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1999 Pontiac Firebird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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Owner complaints by model year

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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: 14 of 47 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 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 reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

47 reports
46,000 miles · Jul 7, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAN NOT TURN VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #10608532

37,000 miles · Oct 1, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CLUTCH SYSTEM DISENGAGED WHENEVER THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CLUTCH SYSTEM DISENGAGED WHENEVER THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V239000 (POWER TRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI #10478085

11,200 miles · Sep 22, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC FIRE BIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE WHEN BEING DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V239000 (POWER TRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY) BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC FIRE BIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE WHEN BEING DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V239000 (POWER TRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY) BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,200. UPDATED 10/27/11*BF UPDATED 11/16/11*JB

NHTSA ODI #10426798

56,615 miles · May 21, 2008
Power Train

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. WHILE LOOKING UP RECALLS ON WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV, I CAME UPON A RECALL FOR MY CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V239000). I CALLED THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER, AND INQUIRED ABOUT SPECIFICS. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE CHECKED MY VIN, THEN TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO RECALLS SHOWING FOR IT. …

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. WHILE LOOKING UP RECALLS ON WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV, I CAME UPON A RECALL FOR MY CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V239000). I CALLED THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER, AND INQUIRED ABOUT SPECIFICS. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE CHECKED MY VIN, THEN TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO RECALLS SHOWING FOR IT. MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT IS STATED IN THE RECALL. WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT, THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION, COSMETICALLY AND MECHANICALLY OTHERWISE. THE RECALL STATES THAT A 'POTENTIAL' 69 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. DOES THE WORD 'POTENTIAL' MEAN AN AVERAGE OR POSSIBLY MORE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228523

58,000 miles · Feb 13, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHEN STARTING THE CAR COLD, AND IDLING THE CAR... HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL OPERATION IS NORMAL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR (NOT IDLING) THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO DARK WITHOUT WARNING (THE HEADLAMP DOORS REMAIN OPEN), AND THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO OPERATE. EVERY 6 TO 10 SECONDS, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL S…

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WHEN STARTING THE CAR COLD, AND IDLING THE CAR... HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL OPERATION IS NORMAL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR (NOT IDLING) THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO DARK WITHOUT WARNING (THE HEADLAMP DOORS REMAIN OPEN), AND THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO OPERATE. EVERY 6 TO 10 SECONDS, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROCEEDS TO PULSE AFTER THIS OCCURS, UNLESS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED FROM LOW BEAM POSITION TO PARKING LIGHT POSITION. THE PULSING THEN STOPS, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT LIT AND IF TURNED OFF... THE DOORS WILL NOT LIFT UP AGAIN AND THE LIGHTS WILL NOT LIGHT. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR SEEMS TO "RESET" ITSELF AND THE LIGHTS AND SIGNALS WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS CREATES AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAUSE IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. I PLAN TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER, NORRIS AUTO MALL FOR EVALUATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182526

56,550 miles · Nov 2, 2005
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN WITH NO NOTICE AT ALL, THE ENGINE JUST DIES. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS OR MORE AND I'M TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT SO I GO AND GET IT AND IT DIES ON ME. ONCE THIS HAPPENED WITHIN MINUTES. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED A LITTLE O…

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THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN WITH NO NOTICE AT ALL, THE ENGINE JUST DIES. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS OR MORE AND I'M TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT SO I GO AND GET IT AND IT DIES ON ME. ONCE THIS HAPPENED WITHIN MINUTES. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AFTER I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP, I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I DROVE IT FOR A WEEK , BEFORE IT DIED ON ME AFTER THEY HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS AT THE MOMENT STATING THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG SO THEY RESET THE TROUBLE CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND WAIT TO SEE IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT HAS DIED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND THAT'S VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A WHILE IT USUALLY STARTS BACK UP, AND DRIVES AS IF NOTHING HAS EVER HAPPENED TO IT UNTIL IT DIES AGAIN BUT ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN EVERYTHING WILL JUST GO DEAD. IT DOES TURN OVER BUT HAS NO IGNITION AND AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES OF INTERMITTENT CRANKING IT WILL START BACK UP. THEY CHANGED A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS AND THEN THEY CHANGED IT IN MARCH OF 2005 AND THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN WITH THE VEHICLE DOING BASICALLY THE SAME THING BUT I'M TOLD ITS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE 10 FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF. THERE ARE SITES ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS BEING DISCUSSED ABOUT GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES. THE DATE OF OCT 20 2005 IS THE LAST TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM APPEARED, AND THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE THE 24TH OF OCT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THEM ON THE 24TH BECAUSE THAT'S THE EARLIEST THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT IT SO I WAS TOLD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10141599

