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2002 Pontiac FIREBIRD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

21 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

17,976 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 21 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior419.0%
Transmission and shifting314.3%
Electrical and battery issues314.3%
Engine operation29.5%
Steering behavior14.8%

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
5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Wheels:Rim
3
Engine
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Power Train:Manual Transmission
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Unknown Or Other3
Wheels:Rim3
Engine2
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Power Train:Manual Transmission2

Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Wheels:Rim: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 10 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.

2002
3
2003
4
2004
3
2005
3
2006
1
2007
1
2009
1
2010
2
2012
2
2015
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20023
20034
20043
20053
20061
20071
20091
20102
20122
20151

2002: 3; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 2; 2015: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10044101 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CLUTCH, PISTONS, DASH FAN AND REAR RIGHT MOLDING. *MR THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. SATURN REPAIRED THE PART BUT WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIR COST DUE TO THE VEHICLE EXCEEDING THE WARRANTY. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD 96K PLUS MILES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: ENGINE KNOCKING/LOSS OF POWER (8 PISTONS WERE REPLACED), AFTER ENGINE PROBLEM/REPAIR, ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION OCCURRED (ONE QUART EVERY 1300 HUNDRED MILES, BANG NOISE IN THE CLUTCH …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044101 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068186 · 2004-05-02 (May 2, 2004)

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND THEFT DETERENT KEY CHIP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND THE RADIO FACE DISPLAY NOT WORKING AT ALL UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON UNTIL IT WORK SOMETIME 5 OR 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR NOW THE VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES AND IT IS MUCH WORSE WITH SOME DIFFICULTY SHIFTING ON ACCASION. THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS A WHINING NOISE AT 50-60 MPH AT CRUISING RPM AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS M…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068186 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008060 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED THE RPM'S ON THE VEHICLE HIT THE ROOF BUT THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION DO NOT RESPOND LEAVING THE VEHICLE CRUISING AT ABOUT 15 MPH ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I-95. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO SEPERATE OCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TEAM SAYS THEY CAN NOT OR ARE NOT ABLE TO RECREATE THE LOSS OF POWER IN THE VEHICLE THEREFORE ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX IT. THIS INCIDENT HAS O…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,976 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008060 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070846 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY FIREBIRD WHICH I BOUGHT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. I DON NOT HAVE THE EXACT DATES AND MILEAGE OF THE PROBLEMS AT HAND. IN SHORT THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE PURCHASING DEALER AND/OR REPAIRED: ROTERS(BRAKES) 2X, ANTENA 3 OR 4X, OPEN CIRCUIT(REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY-TRUNK/WINDOWS/DOORS AND ALARM)1 OR2X, CD/STEREO STILL ISN'T REPAIRED AND UNSURE OF PROBLEM, SUSPENSION OFF, LEFT BLINKER MALFUNCTIONING, MISC. FUSES CONTINUOUSLY BLOWN, POWER STEERING COLUMN LEAK .....I THINK THATS IT! T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070846 at NHTSA ↗