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1986 Pontiac Fiero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

7Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
198330
198418
198526
198615
198713
1988
Compare all Fiero years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
15Parking Brake
5Electrical System
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Unknown Or Other
2
All reported categories
Power Train
1Seat Belts
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 26 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

OIL LEAK FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN. LOCATED APPROXIMATELY AT UPPER PART OF ENGINE DOWN TO PULLY AND BELTS. ALSO WIRES LOCATED NEAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN ENGINE ARE EXTREMELY HOT, DISCOLORED AND BRITTLE HARNESS..CONCERN FOR ? OF FIRE, ESPECIALLY WITH OIL LEAKAGE NEAR BY...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON..AND IS UNKNOWN PROBLEM TO THE D…

Read full complaint

OIL LEAK FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN. LOCATED APPROXIMATELY AT UPPER PART OF ENGINE DOWN TO PULLY AND BELTS. ALSO WIRES LOCATED NEAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN ENGINE ARE EXTREMELY HOT, DISCOLORED AND BRITTLE HARNESS..CONCERN FOR ? OF FIRE, ESPECIALLY WITH OIL LEAKAGE NEAR BY...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON..AND IS UNKNOWN PROBLEM TO THE DEALER

NHTSA ODI #708734

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

SPARK PLUG WIRE CAME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE AND BURST INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI #479701

Official recalls

3

91V055000 · Parking Brake:conventional

Apr 11, 1991

PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.

Consequence & remedy

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.

90V104000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Apr 23, 1990

PCV GROMMET OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LEAKS, PISTON CONNECTING ROD FAILURES BREAKING THROUGH ENGINE WALL CAUSING OIL SPILLAGE, FUEL RAIL LEAKS, COOLANT LEAKS, ROCKER COVER OIL LEAKS, AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, COULD CAUSE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.

89V232000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Dec 28, 1989

DUE TO AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, THERE IS A RISK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW ENGINE COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

7

C90001 · Rear Disc Brakes

Opened Feb 21, 1990 · Closed Jul 31, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

EA89022 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Mar 31, 1989 · Closed Jul 13, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

SUMMARY:MANY SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS REPORTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES,AND SIX FIRES RESULTED IN SIX INJURIES.===

PE89023 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Dec 13, 1988 · Closed Mar 31, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE89005 · Rear Hub Carrier Failure

Opened Oct 18, 1988 · Closed Dec 29, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

EA88036 · Rear Disc Brakes

Opened Jul 22, 1988 · Closed Aug 30, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.

DP88002 · Tie Rod Breakage

Opened Oct 7, 1987 · Closed May 18, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

TIE ROD BREAKAGE

EA87008 · Rear Brakes

Opened Dec 17, 1986 · Closed Jul 22, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:GMREVIEWED THE MATTER AND...HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED BRAKE CONDITION THAT REQUIRESFIELD CORRECTION.ANALYSIS:IT APPEARS THAT THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATION SYSTEM OR THEPISTONS WITHIN THE CALIPER CAN SEIZE PROHIBITING REAR DISC BRAKE FUNC-TION.A SEIZED CALIPERS CAN RESULT IN UNEVEN BRAKE OPERATION (PULL)AND/OR TOTAL LOSS OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FUNCTION.STATUS:TEST REQUEST AT ETF AND NEAR COMPLETION.AWAITING GM RESPONSE TO JUNE 17, 1988 INFORMATION REQUEST.===