IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAUSE OF FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
1987 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 10 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reportsTHE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT, HAD A PLASTIC COMPONENT LOCATED IN THE BUCKLE WHICH CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO BE INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS. CONSUMER STATED HE ONCE BECAME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE INOPERATIVE SEAT BELT, AND SINCE THEN, THE SEA…
Read full complaint
THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT, HAD A PLASTIC COMPONENT LOCATED IN THE BUCKLE WHICH CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO BE INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS. CONSUMER STATED HE ONCE BECAME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE INOPERATIVE SEAT BELT, AND SINCE THEN, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *JB
SEATBELT LATCH COVER MISSING WHEN PURCHASED. *AK
THE WHEEL STUDS BROKE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN THE WHEEL COMING OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
FUEL TANK FILLER NECK IS LOOSE, PERMITTING LIQUID FUEL AND VAPORS TO ESCAPE - FIRE AND EXPLOSION POSSIBLE. *AK
RECALL REPAIR WORK FOR SEAT BELT BUCKLES DONE IN 1990 HAS FAILED. THE BUCKLES ARE SHATTERED. *AK
RECALL WORK ON THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY, WRONG PARTS ON ONE BELT AND OTHER BELTS NOT REPLACED.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. VEHICLE WENT INTO TREES AND THEN STOPPED. *AK
VEHICLE HAS RETRACTABLE HEADLIGHTS THAT SHOULD BE OPENED MANUALY IF MOTORS DO NOT WORK; HOWEVER, MANUAL OPERATIONS DOES NOT WORK. AT TIMES HEADLIGHTS COULD NOT BE TURNED ON MANUALLY, AFFECTING VISIBILITY AT NIGHT DRIVING. *AK
CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN AND DOES NOT RETRACT. TT
Official recalls
190V105000 · 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
PE91131 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Oct 1, 1991 · Closed Jan 30, 1992
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
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
EA89009 · Power Steering Bracket
Opened Jan 5, 1989 · Closed Jan 22, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE89002 · P/s Bracket Failure
Opened Oct 7, 1988 · Closed Jan 5, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
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.