1983 Pontiac FIREBIRD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1983 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Parking Brake:Conventional is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 50.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Parking Brake:Conventional: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 2; Seat Belts:Front: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Parking Brake:Conventional leads the component reports. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10148753 · 2006-01-26 (January 26, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 85V169000, 91V055000 REGARDING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING AND PARKING BRAKE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALLS; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148755 · 2006-01-26 (January 26, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 85V169000, 91V055000 REGARDING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING AND PARKING BRAKE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALLS; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195249 · 2007-07-03 (July 3, 2007)
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS IN MY FIREBIRD HAVE FAILED AND THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER HAS PARTS AVAILABLE. THEY WERE SUBJECT TO A RECALL, 85V169000, IN 1985. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10195249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 758342 · 2002-02-17 (February 17, 2002)
PLEASE SEND ME INFORMATION ON RECALLS THAT WOULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 758342 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
85V169000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1985-12-20 (December 20, 1985)
DISLOCATION OF A SPRING COVER WILL NOT ALLOW THE SHOULDER BELT TO RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ALTHOUGH INERTIAL FEATURE THAT LOCKS THE LAP BELT AND SHOULDER BELT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT ARE NOT AFFECTED, IF SLACK IS MORE THAN RECOMMENDED IN OWNERS MANUAL, INJURIES TO UPPER BODY AND HEAD WOULD BE INCREASED IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINING SPRINGS ON SPRING COVER OF FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR AND, WHEN REQUIRED, RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V055000 · Parking Brake:Conventional
Reported: 1991-04-11 (April 11, 1991)
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
Consequence: PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