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1983 Pontiac Firebird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 9.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

5Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19800
19813
19824
198311
198416
198519
1986
Compare all Firebird years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
3Parking Brake
2Unknown Or Other
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: 2 of 4 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Parking Brake complaints

2 reports
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70,000 miles · Jan 26, 2006
Parking BrakeSeat Belts

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 …

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10148755

100,000 miles · Jan 26, 2006
Parking BrakeSeat Belts

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…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10148753

Official recalls

2

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.

85V169000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Dec 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINING SPRINGS ON SPRING COVER OF FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR AND, WHEN REQUIRED, RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED.

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

5

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

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.

PE88070 · Frame Cracking

Opened Jun 28, 1988 · Closed Sep 22, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

SUMMARY: GM'S MAY '88 TSB CONCERNS REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR FRAME RAIL CRACKING ON 82-85 CAMAROS. ODI DATA BASE CONTAINS THREE REPORTS OF FRAME RAIL CRACKING ON CAMAROS AND FIREBIRDS.

EA86019 · Rear Brake Failure

Opened Jun 17, 1986 · Closed Jul 22, 1988

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

SUMMARY: THE REAR DISC BRAKE ADJUST MECHANISM FAILS TO FUNCTION AFTER CORROSION OCCURS. GM HAS REDESIGNED CALIPER ASSM. SAME DESIGN AND PROBLEM ON GM'S E, F, AND P CARS. INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN COMBINED INTO ONE WITH ALL GM CARS USING SAME REAR DISC BRAKE DESIGN.===

PE85016 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Dec 3, 1984 · Closed Mar 22, 1985

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

There is no summary currently available