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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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How this year compares

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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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

59,000 miles · Oct 7, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE AIR INLETS ON THE BREATHER FOR ENGINE AIR INTAKE ARE POSITIONED AT THE FRONT CENTER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. THE ANGLE OF THE RADIATOR IN RELATION TO THE ROAD SURFACE PROVIDES A CHUTE FOR WATER TO TRAVEL DIRECTLY TO THE AIR INLETS AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE INTAKE AND INTERNAL ENGINE AREAS. THERE IS A…

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THE AIR INLETS ON THE BREATHER FOR ENGINE AIR INTAKE ARE POSITIONED AT THE FRONT CENTER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. THE ANGLE OF THE RADIATOR IN RELATION TO THE ROAD SURFACE PROVIDES A CHUTE FOR WATER TO TRAVEL DIRECTLY TO THE AIR INLETS AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE INTAKE AND INTERNAL ENGINE AREAS. THERE IS ALSO A RESEVOIR JUST BEHIND THE AIR FILTER TO CATCH ANY FLUIDS PRIOR TO ENGINE INTAKE. WHY? WATER IS NOT COMPRESSIBLE, SO DISASTER IS WAITING TO HAPPEN WHEN IT IS INTRODUCED INTO A CYLINDER. WHY ISN'T THE AIR BREATHER ASSEMBLY LOCATED ELSEWHERE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT IS NOT DIRECTLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD WATER INDUCTION. POOR ENGINEERING IS A RESPONSIBILITY THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ADDRESS, NOT THE CONSUMER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10041366

40,000 miles · Apr 1, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB SCC

NHTSA ODI #10014943

27,000 miles · Mar 17, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. I HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AT 37500 MILES (WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 37000). THE MOTOR IN DRIVER SIDE DOOR WENT BAD FOR NO REASON. HAD TO REPLACE REAR SEAL AND PINS 4 TIMES OR MORE. I BELIEVED FOR A LONG TIME THAT IT WAS JUST ME BUT AFTER READIN…

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I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. I HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AT 37500 MILES (WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 37000). THE MOTOR IN DRIVER SIDE DOOR WENT BAD FOR NO REASON. HAD TO REPLACE REAR SEAL AND PINS 4 TIMES OR MORE. I BELIEVED FOR A LONG TIME THAT IT WAS JUST ME BUT AFTER READING THROUGH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I REALIZE IT'S THE CAR! I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL OF THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS MENTIONED BY OTHERS ON THIS SITE. PURCHASED NEW, DROVE IT OFF THE PONTIAC LOT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010587

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CLUTCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED. THIS MAKES VEHICLE DIFFICULT IN SHIFTING. ALSO, ENGINE STALLS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER REFERRED TO RECALL# 99V239000. CONTACT DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896801

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #715964

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.