Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Sep 27, 2000
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 59 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Pontiac Firebird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming brake
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structureBrakesVisibility
Filed Sep 27, 2000
THE ABS DO NOT LOCK UP SOMETIMES WHEN I SLOW DOWN AT AN INTERSETION. THE DOOR SKINS ON BOTH DOORS HAVE BECOME SEPARATED SEVERSAL TIMES WHICH MAKES THE CAR DOORS NOT SHUT ALL THE WAY WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME AND OTHERS OUR LIVES. THE POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS ALWAYS BREAK SO THAT I CAN NOT OPEN MY DOOR OR WINDOWS THEY ALSO COME OFF TRACK . THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SCRATCH THE WINDSHIELD SO IT HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THEY DO NOT WIPE THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD WHICH LEAVES BLIND SPOTS IN MY POINT OF SIGHT CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER TO NOT CAUSE RECKS.
NHTSA ID
732668
Incident
Jan 25, 2000
BrakesElectrical
Filed Feb 1, 2000
DISC BRAKES MISSING BACKPLATE ALLOWING RAIN TO SOAK BRAKES RESULTING IN DRASTICALLY REDUCED BRAKING POWER. GM SAYS IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE EFFECT OF SUCH A HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKING SYSTEM. CONDENSATION IN DISTRIBUTOR CAUSES SPUTTERING. DEALER OFFERED $1000 RETROFIT TO A VENTED DISTRUBUTOR. KNOWN BIG PROBLEM WITH OPTITRONIC IGNITION. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA ID
718170
Brakes
Filed Jan 31, 1999
2 injuries reported
TRANS. LOCK OUT AND NOISE. HAD TO BE REBUILT AT MY EXPENSE @ 63K MI. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROB. ABS FAILS IN WET COND. CAUSED MANY NEAR ACIDENTS. I MUST BRAKE MANY TIMES THE NORMAL DISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT I CAN STOP
NHTSA ID
702789
Incident
Jan 29, 1996
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 1998
BRAKES FAILED. CD PLAYER FAILED. TORQUE CONVERTER BEW AT 30,000 MILES.
NHTSA ID
541721
Incident
Apr 1, 1997
Brakes
Filed May 16, 1998
ABS BRAKES FAIL WHILE RAINING.
NHTSA ID
535659
Brakes
Filed Jan 24, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported
APPLIED BRAKES AND CLUTCH AT SAME TIME, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED UP, VEHICLE SPUN AROUND TWICE, LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT; VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK
NHTSA ID
808095
Incident
Jan 21, 1997
Brakes
Filed Jan 6, 1997
Crash reported
OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES, HE STATES THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT, HAD NO PRESSURE AT ALL AND PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR, DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
NHTSA ID
807122
Incident
Dec 28, 1996
Brakes
Filed Nov 5, 1996
Crash reported
FAILURE OF THE REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, WHEN MAKING A STOP THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ID
802579
Incident
Sep 14, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jul 1, 1996
ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, YELLOW LIGHTS ON AND THEN A LOW TRACTION LIGHT AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. *AK
NHTSA ID
986319
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jan 12, 1995
DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CONSTANTLY BLOWS FUSES CAUSING NON-ILLUMINATION OF BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN APPLIED. POTENTIAL RISK OF BEING REAR-ENDED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA ID
958596
Incident
Jan 12, 1995
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own