1992 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 1992 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 system826.7%
- Body & structure413.3%
- Airbags413.3%
- Electrical310.0%
- Brakes26.7%
- Transmission26.7%
- Seat belts26.7%
- Steering26.7%
- Engine13.3%
- Other / unspecified13.3%
- Suspension13.3%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERES A FUEL SMELL IN VEHICLE, TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT THERE A RECALL 9+4 V 077 000 FOR FUEL FILLER NECK. MR
THESE FAILURES ARE INTER-RELATED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE EPISODES OF THIS PROBLEM. NO DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER TIRE STARTED TO WIGGLE, AND THEN CONSUMER LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER SAID THAT HAS TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER, WHERE DEALER STATED THAT CAR FRAME WAS BROKEN.*AK
CAR WAS SOLD BY DEALER KNOWING IT HAD A CRACK MAIN FRAME, BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY SOLD IT OUT OF STATE, NEW HAVEN,VT. COMPANY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND I LOSS $5,000.00 DOLLARDS. BUT WHAT IVE BEEN TOLD IS THE CAR NOW HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. IM JUST TRYING TO LOCATE INFO ON THIS CAR SO I CAN COLLECT MONEY OWE TO ME FROM BONDED COMPANY IN ORANGE COUNTY,CA. *AK
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
AIRBAG COMPUTER MODULE FAILED.
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. WITH THE GEAR IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE WHEELS BEGAN SMOKING DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. THE FOLLOWING DAY, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE ECM AND THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 4/25/08 *CN
STARTER FAILED 3 TIMES DUE TO DESIGN PROBLEMS. *AK
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
THESE FAILURES ARE INTER-RELATED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE EPISODES OF THIS PROBLEM. NO DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
BRAKES FAILED, EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. WITH THE GEAR IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE WHEELS BEGAN SMOKING DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. THE FOLLOWING DAY, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE ECM AND THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 4/25/08 *CN
RECALL 92V154 000/ AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION : VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SHIFT CONTROL CABLE SEPARATION. RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. BUT, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST WAS PICKED UP BY CONSUMER. *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
DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELST FAILED. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM FOR FREE.
PASSENGER'S SIDE LAP/SHOULDER BELT RESTRAINT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH . *AK
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
PUSHED LEVER IN TO RAISE STEERING WHEEL AND MOVED STEERING WHEEL UPWARD, AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF IN MY HANDS.
THE VEHICLE'S FRAME IS BREAKING DUE TO PRESSURE OF THE GEAR BOX, AND ALSO THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT; AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES.*AK FRAME IS BROKE AT STEERING GEAR, STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE, AND STEERING LINKAGE AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN, PRESSURE FROM THE GEAR BOX CAUSES THE FRAME TO WEAKEN AND BREAK, THE PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN PROBLEM, REPLACING THE FRAME BAND DOES NOT GUARANTEE PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS, THE IDLER ARM AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT WERE REPLACED. *SLC
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
WHILE DRIVING OFF THE FREEWAY DRIVER HEARD LOUD NOISE--THE IDLER PULLER AND BELT FELL OFF THE CAR. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML
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
DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE SEAL LOCKED UP @ 50 MPH LEAKING SLOWING ONTO BRAKES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE'S FRAME IS BREAKING DUE TO PRESSURE OF THE GEAR BOX, AND ALSO THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT; AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES.*AK FRAME IS BROKE AT STEERING GEAR, STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE, AND STEERING LINKAGE AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN, PRESSURE FROM THE GEAR BOX CAUSES THE FRAME TO WEAKEN AND BREAK, THE PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN PROBLEM, REPLACING THE FRAME BAND DOES NOT GUARANTEE PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS, THE IDLER ARM AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT WERE REPLACED. *SLC
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 .