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U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Pontiac FIREBIRD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

14 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

57,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 14 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior321.4%
Transmission and shifting17.1%
Electrical and battery issues17.1%

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.

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Child Seat:Latch Connector/Clip
1
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
Electrical System:Wiring
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
Unknown Or Other2
Child Seat:Latch Connector/Clip1
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch1
Electrical System:Wiring1
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers1
Engine And Engine Cooling1

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Child Seat:Latch Connector/Clip: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 11 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.

1996
2
2000
3
2001
2
2002
1
2003
2
2004
2
2008
1
2015
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19962
20003
20012
20021
20032
20042
20081
20151

1996: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2008: 1; 2015: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10221739 · 2008-03-20 (March 20, 2008)

1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD SEAT BACK COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE VIOLENTLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT ON THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AND ACCIDENT WHEN HIS SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, BECAUSE WHEN THE SEAT BROKE, HE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND INSTINCTIVELY APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT WILL NOT LOCK IN ANY POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THE SEAT FAILED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10221739 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983461 · 1996-04-24 (April 24, 1996)

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE PRESSING THE PEDAL, IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING HIM TO RUN INTO THE WINDOW OF BLOCKBUSTERS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983461 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 754168 · 2001-11-06 (November 6, 2001)

WHEN COLD OR DAMP OUTSIDE ENGINE IDLE WILL RACE AND STICK AT 2500 TO 3000 RPM. VEHICLE HAS MANUAL TRANSMISSION - 5 SPEED. SOMETIMES (OCASSIONALLY) TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING SOLVES THE PROBLEM, MOST TIMES NO. COULD BE DANGEROUS IN THE WINTER CAUSING EXCESS TORQUE TO REAR WHEELS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754168 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 985399 · 1996-06-07 (June 7, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SYS. MALFUNCTIONS WHEN APPYING BRAKE, DASH LIGHTS FLICKER, WHEN APPYING SIGNALS, DASH LIGHTS GO OUT, ALSO CONCEALED HEAD LAMPS WON'T OPEN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985399 at NHTSA ↗