Pontiac Firebird Complaints

586 consumer complaints on file.

#721229April 9, 2000
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MECH. SAYS THAT THESE ITEMS SHOULDN'T GO BAD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551602March 29, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857435February 23, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857136February 17, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT COMPLETELY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS A CONVERTIBLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#718621February 11, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE "AIR PUMP" FUSE FREQUENTLY BURNS OUT, CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL AT LOW SPEEDS. *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
#718306February 4, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
MY "T-TOP" CAR'S A PILLAR COLLAPSED AND STRUCK ME IN THE HEAD WHEN I WAS STRUCK IN THE LEFTMOST FRONT PART OF MY CAR, CAUSING A SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY WHICH I AM SLOWLY RECOVERING FROM. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#718170February 1, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#717701January 22, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
UPON TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BRAKE JOB, DUE TO TOWN & COUNTRY PONTIAC ADVISING THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE MAINTAINED, I WAS ADVISED (NOT BY THE DEALERSHIP, BY ANOTHER MECHANIC'S SHOP) THAT THE RIGHT FRONT ROTAR WAS WORN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS REQUIRED BY MD. LAW. UPON LEARNING THIS, I THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO PENN PONTIAC, AS TOWN & COUNTRY LOOKED AT MY BRAKES AND DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, AND PENN PONTIAC CONFIRMED THAT ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE ROTAR HAD BEEN CHEWED UP. THEY FURTHER ADVISED ME THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT WORN UNEVENLY AND THAT THERE WAS NO WAY POSSIBLE THAT THIS OCCURRED FROM NORMAL WEAR. THEY FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT ROTAR HAD TO HAVE BEEN MACHINED AT SOME POINT BECAUSE THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE NORMAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE BRAKES HAD NEVER BEEN REPAIRED OR MAINTAINED, AS THE SENSOR HAD JUST BEGAN MAKING NOISE WHICH INDICATED THAT IT WAS JUST THEN TIME FOR THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE. THEREFORE, THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM OR TOWN & COUNTY PONTIAC HAD TO HAVE MACHINED THAT ROTAR PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF SAID VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 3000 MILES, AS IT WAS A DEMO. TOWN & COUNTRY NEVER DISCLOSED ANY INFORMATION OF PRIOR REPAIRS REQUIRED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE OF SAME. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS FAIR TO EXPECT A BUYER TO ASSUME THAT REPAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON A NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 3000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#717702January 22, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
UPON PICKING UP MY VEHICLE FROM PENN PONTIAC AFTER HAVING TO HAVE THE RIGHT FRONT ROTOR PREMATURELY REPLACED AND HAVING THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED, I TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON WET ROADS DUE TO RAIN WHEN HAVING TO STOP FOR A RED TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE. AT THE TIME OF HITTING THE BRAKES, I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT GO INTO EFFECT FOR AT LEAST 5 SECONDS. I HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ADVISE THEM OF THIS. THEY ADVISED ME TO CALL AFTER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT IN ADDITION TO THE RATTLING NOISES THAT I HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT FOR SEVERALS PRIOR VISITS. I THEN HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND WAS ADVISED THAT A MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND THAT A BAFFLE WAS BROKEN ON THE MUFFLER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE MUFFLER AND WAS ASSURED THAT THE MUFFLER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE RATTLING. THIS DID CORRECT THE BRAKE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE RATTLING NOISE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AFTER SERVICE, THE VEHICLE WAS RATTLING WORSE THEN WHEN DROPPED OFF, DESPITE THE DEALERSHIP'S ASSURANCES THAT THE MUFFLER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 4TH TIME. I WILL SUBMIT A DIFFERENT REPORT AS WILL BE OUTLINED IN THE NEXT REPORT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#717703January 22, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE SES LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND UPON TAKING IT TO TOWN & COUNTRY THE FIRST TIME, THEY ADVISED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD GONE BAD AND REPLACED SAME. I HAD TO RETURN AGAIN ON 10/07/99 BECAUSE THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS SPUTTERING. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED THIS TIME. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND ADVISED THAT I REFUSED TO RETURN TO TOWN & COUNTRY AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO PENN PONTIAC. I WAS ADVISED ONCE AGAIN THAT IT WAS A SPARK PLUG WIRE AND THEY REPLACED SAME AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON 11/24/99 I HAD TO RETURN TO PENN PONTIAC FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE THIRD TIME. ONCE AGAIN, THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS A SPARK PLUG WIRE AND REPLACED ANOTHER ONE AGAIN. ON 12/10/99, I RETURNED TO PENN PONTIAC FOR THE FOURTH TIME BECAUSE THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS SPUTTERING AND THE ENTIRE BACK END WAS RATTLING. I WAS ADVISED THIS TIME THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A BROKEN BAFFLE IN THE MUFFLER AND THEY REPLACED THE MUFFLER. UPON PICKING UP MY VEHICLE AFTER SAID REPAIRS, THE VEHICLES WAS RATTLING WORSE THAN IT EVER HAD BEFORE. THERE IS NO WAY PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD HAVE TEST DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AFTER SAID REPAIRS AND NOT NOTICED THE HORRIBLE NOISE, BECAUSE IT WAS RATTLING AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY WENT IN AND SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER. HE CAME OUT AND LISTENED TO THE VEHICLE AND HAD A MECHANIC TAKE IT BACK INTO THE SHOP. AFTER WAITING APPROX. 30 MINUTES, THE MANAGER THEN ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS THE CATILYTIC CONVERTER AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO GO BACK AGAIN AND HAVE THE CATILYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. HE ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD ONLY TAKE AN HOUR. I CALLED THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND HAD TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD FIT ME IN. ON 01/05/00, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 5TH TIME TO HAVE THE CATILYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. AND NOW IT IS 01/21/00 AND THE ALTERNATOR HAS NOW FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING THE SAME WAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#855329January 21, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE RAN INTO A TREE AT 40MPH HEAD-ON, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#855264January 20, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES THE FRONT OF THE VECHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT SIDE, AND BRAKES ARE SOFT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#717410January 16, 2000
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
I AM NOT SURE THAT THIS IS A NECCESSARY FILING. I WAS RESEARCHING RECALLS FOR A USED CAR THAT I PURCHASED AND WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THE VEHICLE DID IN FACT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPONENTS INDICATED. IF I AM GOING ABOUT THE PROCEDURE IN A WRONG MANNER PLEASE ADVISE(AND DIRECT). NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#784401January 4, 2000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, PARKING BRAKE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#550046December 21, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
RUST ACCUMULATION UNDER FLEX BRAKE HOSE CENTRE SUPPORT WHICH HAS CRIMPED HOSE AND CAUSING FLEX BRAKE LINE FAILURE. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854078December 15, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHENEVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD STICK TO FLOOR & WOULD NOT LET UP. VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TAKE OFF. WOULD APPLY BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE FAIL TO STOP. VEHICLE HIT A CURB & WENT AIRBORNE & LANDED 200 FEET FACING THE OTHER DIRECTION. DRIVE VEHICLE TO SHOP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK THE THROTTLE LINKAGES ON VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716031December 14, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
MY "T-TOP" CAR'S A PILLAR COLLAPSED AND STRUCK ME IN THE HEAD WHEN I WAS STRUCK IN THE LEFTMOST FRONT PART OF MY CAR ,CAUSING A SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY WHICH I AM SLOWLY RECOVERING FROM. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#715955December 12, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
THESE FAILURES ARE INTER-RELATED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE EPISODES OF THIS PROBLEM. NO DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715964December 12, 1999
WHEELS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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