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1989 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 →
20Owner complaints

Model-year median: 9.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
19
198610
198710
198820
19899
199027
199127
1992
Compare all Firebird years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
7Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Steering
2
All reported categories
Electrical System
1Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 0 of 20 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.

4 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

20 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE SURGED LIKE THE DRIVER WAS STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE ZOOMED RIGHT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD, BACK END FIRST HITTING A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP TO BE CHECK FOR TROUBLE.…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE SURGED LIKE THE DRIVER WAS STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE ZOOMED RIGHT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD, BACK END FIRST HITTING A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP TO BE CHECK FOR TROUBLE. A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED LIKE THIS IN JULY OF 1993 AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE SYSTEM WILL JUST KICK BACK IN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818585

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604321

Mileage unknown · May 27, 1997
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING STOPPED SHORT TO AVOID COLLISION, WAS REAR ENDED AT APPROX. 25MPH; UPON IMPACT, SHOULDER/LAP BELT FAILED TO RETRACT ENOUGH. ALSO, FEMALE PORTION (PLASTIC COVER) BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CRACKED IN HALF, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY AS RESULT.

NHTSA ODI #812531

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1996
SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CAPABILITY WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, COULDN'T TURN RIGHT OR LEFT, UPON BRAKING VEHICLE SPINNED OUT, THEN ROLLED OVER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #980625

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 1996
Equipment

THE JACK BENT AFTER RAISING VEHICLE OFF GROUND TO REMOVE FLAT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FALL OFF OF JACK. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #500565

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1995
Latches/locks/linkages

HOOD LATCH FAILURE, LATCH HAS BROKEN TWICE. TT

NHTSA ODI #971856

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PARK BRAKE CABLE RUBS AGAINST HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE, REPLACED FLEXIBLE RUBBER HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. TT

NHTSA ODI #963024

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 1995
Electrical System

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE AND STILL IT HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. TT

NHTSA ODI #962380

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1995
Fuel System, Gasoline

ASK FOR MR HOPKINSON. FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK WHEN FULL. TT

NHTSA ODI #960848

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1995
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE COMBINATION LAP/SHOULDER BELT. BUCKLE WILL NOT REMAIN/WON'T LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #958274

Official recalls

2

90V115000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jun 12, 1990

FUEL FEED HOSES MAY PULL OUT OF THE CRIMPED COUPLING AT THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS COUPLING SEPARATED, ALLOWING GASOLINE TO LEAK,AND AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: INSTALL A REDESIGNED FUEL FEED HOSE.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.