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1998 Pontiac Firebird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
63Owner complaints

Model-year median: 9.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1998 Pontiac Firebird

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 63 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 27 reports
  • Air Bags: 7 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 5 reports
  • Steering: 5 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 5 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    84
    1995    41
    1996    49
    1997    63
    1998    47
    1999    24
    2000    24
    2001
    Compare all Firebird years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    27    Air Bags
    7    Exterior Lighting
    5    Steering
    5    Vehicle Speed Control
    5
    All reported categories
    Visibility
    5    Structure
    4    Suspension
    3    Unknown Or Other
    3    Electrical System
    2    Equipment
    2    Fuel System, Gasoline
    2    Fuel/propulsion System
    2    Power Train
    2    Seats
    2    Wheels
    2    Engine And Engine Cooling
    1    Parking Brake
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Service Brakes, Air
    1    Tires
    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: 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

    Unknown Or Other complaints

    3 reports
    Clear category filter
    92,000 miles · Mar 23, 2004
    Air BagsUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

    WHILE 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

    NHTSA ODI #10057367

    61,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
    Unknown Or Other

    LAST YEAR I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT MOTOR BROKE. I COULDNT AFFORD TO FIX IT. I GOT IT FIXED IN JULY 03. NOW IN SEPTEMBER 03 THE LEFT IS GONE. IM VERY UPSET WITH THIS. DONT YOU THINK GM COULD MAKE SOMETHING LAST LONGER THEN 4 OR 5 YEARS? I CANT AFFORD THIS. I JUST PUT OVER $3,OOO INTO THIS CAR BETWEEN …

    Read full complaint

    LAST YEAR I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT MOTOR BROKE. I COULDNT AFFORD TO FIX IT. I GOT IT FIXED IN JULY 03. NOW IN SEPTEMBER 03 THE LEFT IS GONE. IM VERY UPSET WITH THIS. DONT YOU THINK GM COULD MAKE SOMETHING LAST LONGER THEN 4 OR 5 YEARS? I CANT AFFORD THIS. I JUST PUT OVER $3,OOO INTO THIS CAR BETWEEN TIRE RODS BRAKES,HEADLIGHTS, NEW PASSENGER MIRROR, UNIVERSAL JOINTS,EVERYTHING IS GOING ALL AT ONCE GIVE ME A BREAK. IM 24 AND I HAVE OWNED AN 87 & 95 FIREBIRD BESIDES THIS ONE. I LOVE THE CAR BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH HOW LONG STUFF LASTS IN IT. MELONY MCNEANEY

    NHTSA ODI #10070840

    Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2000
    Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

    THROTTLE PEDAL GETS CAUGHT BY FLOOR MAT WHEN SLAMMED TO FLOOR FOR FAST ACCELERATION. FLOOR MAT DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO PREVENT IT FROM MOVING IN FRONT OF PEDAL, AT THIS POINT, VEHICLE STAYS ACCELERATING.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #725534

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No 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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.