2001 Pontiac Firebird Owner Complaints

FRONT TURN SIGNALS GO OUT EVERY FEW WEEKS. THE PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN OF THE SOCKET, WHICH IS NOT SEALED WELL CAUSING THE SOCKET TO SHORT OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE SOCKET AND LIGHT-BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I FEEL TURN SIGNALS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT, AND ACCIDENTS COULD AND DO OCCUR WITHOUT THEM. ALSO, SINCE THE SOCKETS ARE SHORTING OUT, I AM WORRIED THAT A BIGGER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COULD MANIFEST BECAUSE OF THAT. I KNOW THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT I AM CONFUSED WHY A RECALL FOR SUCH A BAD AND DANGEROUS DESIGN HAS NOT BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.

NHTSA ID

11004641

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

FIRESTONE TIRE DEFECTIVE: TREADS COMPLETELY PEELED OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166140

Incident

Aug 18, 2006

Mileage

43,580 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE TRUNK AND NOTICED A BEACH TOWEL HAD TWO BURN MARKS ON IT. THE TOWEL WAS MOVED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

10165621

Incident

Aug 16, 2006

Mileage

35,000 mi

DT: WIRING LOOSENED ON FRONT HEADLIGHTS, HAD TO PULL OVER AT NIGHT, AND PLUG IN AGAI. CHECKED FUSES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE THE ACTUAL ONES. ALSO, THE BULBS THAT WORKED THE BLINKERS FAILED, AND THE BACK LIGHTS WENT IN/OUT DUE TO A SHORT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10124650

Incident

Aug 18, 2002

Mileage

40,000 mi

FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL WAS LOOSE. *NM THIS WAS A RECURRENT ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE WINDOW TO COME OFF TRACK WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO TRAPPING THE CONSUMERS WIFE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR HAD BEEN STRESSED AT THE FACTORY DURING IT'S CONSTRUCTION. THE DOOR WAS UN-REPAIRABLE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109713

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

PAINT ON ROOF BEHIND T-TOPS BUBBLING AND LEAKING FLUID ON REST OF PAINT. TOOK TO DEALER AND SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE AFTER WARRANTY. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE CAR THAT IS MEANT TO LOOK GOOD. THIS IS AN EYE SORE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10104602

Incident

Jul 13, 2004

Mileage

49,000 mi

EXCESSIVE VALVE CLATTER AND CONSUMPTION OF FUEL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10096445

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

20,000 mi

AT 6,000 MILES, MY CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PULSE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS WARPED ROTORS. I'VE HAD THEM RESURFACED THREE TIMES NOW! WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THESE ROTORS? ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING TO AVOID A COLLISION. IT IS NOT SAFE AND DEFINATELY NOT NORMAL FOR ROTORS TO WARP SO FAST. WHY WON'T GM DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10096444

Incident

Mar 14, 2002

Mileage

6,000 mi

ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I HAVE REPORTED TWO CASES TO PONTIAC AND THYE WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURES EVEN THOUGH THIS IS CLEARLY A CONSISTANT FAILURE ON THE FIREBIRD MODEL ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS. WARP ROTORS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062529

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

Mileage

8,000 mi

TURN SIGNALS OPERATE SPORADICALLY, WHETHER STANDING OR MOVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AND THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG.

NHTSA ID

10031109

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

19,000 mi

INTERMITTENTLY SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030162

Incident

Jul 25, 2003

THE FRONT ROTORS/BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR HAD 196 MILES ON IT, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT EVERY 8,000 TO 12,000. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 2,000 MILES AGO AND THE FRONT END IS VIBRATING AGAIN NOW. THE CAR HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT BOUGHT AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 60,000 MILES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS LOCKED UP TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN ACROSS FOUR LANES, THE FIRST TIME AND DOING A 180 WHILE ON AN ON RAMP RIGHT AFTER LEAVING LONG PONTIAC OF CHATTANOOGA. EVER TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THEM THEY JUST TELL ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TELL ME IT IS OK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10014013

Incident

Mar 23, 2001

Mileage

196 mi

A FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. SCC *TS

NHTSA ID

10003730

Incident

Jun 6, 2002

Mileage

22,580 mi

HEADLAMPS WILL FLICKER INTERMITTANTLY WHEN DRIVING. DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10000144

Incident

Dec 5, 2002

Mileage

6,000 mi

WHEN CAR IS SITTING STILL AND IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THERE IS A VIBRATION THRU OUT CAR @ 2200 RPM'S. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE THE VIBRATION OCCURS AT 48-51 MPH. THIS VIBRATION IS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS SAY THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS CAR. BOTH DEALERSHIPS HAVE AGREED THERE IS A VIBRATION BUT SAY "THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT". THEY HAVE ALSO SAID THAT SOME OF THESE CARS VIBRATIONS ARE WORSE THAN MINE.

