IllustrationDRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 25-30 MPH, ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON; WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 1/2 HOURR TO 1 HOUR BEFORE STARTING AGAIN; TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NOT FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
1996 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: 3 of 41 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
41 reportsDRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MPH; ENGINE SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON; HAD TO WAIT 1/2 HOUR TO 1 HOUR BEFORE TRYING TO START VEHICLE AGAIN; TOOK TO DEALER TWICE; COULD NOT FIND/FIX PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
CONSUMER SAID THAT STRUT ROD CAME LOOSE OR BROKE WHILE DRIVING. AS RESULT THE WHEELS TILTED INWARD. MECHANIC SAID THAT IF CAR WAS IN HIGH SPEED THE WHEELS WOULD HAVE COME OFF, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN FUSE BOX MELTED FUEL LINES AND CAUSED FIRE.
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE FUEL LINE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE AND IT CAUSED A FIRE. *AK
IN WET AND DRY WEATHER THE ABS BRAKES LOCK UP. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SECOND TIME INCIDENT HAPPENED ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT HIM AND CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, THE FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP, THE TIRES LOCKED UP AND WHEN CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES THE FROONT OF VEHICLE TURNED SIDEWAYS AND THE TRUCK IN ANOTHER LANE HIT C…
Read full complaint
IN WET AND DRY WEATHER THE ABS BRAKES LOCK UP. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SECOND TIME INCIDENT HAPPENED ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT HIM AND CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, THE FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP, THE TIRES LOCKED UP AND WHEN CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES THE FROONT OF VEHICLE TURNED SIDEWAYS AND THE TRUCK IN ANOTHER LANE HIT CONSUMER;S VEHICLE. *JB
CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS IN REFERENCE TO OIL LEAKS, THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION DIP STICK ONTO THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED ABS. *SLC
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS UPON IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYS. MALFUNCTIONS WHEN APPYING BRAKE, DASH LIGHTS FLICKER, WHEN APPYING SIGNALS, DASH LIGHTS GO OUT, ALSO CONCEALED HEAD LAMPS WON'T OPEN. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2EA97024 · Fuel Tube Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Nov 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 29, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
MOST OF THE REPORTS REVIEWED IN THIS INVESTIGATION ARE FIRE INCIDENTS IN WHICH FUEL LEAKAGE HAS BEEN ALLEGED AS THE CAUSE OR THE AREA OF ORIGIN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP WAS A FACTOR IN ANY OF THESE FIRE INCIDENTS AND NHTSA TESTING INDICATES THATBROKEN OR DISLODGED RETENTION CLIP DOES NOT RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE TOWARD THE LEFT SECONDARY AIR INJECTION CHECK VALVE.FAILURE OF THE CLIP PLACES THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE ASSEMBLY IN THE SAME CONFIGURATION AS THE 1993 MODEL YEAR LTI VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE97036 · Fuel Tub Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Jul 24, 1997 · Closed Nov 13, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
OWNERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURES OF THE FUEL TUBE RETENTION CLIP THAT ATTACHES TO THE PLASTIC THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT RETENTION CLIP (P/N 12048089) WAS IMPLEMENTED IN PRODUCTION ON OCTOBER 12, 1993, TO ADDRESS A CONCERN WITH INCORRECT ASSEMBLY PLANT FUEL LINE ROUTING.MIS-ROUTED FUEL TUBES MAY FAIL FROM CONTACT WITH A HOT AIR CHECK VALVE, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.GM MAINTAINS THAT NO PROBLEMS SHOULD OCCUR IF THE CLIP IS PROPERLY INSTALLED AND ISN'T MISHANDLED DURING SUBSEQUENT SERVICE OPERATIONS.SOME OWNERS HAVE ALLEGED TO ODI THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP BECOMES BRITTLE OVER TIME AND MAY ALSO PULL FREE OF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER ATTACHMENT HOLE.