IllustrationCONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 90V105000 CONCERNING ACTIVE RESTRAINT: BELT BUCKLES: RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER HAS CHARGED THE CONSUMER FOR DOING THE RECALL REPAIRS FOR THE SECOND TIME.*AK
1986 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Firebird years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 19 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
19 reportsCONSUMER STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, WHEN PARKING ON A SLOPE, THE BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE IN PLACE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FAILS ALSO ON A MINOR INCLINE, WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END WHEN VEHICLE STRUCK A CURB AFTER THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE INCLINE.*JB
SEAT BELT CASINGS IN THE FRONT BACK ARE CRACKING. SEAT BELT COMES OUT OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BUCKLES HAVE RELEASED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *SLC
SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH DUE TO COMPONET BREAKING UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. *AK
DRIVER'S FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLE BROKE. PLASTIC COMPONENT OF SEATBELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DID NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABALIZER AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUN LIGHT, AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURE COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENT. *AK
I'M AMAZED TO FIND THIS SITE AND FIND THAT ABOUT A DOZEN DEFECTS/RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON MY FIREBIRD AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM PONTIAC! WHILE THIS HAS BEEN THE "BEST" CAR I'VE EVER HAD, IT APPEARS NOW THAT I'VE SPENT WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON KNOWN DEFECTS! WHY ARE OWNERS NOT APPRISED OF THESE PROBLEMS? I'VE HAD…
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I'M AMAZED TO FIND THIS SITE AND FIND THAT ABOUT A DOZEN DEFECTS/RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON MY FIREBIRD AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM PONTIAC! WHILE THIS HAS BEEN THE "BEST" CAR I'VE EVER HAD, IT APPEARS NOW THAT I'VE SPENT WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON KNOWN DEFECTS! WHY ARE OWNERS NOT APPRISED OF THESE PROBLEMS? I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE A/C, THE SEATBELTS, THE FUEL INJECTORS, THE REAR HYDRAULICS FOR THE HATCH, STARTER, IGNITION, ETC., ETC. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE AT THIS LATE DATE? I REALLY WANT TO KEEP MY CAR, BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING SOMEONE QUALIFIED TO WORK ON IT. ANY SUGGESTIONS? I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE VIN NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S IN THE SHOP YET AGAIN! I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT ABOUT 3 WEEKS SINCE FEBRUARY - MOSTLY DUE TO INCOMPETENCY OF SHOP. OVERALL, IT REALLY HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR -- STILL ORIGINAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. BUT THE "LITTLE THINGS" ARE REALLY ADDING UP. ANY SUGGESTIONS AND OR EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALLS AND/OR BULLETINS WOULD BE APPRECIATED, AS WELL AS ANY RECOURSE AT THIS LATE DATE. THANK YOU! CATHERINE SIKES
I INTEND TO SEND MORE INFORMATION ON THIS GMCPRODUCT AT A LATER DATE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMRY. *AK
THE 2 DEALERSHIPS THAT I CONTACTED SAID THAT CAMPAIGN ID# 90V105000 DOES NOT INCLUDE MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, AND THAT THEY DONT HAVE JUST THE BUCKLES IN STOCK I DONT SEE HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE AND WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY OR LEGALLY DUE TO THIS!!!!!. *AK
WHENEVER AT A STOP SIGN ENGINE IDLED HIGH, HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO BRING RPMS BACK DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, THEY INDICATED VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
RECALL # 09V105000 INTERIOR SYSTEM:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES; EVEN THOUGH OWNER HAS A RECALL NOTICE, DEALER HAS STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PERFORM REPAIRS BECAUSE RECALL NUMBER HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM THE SYSTEM. RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT REPAIRS WILL BE MADE ANYTIME DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE …
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RECALL # 09V105000 INTERIOR SYSTEM:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES; EVEN THOUGH OWNER HAS A RECALL NOTICE, DEALER HAS STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PERFORM REPAIRS BECAUSE RECALL NUMBER HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM THE SYSTEM. RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT REPAIRS WILL BE MADE ANYTIME DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS BROKEN. *AK
Official recalls
291V055000 · 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.
90V105000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
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 & remedy
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.
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
7EA92005 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Jan 30, 1992 · Closed Jan 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA90012 · Rear Axle Shaft Failure
Opened Feb 28, 1990 · Closed Apr 24, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
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
EA90001 · Safety Buckle Breakage
Opened Oct 3, 1989 · Closed Jul 10, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE89148 · Safety Belt Buckle Breakag
Opened Aug 1, 1989 · Closed Oct 3, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
SUMMARY:REPORTEDLY THE PLASTIC BUCKLE COVER BREAKS AND PIECES FALLINTO THE BUCKLE MECHANISM MAKING THE BUCKLE INOPERATIVE.===
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.
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.===