Pontiac Firebird Complaints (1996)

41 consumer complaints on file.

#703728February 25, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THIS IS AN ONGOING BRAKE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME, DESPITE GOOD CONDITIONS AND RELATIVELY LOW SPEED. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: CAR DOES NOT FEEL LIKE SUFFICIENT BRAKING IS BEING PROVIDED; MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN ROTORS ARE WET. SYMPTOMS: 1) DRIVER CANNOT APPLY SUFFICIENT FORCE TO LOCK ROTORS (OR ENGAGE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM); 2) REAR BRAKE PADS WORN COMPLETELY OUT AT 35000 MILES, WHILE FRONT PADS BARELY WORN AT ALL. OTHER RELATED FACTS: 1) HAVE PERSONALLY BLED BRAKE SYSTEM, VERIFIED NO AIR IN LINES; 2) DEALER CLAIMS SYSTEM "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" DESPITE EVIDENCE OF WORN REAR PADS; 3) AT PRESENT, CAR HAS WORN TIRES, WHICH SHOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO LOCK-UP ON WET PAVEMENT; I HAVE TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE PEDAL AND PUSH WITH ALL MY MIGHT TO FORCE ROTORS TO LOCK (AND ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM DOES THEN ENGAGE).
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703442February 17, 1999
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
NOTICED ROARING IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE. THOUGHT POSSIBILITY OF SIMPLE ROAD NOISE AT FIRST. BUT LATER AS THE ROAR CONTINUED AND GOT LOUDER ,BECAME CONVINCED OTHERWISE. I HAVE WORKED IN A GARAGE IN THE PAST SO I WAS AWARE OF POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE NOISE, BUT DID NOT BELIEVE THESE POSSIBILITIES SHOULD EXIST AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE ROARING CONTINUES. THE REAR CHUNK WAS FREE OF EXCESS METAL ON THE MAGNET, SO THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS A MYSTERY SINCE LABOR WILL COST SO MUCH. THIS IS ONLY A 3 YEAR OLD CAR SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY FRUSTRATION. AN INQUIRY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND FOLLOW UP LATER FROM NHTSA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#828775October 9, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#541031August 17, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE LEAKING OIL. CHANGED OIL FILLER CAP STEM, ENGINE GASKET TWICE, MAIN CRANK SEAL, DRIVE SHAFT, AND MANIFOLD BUT BUT NONE OF THE REPLACEMENT CORRECTED THE OIL LEAK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#822652April 21, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROAD APPLIED BRAKES. PEDAL PULSATED BUT BRAKES FAILED TO CATCH. VEHICLE SPED UP INSTEAD. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID ABS LIGHT NOT ON & IN FAILURE MODE. COULD NOT REALLY FIND OR REPAIR BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#821379March 10, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE SYSTEM GETS WET, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES, LOSS OF CONTROL FOR FEW SECONDS, SLOWLY WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER, DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE PADS, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#604684October 27, 1997
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCK TURN INDICATOR FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#523782October 24, 1997
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#526268October 23, 1997
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
HEAD RESTS DON'T STAY IN ONE PLACE VERTICALLY/HORIZONTALLY. DRIVER HAS TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE HEAD REST WHILE DRIVING, CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#812555May 28, 1997
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING IN THE DASH IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#811782April 28, 1997
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MPH; ENGINE SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON; HAD TO WAIT 1/2 HOUR TO 1 HOUR BEFORE TRYING TO START VEHICLE AGAIN; TOOK TO DEALER TWICE; COULD NOT FIND/FIX PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#811783April 28, 1997
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 25-30 MPH, ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON; WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 1/2 HOURR TO 1 HOUR BEFORE STARTING AGAIN; TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NOT FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#602994April 10, 1997
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#808492February 3, 1997
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER SAID THAT STRUT ROD CAME LOOSE OR BROKE WHILE DRIVING. AS RESULT THE WHEELS TILTED INWARD. MECHANIC SAID THAT IF CAR WAS IN HIGH SPEED THE WHEELS WOULD HAVE COME OFF, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#514288January 28, 1997
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN FUSE BOX MELTED FUEL LINES AND CAUSED FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#807034January 3, 1997
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE FUEL LINE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE AND IT CAUSED A FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#805897December 31, 1996
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN WET AND DRY WEATHER THE ABS BRAKES LOCK UP. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SECOND TIME INCIDENT HAPPENED ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT HIM AND CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, THE FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP, THE TIRES LOCKED UP AND WHEN CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES THE FROONT OF VEHICLE TURNED SIDEWAYS AND THE TRUCK IN ANOTHER LANE HIT CONSUMER;S VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#806062December 10, 1996
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS IN REFERENCE TO OIL LEAKS, THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION DIP STICK ONTO THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED ABS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#801489October 11, 1996
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS UPON IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#985399June 7, 1996
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL SYS. MALFUNCTIONS WHEN APPYING BRAKE, DASH LIGHTS FLICKER, WHEN APPYING SIGNALS, DASH LIGHTS GO OUT, ALSO CONCEALED HEAD LAMPS WON'T OPEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Pontiac Firebird