Pontiac FIERO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
94,548 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 to 1996 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 65 complaints (27.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Parking Brake:Conventional: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 5; Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 55 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 14 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 14; 1996: 13; 2000: 8; 2001: 7; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 987066 · 1996-07-18 (July 18, 1996)
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP , PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 987231 · 1996-08-16 (August 16, 1996)
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR PARKING BRAKE PROBLEMS, CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ENGINE. RECALL (91V-055). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482629 · 1995-03-29 (March 29, 1995)
TRANSMISSION LEAK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153437 · 2006-03-22 (March 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BECAME LOUD AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS A RESULT OF THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THE BELT TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, STARTER (REPLACED FOUR TIMES), VALVE COVER GASKET (REPLACED TWICE), OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, HEATER HOSES, RADIATOR HOSES, AND RADIATOR FAN MOTOR WERE REPLACED. LAST WEEK THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE DEALER CONCERNING A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 8…
Owner-reported narrative. 114,491 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 783839 · 2000-01-12 (January 12, 2000)
WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUSING THE IGNITION SYSTEM NOT TO WORK. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 783839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 986906 · 1996-07-15 (July 15, 1996)
RECALL RELATED 89V232000, VEHICLE IN RECALL, CAN'T PEFORM THE RECALL DUE THE SEAL, ALSO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING OVERHEATING OF WIRING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986906 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 3 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 3 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
1984: 3; 1985: 3; 1986: 3; 1987: 2; 1988: 2; 1994: 0; 1996: 0