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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 →
10Owner complaints

Model-year median: 9.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

7Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
198416
198519
198610
198710
198820
19899
1990
Compare all Firebird years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
5Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Vehicle Speed Control
1
All reported categories
Wheels
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 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

Seat Belts complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
63,000 miles · Dec 2, 2002
Seat Belts

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 SEA…

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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

NHTSA ODI #8023483

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2002
Seat Belts

SEATBELT LATCH COVER MISSING WHEN PURCHASED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759971

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1999
Seat Belts

RECALL REPAIR WORK FOR SEAT BELT BUCKLES DONE IN 1990 HAS FAILED. THE BUCKLES ARE SHATTERED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834628

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1998
Seat Belts

RECALL WORK ON THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY, WRONG PARTS ON ONE BELT AND OTHER BELTS NOT REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #537034

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 1995
Seat Belts

CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN AND DOES NOT RETRACT. TT

NHTSA ODI #971260

Official recalls

1

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

7

EA92005 · 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.