1998 Pontiac Firebird Owner Complaints

Fuel lines on this car are non-metallic. Apparently, some sharp-toothed critter bit the line causing a fuel leak as confirmed by the independent service center indicated on the uploaded invoice. There was no warning. I noticed a puddle under the differential. Replacement lines are no longer available from manufacturer. Problem must be known because repair kits (see invoice) are available. "Best" solution is replacement of existing nylon lines with metallic lines (as should have been done when the car was first manufactured). As this would be an extremely costly and impractical repair, may I suggest an alternative: cover the fuel lines with a braided stainless steel sheath. This would be effective as well as both practical and relatively inexpensive. Leaving the lines exposed risks further damage and increased possibility of fire. My car is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11479174

Incident

Aug 1, 2022

SLOW LEAK OF GASOLINE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR DIDN'T NOTICE IT BUT I COULD SMELL GAS WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON THE REAR WAS SMOKING BUT NOT FROM THE EXHAUST THEN FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498362

Incident

Feb 23, 2012

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WATER WAS SEEPING INTO THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT FROM RAIN CORRODING THE REFLECTIVE MATERIALS IN THE TAIL LIGHT, WHICH DIMINISHED THE ILLUMINATION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 12/1/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10170510

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

Mileage

78,000 mi

BOUGHT THE CAR IN JAN. OF 98, AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL 700 MILES. THAT IS WHEN THE GAS PEDAL STUCK FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER IT. LUCKILY I WAS ON A RURAL ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IT STOPPED. IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES AFTER THAT, ONE TIME TAKING ME 100 MPH. THE FINAL TIME I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, WHICH BLEW MY MOTOR AND COST ME 4000 TO REPLACE. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP BECAUSE THIS IS A LIFE THREATING PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10140506

Incident

Mar 5, 2005

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE. *NM DRIVER HIT SHOULDER ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CAUSED A LIGAMENT TEAR, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED A CUT ON THE HEAD. *LA

NHTSA ID

10057367

Incident

Jan 29, 2004

Mileage

92,000 mi

LAST YEAR I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT MOTOR BROKE. I COULDNT AFFORD TO FIX IT. I GOT IT FIXED IN JULY 03. NOW IN SEPTEMBER 03 THE LEFT IS GONE. IM VERY UPSET WITH THIS. DONT YOU THINK GM COULD MAKE SOMETHING LAST LONGER THEN 4 OR 5 YEARS? I CANT AFFORD THIS. I JUST PUT OVER $3,OOO INTO THIS CAR BETWEEN TIRE RODS BRAKES,HEADLIGHTS, NEW PASSENGER MIRROR, UNIVERSAL JOINTS,EVERYTHING IS GOING ALL AT ONCE GIVE ME A BREAK. IM 24 AND I HAVE OWNED AN 87 & 95 FIREBIRD BESIDES THIS ONE. I LOVE THE CAR BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH HOW LONG STUFF LASTS IN IT. MELONY MCNEANEY

NHTSA ID

10070840

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

61,000 mi

REAR TAIL LIGHT HAS A DESIGN FLAW. IT ALLOWS MOISTURE INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT AND HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH NUMEROUS REPLACEMENT BULBS AND A BUILD-UP OF MOISTURE. I FEEL IF THIS CONTINUES, IT WILL EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE INSIDE OF THE TAIL LIGHT COVER APPEARS VERY DARK, ALMOST AS IF THE TAIL LIGHT BULB IS BURNED OUT, THEREFORE CAUSING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FOLLOW AND WATCH MY EVERY MOVE ON SOME INSTANCES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10049076

Incident

Oct 8, 2001

LEFT SIDE HEAD LIGHT IS OVERHEATING BURNING OUT THE AMBER BULB WHICH IS USED FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT. THE MOTOR FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE HEADLIGHT LID PERFORMS ERRATIC. THE HEADLIGHT MOTOR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE LID HAS SHUT AND CONTINUES TO RUN. THE OWNER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID

