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U.S. public vehicle records

1988 Pontiac FIREBIRD: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

6 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

80,228 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 6 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior116.7%

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.

Seat Belts
2
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Seat Belts2
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly1
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor1
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars1

Seat Belts: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 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
0
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 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

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). 4 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.

1995
1
1996
2
2000
1
2013
1
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19951
19962
20001
20131
20201

1995: 1; 1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2013: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Seat Belts leads the component reports. Steering behavior 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10493362 · 2013-01-17 (January 17, 2013)

GM REFUSES TO PERFORM OPEN RECALL ON SEAT BELT BUCKLES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493362 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11355027 · 2020-09-14 (September 14, 2020)

I PURCHASED MY 1988 PONTIAC FIREBIRD IN 2016. THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL ON MY VEHICLE THAT WAS ISSUED JUNE 1, 1990. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER N900043. I'VE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT THIS OUTSTANDING RECALL AND I WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY AVAILABLE PARTS TO CORRECT THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS MY DAILY DRIVER. MY SEAT BELT STRAPS HAVE DIFFICULTY RETRACTING.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,455 miles reported. Look up ODI 11355027 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 734786 · 2000-10-20 (October 20, 2000)

T-ROOFS LEAK WHEN EVER CAR GETS WET WINDOWS HAVE AIR BUBBLES IN THEM AND MAHE ANY LIGHTS APPEAR VERY BRIGHT, ALSO POSSIBILLITY OF WIDOWS CRACKING

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734786 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 964099 · 1995-04-20 (April 20, 1995)

SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO FAILURE OCCURING AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD (90V-105). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964099 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 979269 · 1996-02-15 (February 15, 1996)

FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979269 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 980772 · 1996-03-15 (March 15, 1996)

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER RETRACTS AND IT WILL NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980772 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.

90V105000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly

Reported: 1990-05-14 (May 14, 1990)

PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
90V115000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Reported: 1990-06-12 (June 12, 1990)

FUEL FEED HOSES MAY PULL OUT OF THE CRIMPED COUPLING AT THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: IF THIS COUPLING SEPARATED, ALLOWING GASOLINE TO LEAK,AND AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: INSTALL A REDESIGNED FUEL FEED HOSE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