Pontiac Firebird Complaints (1995)

84 consumer complaints on file.

#722664May 14, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE SMOG PUMP BLOWS THE FUSE, THE COOLING FANS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED NEARLY $500.00 TO REPLACE THE PUMP, WIRING, AND FUSE. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM USING BIGGER RATED WIRE AND FUSE, WHICH USUALLY MEANS ORIGINAL PARTS WERE NOT ADDEQUATE. I AM GOING TO CONTACT GM'S CORPORATE OFFICES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF THE T.S.B. CALLS FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM WITH BIGGER RATED WIRE AND FUSE, THEN GM KNOWS IT IS POSSIBLY A DESIGN DEFECT. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE UNDER A RECALL OR AN EMISSIONS WARRANTY OF SOME KIND. *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
#708467July 10, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#838493May 26, 1999
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE SHIFT LEVER GEAR WOULD JUMP FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL WHEN NOT PHYSICALLY HOLDING IT. ITS A 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION (T-56). BEEN TO DEALER & NOTHING FOUND. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706600May 17, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE CAR FAILS TO PROCEED, BUT JUST SITS STILL FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS BEFOR IT STARTS TO MOVE FOREWARD. THIS IS SCARY BECAUSE I HAVE HAD NEAR-ACCIDENTS WITH THIS PROBLEM WHEN AN APPROACHING VEHICLE IS COMING UP ON ME FROM THE REAR ON THE ROADS I HAVE BACKED OUT ONTO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARSHALL PONTIAC IN CLINTON, IN FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXHISTS REGARDLESS. THIS CREATES ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN THE ROADS ARE SLICK. WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE FOREWARD, IT ACCELERATES AND CAUSES TIRE SLIPPAGE AND LOSS OF TRACTION. ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM NOW....WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SHUT OFF, THEY DROP INTO PLACE, BUT THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT MAKES A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOR ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS. THE DRIVING LIGHTS CANNOT BE TURNED ON WITHOUT THE HEADLIGHTS POPPING UP (EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT LIT). I FIND MYSELF SHUTTING OFF MY HEADLIGHTS BEFORE I REACH A POPULATED AREA TO AVOID EMBARRASMENT OF THE NOISE. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS, I REALIZE. IT CAN BE HEARD A BLOCK AWAY. I HAVE TALKED TO ABOUT 5 OTHER FIREBIRD AND TRANS AM OWNERS IN JUST MY AREA THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE SHIFT FROM R TO DRIVE. WHEN THEY HAD THE HEADLIGHT MOTOR REPLACED, THEY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN WITH THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR/MODULE. NOW ABOUT THE IGNITION....THE CAR TAKES THREE, SOMETIMES FOUR TRYS TO START. THIS WAS QUITE A PROBLEM FOR ME WHEN I WAS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION NEEDING TO RUSH MY DAUGHTER TO THE HOSPITAL AS SHE CUT OFF HER THUMB RECENTLY. WE LOST VALUABLE TIME TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO START WHILE SHE WAS LOSING ALOT OF BLOOD. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY FRUSTRATING. MARSHALL PONTIAC IN CLINTON, IN HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHT MOTORS ON THESE 90 MODEL FIREBIRD AND TRANS AMS IN THE PAST WITHOUT INFORMING THE OWNER THAT OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A PROB. LOCALLY, WHAT ARE THE NAT'NL NUMBERS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835628March 10, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE GOT STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RACE AND ACCLERATE. BRAKING SYSTEM COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. HAD TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703128February 10, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE #29, AIR PUMP FUSE AND WIRING ARE NOT ADEQUATE TO PREVENT FUSE FROM BLOWING. FUSE BLOWS AFTER ENGINE GOES INTO CLOSED LOOP OPERATION. AIR PUMP DOES NOT WORK AFTER THIS, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO APPEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703025February 7, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
DURING INITIAL 3 YR/36,000 MILES WARRANTY PERIOD THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP 5 OR MORE TIMES FOR THE IGINITION PROBLEM. IT INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. THE TOTAL IGNITION AND KEYS, CLUTCH SWITCH WERE REPLACED, AND EVENTUALLY I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED WHEN THE SECURITY MODULE WAS REPLACED AT AROUND 37,000 MILES. IN THE LAST 2 DAYS THE IGINITION HAS FAILED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES, AND WORKED CORRECTLY ABOUT 10 TIMES. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. I WAS HOPING TO FIND IT WAS A RECURRENT PROBLEM THAT YOU HAD A RECORD ON, AND I COULD FINALLY GET IT RESOLVED. HOWEVER, I DIDN'T FIND THIS IN THE DATA BASE. ALSO, THE BACKUP LIGHTS WERE FIXED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND HAVE FAILED AGAIN. THE ORIGNAL FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH ON THE TRANSMISION. I AM ASSUMING THAT IS THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE BULBS ARE OKAY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#829582October 27, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER AND VEHICLE STALLED. PULLED OVER AND RAISED THE HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A NEARBY DRIVER HELPED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700124October 27, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE IGNITION SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURED IN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS (FROM A STOP, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE IN CRUISE, WHILE ACCELERATING, ETC.). DASH INDICATIONS ARE A
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#829451October 26, 1998
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT VEHICLE STARTED SPINNING AROUND, THEN LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES. NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT INCIDENT WOULD OCCUR. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE CAR WAS TOTALLED AND NO REPAIIRS DONE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#829454October 26, 1998
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IE 97060; THERE IS A FUEL LEAKAGE SOMEWHERE AND A SMELL OF GASOLINE. WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL HARD ONE CAN SMELL THE GAS MORE. DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FUEL SMELL, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#829456October 26, 1998
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE TRAVELLING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH DUE TO THE REAR AXLE BREAKING IN HALF. FRONTAL IMPACT AND REAR IMPACT INTO A CEMENT WALL, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#827326August 27, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. TSB ON A STEERING WIRE CAN SHORT CIRCUIT. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#827327August 27, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH. SMOKE THEN CAME FROM VENTILATION VENTS IN VEHICLE, WHICH THEN RESULTED IN A FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. CAUSE OF FIRE UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#540514July 27, 1998
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILING 3 TO 4 TIMES IN THE 3 YRS OWNED. THE IDIOT LIGHT ABS INOP LIGHT SOMEHOW LIGHTS UP. EACH TIME THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND REALIGNES MY BACK BRAKES. BLEW OUT AGAIN, BOTH FRONT HUB AND SENSORS ARE TOTALLY OUT AND NEED REPLACING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#825713July 22, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN REAR BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT ABS BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION. POSSIBLE CAUSE CROSS UP OF WIRES. CONSUMER HAD PARTS REPLACED, BUT CONDITION STILL EXIST. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#780034July 1, 1998
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
HATCH/TRUNK AREA WHERE THE LOCK PANEL AND HATCH MEET IS GLUED IN A STRATEGIC AND DANGEROUS SPOT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE LOCK IS NOT GRABBING TOGETHER COMPLETELY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#537670July 1, 1998
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. REPAIR INCLUDED STEERING COLI KIT 14.865.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#537669July 1, 1998
STEERING
VEHICLE BEING BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Pontiac Firebird