64,172 miles · Oct 7, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON (STEADY AND FLASHING). ALL IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, PATH LOCK SENSOR AND IGNITION CYLINDER, REMOTE ALARMS AND KEYS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT AND UPGRADED MY GAS OCTANE IN A V6. AND NOW THE STUPID SERVICE ENGINE…

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MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON (STEADY AND FLASHING). ALL IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, PATH LOCK SENSOR AND IGNITION CYLINDER, REMOTE ALARMS AND KEYS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT AND UPGRADED MY GAS OCTANE IN A V6. AND NOW THE STUPID SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND THE ENGINE IS HESITATING AND THE BEARINGS ON PULLEYS ARE MAKING A NOISE (AFTER REPLACING THE SERPENTINE BELT). I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF IT SO FAR. I AM GOING TONIGHT TO READ THE CODE FOR WHAT IS WRONG NOW!!!!! ALSO I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, MY RADIO VOLUME KNOB HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND MY LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093781

34,000 miles · Jun 17, 2004
Visibility

WINDOWS FREEZING UP, SPORADIC, INCONSISTENT. POWER WINDOW EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY AT 35,000 MILES. BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS NEED REPLACING. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, DRIVEN OFF THE SHOW-ROOM FLOOR, STORED IN SEMI-HEATED STORAGE THROUGHOUT COLD MONTHS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO…

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WINDOWS FREEZING UP, SPORADIC, INCONSISTENT. POWER WINDOW EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY AT 35,000 MILES. BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS NEED REPLACING. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, DRIVEN OFF THE SHOW-ROOM FLOOR, STORED IN SEMI-HEATED STORAGE THROUGHOUT COLD MONTHS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT FAILURES, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO COST OVER $600.00, AND I AM WAITING FOR GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT. I FEEL THAT IT IS TOO IRONIC THAT BOTH REGULATORS WENT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS SHOWS POOR QUALITY FOR AN EXPENSIVE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10078406

43,000 miles · Nov 28, 2003
Steering

WHEN MAKING A U TURN STEERING LOCKED UP AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO STOP AND PLACE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK AND THEN MOVE BACK TO DRIVE BEFORE THE WHEEL WOULD TURN. THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED IN THE 1 1/2 THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. ALYSE ECKER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10047740

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2003
Structure

ON MY 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD THE DRIVER'S PASSENGER DOOR PANELS ARE CRACKING SINCE NEW WINDOW MOTORS WERE INSTALLED ALSO HAVE TALKED TO 5 OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING FIREBIRDS WHOSE DOOR PANELS ARE CRACKING ALSO. THE CRACKS OR 2-4 INCHES LONG AND ARE OCCURRING ABOUT 6 TO 8 INCHES FROM DOOR JAM SAME SPOT ON DRIVER AN PASSENGER DOORS ALS…

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ON MY 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD THE DRIVER'S PASSENGER DOOR PANELS ARE CRACKING SINCE NEW WINDOW MOTORS WERE INSTALLED ALSO HAVE TALKED TO 5 OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING FIREBIRDS WHOSE DOOR PANELS ARE CRACKING ALSO. THE CRACKS OR 2-4 INCHES LONG AND ARE OCCURRING ABOUT 6 TO 8 INCHES FROM DOOR JAM SAME SPOT ON DRIVER AN PASSENGER DOORS ALSO SAME ON THE OTHERS I HAVE SPOKE WITH. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045302

Official recalls

1

99V239000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly

Aug 27, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RETAINING RING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, RESULTING IN UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, ENGINE STALLS, AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WITH A NEW CYLINDER.

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.