Pontiac Firebird Complaints (1996)

41 consumer complaints on file.

#10744253July 28, 2015
CHILD SEAT:LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A COSCO SAFETY SEAT LIGHT AND COMFY SAFETY SEAT (NA), MODEL NUMBER: IC-108BVN (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2013. THE SAFETY SEAT WAS BEING UTILIZED IN A 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOTTOM LEFT LATCH BECAME DIFFICULT TO RELEASE WHEN REMOVING THE CHILD SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SCREWDRIVER WAS NEEDED TO DEPRESS THE LATCH IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE CHILD SEAT. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE CHILD WAS IN THE SAFETY SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221739March 20, 2008
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD SEAT BACK COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE VIOLENTLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT ON THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AND ACCIDENT WHEN HIS SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, BECAUSE WHEN THE SEAT BROKE, HE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND INSTINCTIVELY APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT WILL NOT LOCK IN ANY POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THE SEAT FAILED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100419November 23, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
THE PLASTIC GEARS THAT DRIVE THE HEADLIGHT PODS ON MY 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD HAVE FAILED. RETRACTION OF THE HEADLIGHT CAUSES LOUD GRINDING NOISES. OCCAISIONALLY, ONE OR OTHER OF THE HEADLIGHT PODS DOES NOT RASIE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. IT CAN ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE PODS NO LONGER OPERATE AT ALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE GIVEN THE LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AMONG FIREBIRD OWNERS AND SOME ENTERPRISING SOUL HAS EVEN COME UP WITH A "FIX". NOTE THIS FIX REQUIRES THE DISASSEMBLY OF PARTS THAT WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE TAKEN APART. HTTP://WWW.BFRANKER.BADZ28.COM/HEADLIGHTFIX/INDEX.HTM GM CHARGE OVER $200 DOLLARS FOR THE POD DRIVE MOTOR. THAT IS SIMPLY EXTORTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070677January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE MIRROR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THIS CAR. THE MIRROR BREAKS OFF OF THE CONTROLS WHICH MAKES IT FLOP AROUND. YOU CAN'T USE IT TO DRIVE WITH, NOR CAN YOU GET IT TO STAY STILL. YOU CAN'T REPLACE JUST THE MIRROR EITHER. YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE PIECE (CASING AND MIRROR) THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT PAINTED. GRRRRRRRRRR!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033527September 23, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH FLAMES WERE COMING FROM VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10027249July 14, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE SPARK PLUG WIRES GO BAD WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR UP TO 70,000 MILES OR SEVEN YEARS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FIXED ONE TIME AT NO COST. THE OTHER TIMES THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY THE EXPENSES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017619August 29, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE PLACING KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754168November 6, 2001
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHEN COLD OR DAMP OUTSIDE ENGINE IDLE WILL RACE AND STICK AT 2500 TO 3000 RPM. VEHICLE HAS MANUAL TRANSMISSION - 5 SPEED. SOMETIMES (OCASSIONALLY) TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING SOLVES THE PROBLEM, MOST TIMES NO. COULD BE DANGEROUS IN THE WINTER CAUSING EXCESS TORQUE TO REAR WHEELS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#880176February 8, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FUEL ODOR/VAPOR GETTING INTO VEHICLE VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#870117September 11, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING CAR STARTED HESITATING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 WATER PUMPS PREVIOUSLY. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727001August 8, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DEALER SAID - NO RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#856594February 9, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
FUSE BLEW OUT AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER SAID THAT MECHANIC INDICATED IT WAS THE FUSE. IF ON THE FREEWAY IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR ACCIDENT. WHEN CONSUMER PUTS KEY IN FUSE IT WILL IMMEDIATELY BLOW OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715379November 29, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS WARNING LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. RESTARTING CAR (1 TO 3 TIMES) MAY CORRECT PROBLEM. BRAKES ALSO SLIP ON DRY PAVEMENT CAUSING LOW TRACTION LIGHT TO COME ON AND MAY CAUSE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713470October 18, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713210October 12, 1999
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
THE CABLE ON THE LT. DRIVER SIDE KEEPS BREAKING. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN IT BREAK BOTH TIMES, NO ONE WAS TOUCHING THE MIRROR WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT JUST "POPS" AND THE MIRROR FLIPS UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#548342September 3, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW OUT CONTINUALLY. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#709072July 23, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAKS SIMULTANEOUSLY LEAKING FROM THE FRONT,REAR,MAIN,HEAD,AND OIL PAN GASKETS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#708996July 22, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THE BRAKES ARE REPEATEDLY FAILING. WHEN STOPPING THEY WILL BEGIN TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND THEN LET GO, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO PROCEED FORWARD. IT IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS WHILE TURNING. THE NO TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN OCCURRING. EVENTUALLY THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#837981May 17, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE ELECTRONIC SPECIALIST SAYS THERE IS A SHORTAGE IN ONE OF THE TWO WIRES THAT RUNS FROM DASH TO REAR OF VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#705839April 21, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FIRST TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 34000 MNUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, SECOND TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED WITH ONLY 40,000 MI ON IT. MANUFACTURER WILL ONLY PAY 1/3 OF $2,200 COST. SAME PROBLEM ON BOTH TRANSMISSIONS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Pontiac Firebird