Pontiac Firebird Complaints (1997)

49 consumer complaints on file.

#867607August 11, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
PREMATURE BURN OUT OF REAR TAIL LIGHTS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO T DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT IT WILL WILL COST $100.00 PER LIGHT.*AK
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
#713939October 27, 1999
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAVE HAD THREE SERIOUS OIL LEAKS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH STARTED WHEN IT ONLY HAD 8,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND THE POWER WINDOWS BROKE. THE REAR BUMPER RUSTS AFTER IT RAINS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE DUST. YOU HAVE TO USE RUBBING COMPOUND ONCE A WEEK. OVERALL, THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXHORBINANT AND NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A $28,000 VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851077October 19, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WAS TRAVELING 30MPH & APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP, VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. VEHICLE SPED UP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. OWNER EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS EVERYDAY. PROBLEM IS NOT INTERMITTENT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE COMPUTER MODULE HAD BROKEN FOR ABS BRAKES. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#609475September 8, 1999
SEATS
FRONT SEAT FLOOR TRACK FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#838179May 19, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WEARING OUT AT 39,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS REPAIR CHARGES GO TO CONSUMER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706417May 11, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES SLIP AND DO NOT CATCH WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE,HAVE TO REALLY NAIL THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND PRAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706418May 11, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN LURCHES, LIKE A TIRE HAS A BUBBLE IN IT, OR THE REAR-END IS SLIPPING, OR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING; YOU CAN ACTUALLY 'FEEL' EACH REVOLUTION OF THE TIRES--RER-RER-RER-RER.....NO MECHANICAL CUASES/PROBLEMS NOTED FROM AUTO SHOP VISITS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#836518April 6, 1999
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY .DAYTIME RUNNING MODULE REPLACED TWICE AND HEADLAMP DIMMER SWITCH ONCE , BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#606219February 1, 1999
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#833388January 12, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THERE IS GAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE IS ALSO HESITATING AND MAKING NOISES. DEALER CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700154October 27, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES FOR MASSIVE OIL LEAKS. CAR DOES NOT SHIFT WELL, WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO SECOND AND REVERSE. THE COMPONENT ABOVE BRAKE INTERFERES WITH BRAKING. YOUR FOOT HITS THE COMPONENT ABOVE THE BRAKE AND MAKES YOU PANIC AND FEEL LIKE YOU CANNOT FIND THE BRAKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#828353September 30, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN BRAKES GET WET THEY BECOME HARD, CAUSING, THE BRAKES TO GRADUALLY STOP, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#538847August 5, 1998
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
HEADREST, DESIGNED TO ADJUST AT ANGLES, NO LONGER LOCKS AT DESIRED ANGLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#825714July 22, 1998
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK. HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO DLR 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#824857June 30, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE WHEN BRAKES ARE WET. VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP PROPERLY. IT TAKES A LOT LONGER FOR VEHICLE TO STOP WHEN BRAKES ARE WET. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT CONDITION STILL OCCURS AND UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#537541June 27, 1998
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
OWNER FILLED THE VEHICLE AND FORGOT TO REPLACE THE CAP. WITHIN ONE MILE OF DRIVING, THE GAS TANK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE WAS GAS SPILLING OUT OF THE TANK AND RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EXHAUST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#534608April 16, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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