IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE. *NM DRIVER HIT SHOULDER ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CAUSED A LIGAMENT TEAR, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED A CUT ON THE HEAD. *LA
1998 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: 4 of 63 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 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
7 reportsVEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES SUDDENLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AT 45MPH. HAD HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 90 DEGREE ANGLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED, BUT NOT TREATED AT EMERGENCY ROOM, WENT TO PRIVATE DOCTOR.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND TRYING TO AVOID A DEER ON ROAD, DROVE OVER A WET SPOT, LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH HIT A SOFT SPOT ON SHOULDER,VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, HIT MAIL BOX/ PHONE BOX/TREE, AND ROLLED OVER, COMMING TO A STOP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD, UPSIDE DOWN. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH FISHTAILED CONSUMER'S CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING DAMAGES TO FRONT WINDSHIELD WHICH TORE OPEN, ALLOWING CHEMICALS TO ESCAPE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO BREATH AND CONTROL VEHICLE. DE…
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VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH FISHTAILED CONSUMER'S CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING DAMAGES TO FRONT WINDSHIELD WHICH TORE OPEN, ALLOWING CHEMICALS TO ESCAPE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO BREATH AND CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND HIT A DEER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE DEER FLEW ONTO THE ROOF OF THE CAR . THE CAR CRASHED INTO A DITCH OF WATER, AND WENT UNDER WATER. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOCKED THE DOORS. THE T-TOP GLASS ROOF WOULD NOT OPEN. PASSENGER'S WINDOW WAS OPENED, TO GET CONSUMER OUT. ALSO, DRIVER'S AI…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND HIT A DEER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE DEER FLEW ONTO THE ROOF OF THE CAR . THE CAR CRASHED INTO A DITCH OF WATER, AND WENT UNDER WATER. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOCKED THE DOORS. THE T-TOP GLASS ROOF WOULD NOT OPEN. PASSENGER'S WINDOW WAS OPENED, TO GET CONSUMER OUT. ALSO, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. *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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.