1997 Pontiac FIREBIRD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 24 complaints (20.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 29.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 20 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 11; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2005: 1; 2009: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10017243 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)
THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032145 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAS CRACKS DEVELOPING, AND DEALER INDICATES THAT PANELS ARE SEPARATING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111934 · 2005-02-22 (February 22, 2005)
AT 118,000 MILES I HAD MY FRONT BRAKES CHANGED FOR THE THIRD TIME. I ASKED THE PERSON CHANGING THE BRAKES TO CHECK THE REAR BRAKES SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN CHANGED. I HAD ASKED PREVIOUS PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THEM WHEN INSPECTING BRAKES AND I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THEY WERE FINE. THIS TIME THE PERSON REALLY LOOKED AT THEM AND INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKES HAD NEVER TOUCHED THE DRUMS (EVER). MY REAR BRAKES WERE SHOWROOM NEW AND SO WERE THE REAR DRUMS. I HAD HAD AN SCCIDENT A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAD THOSE BRAKES BEEN WORKING I GUARANTEE I WOULD HAVE GOTT…
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274054 · 2009-06-16 (June 16, 2009)
THE TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT SOCKETS ON THE 1997 FIREBIRD (AND PROBABLY OTHER MODEL YEARS) BURN UP AFTER A TIME CAUSING SIGNAL FAILURE AND MARKER LIGHT FAILURE. THE CAUSE IS THE EXCESSIVE HEAT GIVEN OFF BY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. PONTIAC USED THE TURNING SIGNAL ELEMENT OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AS A FULL ON,ALL THE TIME, VISIBILITY LIGHT FOR DAYTIME DRIVING. I LOVE THE IDEA FOR SAFETY REASONS BUT I FEEL THE SIGNAL SOCKET NEEDS TO BE BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE THE HEAT OF THESE LIGHTS BEING ON ALL THE TIME. VISIBILITY IS GREAT BUT HAVING THESE SOCKETS FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533166 · 2013-08-01 (August 1, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE ROAD & THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE . *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 119,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10652891 · 2014-11-05 (November 5, 2014)
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE MIDDLE LANE ON BELTWAY 495 HEADING TO WORK- I SAW A HUGE TIRE HIGH IN THE AIR & DROPPING IN FRONT OF MY CAR. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. IT HIT THE FRONT GRILLE & WENT UNDERNEATH MY CAR CAUSING IT TO FLY OVER THE TIRE. I LANDED SAFELY ON THE MIDDLE LANE. ( AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZED THAT MY AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON IMPACT.) AT ANOTHER DATE SOMEONE HIT MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AT ABOUT 10 MPH & THE AIRBAG DIDN'T WORK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10652891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11579567 · 2024-03-26 (March 26, 2024)
Hi my Pontiac firebird got Impounded properly parked for 3 hrs on private property on the same property where I’m a Tenant at [XXX] Las Vegas it was towed illegally and was in pound yard where I was charged $474.64 by tow guys 3823 losse rd 89030 they did not put sticker they illegally towed no sign on wall saying we cannot park at night there I’m parking space got impounded from the wheel in the rear and popped my right front tire pulling it and towed it like that damaging my front suspension I’d like to get my refund . My contact # is [XXX] …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11579567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717701 · 2000-01-22 (January 22, 2000)
UPON TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BRAKE JOB, DUE TO TOWN & COUNTRY PONTIAC ADVISING THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE MAINTAINED, I WAS ADVISED (NOT BY THE DEALERSHIP, BY ANOTHER MECHANIC'S SHOP) THAT THE RIGHT FRONT ROTAR WAS WORN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS REQUIRED BY MD. LAW. UPON LEARNING THIS, I THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO PENN PONTIAC, AS TOWN & COUNTRY LOOKED AT MY BRAKES AND DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, AND PENN PONTIAC CONFIRMED THAT ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE ROTAR HAD BEEN CHEWED UP. THEY FURTHER ADVISED ME THAT THE BRAKE PADS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717701 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V219000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Reported: 1996-11-04 (November 4, 1996)
THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS OUT OF DESIGN POSITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE RETRACTOR TO LOCK-UP ON SLOPES LESS SEVERE THAN THE FMVSS REQUIREMENT. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY THAN THOSE USING SEAT BELTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS FOR PROPER FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR POSITION. RETRACTORS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WILL BE REINSTALLED CORRECTLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