1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
Hi my Pontiac firebird got Impounded properly parked for 3 hrs on private property on the same property where I’m a Tenant at [XXX] Las Vegas it was towed illegally and was in pound yard where I was charged $474.64 by tow guys 3823 losse rd 89030 they did not put sticker they illegally towed no s...
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE MIDDLE LANE ON BELTWAY 495 HEADING TO WORK- I SAW A HUGE TIRE HIGH IN THE AIR & DROPPING IN FRONT OF MY CAR. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. IT HIT THE FRONT GRILLE & WENT UNDERNEATH MY CAR CAUSING IT TO FLY OVER THE TIRE. I LANDED SAFELY ON THE MIDDLE LANE. ( AT THE ...
Mileage: 60
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE RO...
Mileage: 119,280
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE RO...
Mileage: 119,280
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE RO...
Mileage: 119,280
THE TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT SOCKETS ON THE 1997 FIREBIRD (AND PROBABLY OTHER MODEL YEARS) BURN UP AFTER A TIME CAUSING SIGNAL FAILURE AND MARKER LIGHT FAILURE. THE CAUSE IS THE EXCESSIVE HEAT GIVEN OFF BY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. PONTIAC USED THE TURNING SIGNAL ELEMENT OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AS A FUL...
Mileage: 60,000
AT 118,000 MILES I HAD MY FRONT BRAKES CHANGED FOR THE THIRD TIME. I ASKED THE PERSON CHANGING THE BRAKES TO CHECK THE REAR BRAKES SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN CHANGED. I HAD ASKED PREVIOUS PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THEM WHEN INSPECTING BRAKES AND I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THEY WERE FINE. THIS TIME THE PERSON REAL...
Mileage: 118,000
CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAS CRACKS DEVELOPING, AND DEALER INDICATES THAT PANELS ARE SEPARATING. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAS CRACKS DEVELOPING, AND DEALER INDICATES THAT PANELS ARE SEPARATING. *AK
THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NLM
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 20 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 20 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH
ABS FAILED WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY / SUDDEN STOP, WHICH LED TO A VEHICLE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *JLG
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN OCCURRED VEHICLLE WOULD NOT RESTART FOR AN HOUR OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALERS SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE IS OVERHEATING BECAUSE OF RADIATOR COOLANT (DEX/COOL) BREAKING DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
FUEL LEAKAGE ; LEAKAGE OCCURRED IN FUEL LINE THAT IS ATTACHED TO FUEL INJECTOR. CONSUMER NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN COMING OUTSIDE TO VEHICLE, AND SMELLING THE GASOLINE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED YET.*AK
ROUGH IDLE AFTER ENGINE IS HOT. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START FOR 24 HOURS. *AK
CAR HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING. SES LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD GONE BAD AND ALSO NEEDED NEW 0-2 SENSOR. *AK
CAR HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING. SES LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD GONE BAD AND ALSO NEEDED NEW 0-2 SENSOR. *AK
FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WHOLE WIRING WENT BAD ON THAT LIGHT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THERE HAS BEEN WHINING IN REAR-END AND A ROARING IN FRONT END. I HAVE HAD CAR IN SHOP 9 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR REAR END PROBLEMS,THE DRIVESHAFT HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED,POWER WINDOW FAILURES,HEADLIGHT FAILURE
CANNOT MOVE FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT HITTING STEERING COLUMN CONCERN ABOUT EMERGENCY BRAKING.*AK
LACK OF POWER, HESITATION, BACKFIRING THROUGH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. CANNOT MAINTAIN 40 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, GOING UPHILL.
THE GAS GAUGE READS 3/4 FULL WHEN THE TANK IS ACTUALLY 1/2 FULL. THE GAUGE READS 1/2 FULL WHEN ACTUALLY 1/4 FULL. GAUGE READS 1/4 FULL WHEN EMPTY. PONTIAC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT CORRECT IT, OF REMEDY IT FOR CUSTOMERS. PONTIAC SHOULD REMOVE GAS GAUGE FROM DASH BOARD SINCE THE SYSTEM...
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
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 TH...
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 HITTIN...
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 HITTIN...
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 TO...
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...
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...
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...
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 BR...
FRONT SEAT FLOOR TRACK FAILURE.
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
BRAKES SLIP AND DO NOT CATCH WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE,HAVE TO REALLY NAIL THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND PRAY.
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
HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY .DAYTIME RUNNING MODULE REPLACED TWICE AND HEADLAMP DIMMER SWITCH ONCE , BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
THERE IS GAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE IS ALSO HESITATING AND MAKING NOISES. DEALER CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. *AK
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.
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.
WHEN BRAKES GET WET THEY BECOME HARD, CAUSING, THE BRAKES TO GRADUALLY STOP, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
HEADREST, DESIGNED TO ADJUST AT ANGLES, NO LONGER LOCKS AT DESIRED ANGLE.
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
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
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.
ABS SYSTEM FAILED.
REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKES NOISE, UNABLE TO FIX PROPERLY.
THE VEHICLE WAS CROSSING A RAILROAD TRACK AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH WHEN THE AIR BAGE DEPLOYED. *AK.
THE HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE RIREBIRD TRANS AM AND FIREBIRD FORMULA MODELS WITH OPTIONAL "UPLEVEL SEATS WILL NOT STAY ADJUSTED. SINCE HEADREST POSTS ARE NOT NOTCHED, THE HEAD RESTRAINTS SLIP BACK DOWN TO THE TOPS OF THE SEATBACKS WHILE DRIVING. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 55 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL WITH FRONT OF CAR, AND THEN SWUNG AROUND OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND HIT THE SAME WALL. BOTH DRIVER'S/ OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO BE INJURED. *AK
BOTH SEATS SLIDE FOWARD AND BACKWARD WITH NO WARNING.
CONSUMER TRIED AJUSTING HEAD REST AND FOUND THAT WHEN AJUSTING TO UP-DOWN POSITION, THE HEAD REST ALLOWS APPROX. 3 INCHES OF SPACE BEFORE IT LOCKS. THE ONLY LOCKING POSITION IS A VERTICLE POSITION WHEREAS WHEN AJUSTING THE HEA DREST WOULD MOVE ALMOST OFF THE SEAT THEN IT WILL LOCK ONLY TO SECURE T...
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY, BEGAN TO SMELL GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, HAD TO PULL OVER AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND GAS WAS FLOODING OVER THE ENGINE, THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED GAS WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK
GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDALARE POORLY PLACED. WHEN DRIVER MOVES FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE PEDAL, THE TOP PART OF THE FOOT HITS THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDALARE POORLY PLACED. WHEN DRIVER MOVES FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE PEDAL, THE TOP PART OF THE FOOT HITS THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE POORLY PLACED. UPON MOVING FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE PEDAL (OR VICE VERSA), THE TOP OF FOOT HITS STEERING COLUMN. ONLY WAY TO GET FROM ONE PEDAL TO OTHER REQUIRES A LOT OF FOOT/LEG MOVEMENT. *AK