8024085

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WHEELS RIM BASE FAILED (TIRE SIZE P235 55 R16). *YH

NHTSA ID

568159

Incident

Jul 16, 2002

THE TIRE RIM IS CUTTING INTO TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR

NHTSA ID

8020249

Incident

Sep 10, 2002

HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND CANNOT TRACE PROBLEM. CD PLAYER QUIT WORKING SOON AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED

NHTSA ID

764148

Incident

Jul 9, 2002

BATTERY IS LINKING INTO WIRING HARNESS, AND IS HARD TO START MOTOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007756

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES SUDDENLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AT 45MPH. HAD HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 90 DEGREE ANGLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED, BUT NOT TREATED AT EMERGENCY ROOM, WENT TO PRIVATE DOCTOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

896887

Incident

Sep 14, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

751563

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. WHEN STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE SPEED BRAKES DID NOT WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID

890351

Incident

Jun 8, 2001

SPRINGS ARE ALSO WORN OUT, HAD WINDOW MOTORS REPLACED AND THEY STILL MAKE CRUNCHING NOISES. THIS CAR STAYS AT THE PONTIAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSTEAD OF MY GARAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

746481

Incident

May 31, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH STEERING STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHILE BRAKING. THIS SECOND TIME AT 26,000 MILES THAT FRONT ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING. DEALER STATED IT WAS NATURAL WEAR AND TEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

888726

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

I WAS DRIVING AND SAW A DEER; PUT ON BRAKES MAKING THEM SOUND, DEER HIT FRONT END OF CAR TEARING OFF LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND MANGLING INSIDE OF LIGHT; ALSO PUSHED THE LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL TOWARD THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH MINOR DENT IN THAT SECTION. TOOK CAR TO DEALER NEXT MORNING AND RECEIVED ESTIMATE. DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS NOTICED THAT THE SEAT FELT LIKE IT WAS LOOSE WHEN TURNING SHARP CURVES AND WOULD MAKE A THUMP SOUND. CAR IN FOR REPAIRS. DEALER HAS STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE SEAT TO BECOME LOOSE IN ITS TRACKS. BOLTS ARE TIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID

742883

Incident

Feb 23, 2001

UNEVEN WEAR IN THE BRAKE ROTORS. GM HAS REDESIGNED THE ROTOR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICING TWICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, GM REFUSES TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT WAS INCORRECTLY REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE UNEVEN WEAR CAUSES A SHIMMY IN THE CAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. ACCORDING TO GM SERVICE BULLETINS, IT GENERALLY HAPPENS AFTER ABOUT 7000 MILES FROM LAST BRAKE SERVICING (AS IS THE CASE WITH MY CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

741560

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND TRYING TO AVOID A DEER ON ROAD, DROVE OVER A WET SPOT, LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

879039

Incident

Jan 21, 2001

WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE. WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. COMMON GMC PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

739514

Incident

Jan 15, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH HIT A SOFT SPOT ON SHOULDER,VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, HIT MAIL BOX/ PHONE BOX/TREE, AND ROLLED OVER, COMMING TO A STOP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD, UPSIDE DOWN. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

874712

ALL 4 BRAKE DISCS WERE WARPED. DEALER GROUND DOWN..STILL SLIGHT WARP!

NHTSA ID

727995

Incident

Aug 20, 1999

THROTTLE PEDAL GETS CAUGHT BY FLOOR MAT WHEN SLAMMED TO FLOOR FOR FAST ACCELERATION. FLOOR MAT DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO PREVENT IT FROM MOVING IN FRONT OF PEDAL, AT THIS POINT, VEHICLE STAYS ACCELERATING.*AK

NHTSA ID

725534

Incident

Jul 14, 2000

HAVE HAD TO HAVE FRONT ROTORS TURNED TWICE WITHIN 23,300 MILES.STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

723048

Incident

Apr 13, 1999