IllustrationIN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *AK
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
What owners actually said
63 reportsCONSUMER GOT INTO CAR AND SMELLED SMOKE. AFTER LOOKING AROUND, FOUND THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER SEAT WHERE THERE WAS A FIRE. RAN BACK INTO STORE TO GET SOME WATER TO PUT IT OUT. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE SEAT MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *AK
ABS BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLLOR. *AK
BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT THIS TIME. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES THE FRONT STARTED TO SHAKE. *AK
TICKING NOISE FROM ROOF PANEL NEAR SIDES WHEN OUTSIDE OF CAR GETS HOT. DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY WELDS WERE TOO CLOSE AND INJECTED ADDITIONAL INSULATION ON FOUR SEPARATE VISITS, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HAVE HAD THE FRONT ROTORS TURNED TWICE. NOW THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD MATERIAL SEPARATED FROM THE METAL BACKING. HAD TO USE TRANSMISSION AND EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THESE CARS IS TOTAL CRAP. *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…
Read full complaint
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
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
ROTORS WARPED PREMATURELY CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE AND JERK VIOLENTLY WHILE BRAKING IN CURVES. NM
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.