEM BY OUTTING IN A RADIO! THEY SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND MADE ME PAY FOR FIXING THAT PROBLEM AND TOWING COSTS. DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY PAPER WORK ON REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ALSO WILL NOT GIVE ME COPY OF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CAR. I AM WORRIED THAT ENGINE WILL CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS AND PAY INSURANCE ON THIS CAR. I FEEL THE CAR IS DANGERIOUS AND DEALER WILL NOT MAKE PROPER REPAIR OR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. I DO THINK THAT THE ENGINE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR THEY WOULD GIVE ME RECEIPTS. I KNOW THIS CAR IS AND HAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAS TO DO W/ENGINE AND ACCENT AUTO KNOWS THAT. . MY LIFE IS IN DANGER DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. *AK
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
INSIDE PLASTIC PARTS BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. REPLACEMENT DOES NOT STAY BUCKLED. RECALLS - SEARCH RESULTS SEARCH RESULTS REPORT DATE : DECEMBER 2, 2014 AT 11:21 PM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): CHEVROLET / CAMARO 1984-1990 PONTIAC / FIREBIRD 1984-1990 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: MAY 14, 1990 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 90V105000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA90001 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1,500,000 SUMMARY: PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS. CONSEQUENCE: THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. REMEDY: REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE. NOTES: SYSTEM: SEAT BELT BUCKLE.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING WHEEL BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND FELL INTO DRVER'S LAP. TT
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 .