NHTSA ID

10000140

Incident

Nov 22, 2002

Mileage

4,000 mi

ELECTRICAL POWER TRUNK AND CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK. THE HOUSING OVER THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD BURNED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10003734

Incident

May 10, 2002

Mileage

22,580 mi

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER. HAD ENGINE REPAIRED , PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8010843

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE PULLS FROM LEFT OR RIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AKALIGNMENT AND BALANCING OF TIRES HAS BEEN PERFORMED MANY TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. CALIPERS, ROTORS, BRAKE HOSES, RACK AND PINION AND STEERING RACK HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED AND PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE PULLING IS STILL PREVALENT. *JG

NHTSA ID

8009149

THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN I HAD TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THIS HAS H APPENED FIVE OTHER TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND UNDER DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. GM KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM IT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS AND THEY REFER YOU TO THE DEALER. THEIR DEALERS DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY KNOW THIS INFORMATION. THIS PROBLEM IS SHOWING UP IN ALL F-BODY GM CARS WITH THEIR 5.7 LITER V8S. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY DEALER BECAUSE I KNOW THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT CONSISTANT. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN IF YOU PREFORM A GIVEN TASK. ONCE I STARTED MY CAR AFTER IT WAS SITTING ALL DAY THE TACH RACED FROM 900 RPM TO 4,000 RPM. I SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND RESTARTED THREE TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. ONCE, I WAS EXITING I-96 FREEWAY AT ORCHARD LAKE ROAD EXIT I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO TO SLOW FOR THE EXIT THE ENGINE SHOT UP TO 5,000 RPM FROM 2,100 AND THE CAR WENT FROM 70MPH TO 90MPH BEFORE I PUT THE CLUTCH IN AND APPLIED THE BREAKS. ANOTHER TIME I WAS DRIVING ON NORTH BOUND TELEGRATH ROAD BETWEEN 14 & 15 MILE ROADS AT 50 MPH IT WAS SUMMER TIME AND I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO SLOW DOWN AND THE ENGINE AGAIN WENT FROM 1,800 RPM TO OVER 4,000 RPM. I AGAIN PUT IN THE CLUTCH, AND REMEMBERED THAT I HAD READ A POST ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, SO I TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE ENGINE WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE HURT OR KILLED. IF YOU GO TO THE SLP ENGINEERING WEB SITE (HTTP://WWW.SLPENG.COM) YOU WILL FIND THAT THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS EITHER A DEFFECT IN THE PCM OR IN THE WIRING HARNES THAT CONTROLS THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. TAKING THE CAR TO A DEALER WILL NOT BE OF ANY HELP. THIS IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS

NHTSA ID

758502

Incident

Feb 7, 2002

BATTERY AMP GAUGE FLUXUATES RANDOM, MAXING AMP (18) THEN DROPPING DRAMATICALLY DOW AS LOW AS (8). LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, DASH) BRIGHTEN AND DIMS AT RANDOM INCLUDING HIGH BEAMS. CAR DIES, STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT AT RANDOM WHEN TURNING SHARPLY TO LEFT OR RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

9006014

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

FRONT END WAS PULLING, JUMPING AND THE BRAKES GRAB WHEN PRESSED AND PULL TO THE LEFT.

NHTSA ID

9005322

Incident

Aug 21, 2001

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT, THE PART ACCROSS THE LAP, DOESN'T RESTRAIN THE DRIVER IN PLACE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. YOU CAN PULL THE BELT AWAY FROM YOUR BODY WITH VERY LITTLE RESISTANCE. GM AND THE DEALER SAY THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION BUT THE PASSENGER BELT PROVIDES POSITIVE RESTRAINT AND MY 96 FIREBIRD PROVIDED POSITIVE RESTRAIN FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS. *AK

NHTSA ID

754569

Incident

Mar 21, 2001

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION - APPROXIMATELY 1QUART OF OIL IS CONSUMED EVERY 1000 MILES. ELECTRICAL - DURING ACCELERATION THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT SHORTS OUT. THIS HAS ESCALATED TO NOT TURNING ON AFTER THE CAR IS WARM AND DRIVEN, STOPPED AND TURNED OFF, THEN TURNED ON AGAIN. CURRENTLY, NOT TURNING ON AT ALL. IF I TAP ON THE LIGHT, IT FLICKERS. *AK

NHTSA ID

747453

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT CAUSES STEERING WHEEL TO SHUTTER. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED.*AK THE ROTORS FAILED AT LESS THAN 7500 MILES, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THEM CLAIMING THEY CAN BE TURNED TWO OR THREE TIMES. *YH

NHTSA ID

890249

Incident

May 1, 2001