2002 Pontiac FIREBIRD: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 19.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10011425 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS, WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE FRONT BACK OF THE UPPER SEAT WAS DISCOLORED(REPLACED), FOAM FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD COME APART, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK WITH OF WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED FROM STOP, AFTER A HEAVY RAIN STORM, THE HORN WOULD SOUND DIFFERENT, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT THE SPEED OF 50 MPH, THERE WOULD BE A RUMBLE NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL, THE DRIVESHAFT WAS OUT OF BALANCE(WARRANTY …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034351 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)
CONSUMER WOULD PUT KEY INSIDE IGNITION AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER STATED THAT IGNITION WIRES WERE WORN/WEAK. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT 4-5 TIMES. A FEW TIMES THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON WITH A LITTLE MANIPULATION OF THE KEY. BUT THE LAST 2 TIMES THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 90'S AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED AT ALL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 10,080 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034351 at NHTSA ↗
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 10062038 · 2004-03-12 (March 12, 2004)
I PURCHASED THE 2002 PONTIAC COLLECTORS EDITION FIREBIRD AS MY FIRST NEW CAR. I REGRET TO SAY THAT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE PERFORMANCE AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS VEHICLE. MY FIRST COMPLAINT IS A SEVERE VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 55 MPH OR AFTER IT WARMS UP. THIS VIBRATION IS FELT THROUGH THE SHIFTER AS WELL AS BEING APPARENT WHEN YOU STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE NEAR THE EXHAUST WHILE IT IS RUNNING. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED FROM TWO SEPERATE DEALERSHIPS THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT GM WILL NOT APPROVE THE REPAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062038 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 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 ↗
Owner report 10124847 · 2005-06-09 (June 9, 2005)
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. LAMPS LITE BUT THE ASSEMBLY DID NOT RISE INTO POSITION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10124847 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.
01V381000 · Structure:Frame And Members
Reported: 2001-12-12 (December 12, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE WELDS NEAR THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE THAT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence: IN A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE SEVERE INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL STRUCTURAL RIVETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
NHTSA campaign record ↗