1991 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 1991 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
- Fuel system828.6%
- Body & structure310.7%
- Airbags310.7%
- Electrical310.7%
- Tires & wheels27.1%
- Brakes27.1%
- Other / unspecified13.6%
- Powertrain (other)13.6%
- Seat belts13.6%
- Steering13.6%
- Visibility13.6%
- Driver assistance13.6%
- Engine13.6%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT SOMETIMES LATCH AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T/ FUEL LEAK AND FUMES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOUDER JOINT WAS FRACTURED WHICH, ALLOWED FUEL TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 94V077000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRAME IS CRACKED.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
VEHICLE FRAME IS CRACKED BY THE STEERING WHEEL BOX, WHEN HAVING VEHICLE ALIGNED. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK
VEHICLE RAN INTO A TREE AT 40MPH HEAD-ON, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *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
HORN CONTACTS LOCATED BEHIND THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY BROKE CAUSING HORN TO FAIL. *YC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING FUSES TO SHORT OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTREME VIBRATION, SEVERAL REPAIRS ON THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND ROTATION OF THE TIRES DID NOT REMEDY VIBRATION PROBLEMS, REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES SOLVED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM, THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. *MJS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/65/R15 )
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
WHEN APPLYING THE THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE PULSATES UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER STATES TOOK TO DEALER AND DISCOVERED THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
REAR DISC BRAKES ARE UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE; WILL NOT HOLD WHEELS STILL WITH VEHICLE AT IDLE.
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
WHILE WORKING UNDER VEHICLE, JACK COLLAPSED, NO INJURIES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE DUE TO A BAD CASTING CAUSING THE WHEEL TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR TO CRASH*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
SEAT BELT SOMETIMES LATCH AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T/ FUEL LEAK AND FUMES
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
BEFORE CAR COME TO A FULL STOP, COSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ADDITIONAL ITEMS NOT LISTED, AIR/HEATING BLOWER ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. ALSO, A REPAIR STATION HAD TO MAKE A PART FOR ME OUT OF FITTING. IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE METAL FITTING THAT ALLOWS THE WATER TO PASS FROM THE RADIATOR THROUGH THE CAR AND HEATER.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED WHEN HE WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE PRESSURE SENSOR, BEHIND THE HEADLIGHT, WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 56,000. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. UPDATED 06/11/10*JB
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
RADIATOR TANK FAILED, LEAKING FLUID CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION.
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 .