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
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
CARS ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY GO TO FULL THROTTLE ON ITS OWN. RPMS WOULD RACE FOR A MOMENT THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. DEALER SAID IT WAS CARBON BUILD UP. WE HAD HUNTER CHEVROLET IN HENDERSONVILLE, NC PERFORM THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE MAINTENANCE 10/30/01 WHICH INCLUDED CLEANING OUT THE THROTTLE BODY. ON 11/3/01 WHILE MY HUSBAND WA…
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CARS ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY GO TO FULL THROTTLE ON ITS OWN. RPMS WOULD RACE FOR A MOMENT THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. DEALER SAID IT WAS CARBON BUILD UP. WE HAD HUNTER CHEVROLET IN HENDERSONVILLE, NC PERFORM THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE MAINTENANCE 10/30/01 WHICH INCLUDED CLEANING OUT THE THROTTLE BODY. ON 11/3/01 WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN, THE THROTTLE AGAIN WENT TO FULL THROTTLE CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF CAR AND CRASHING. DID $7,500.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. GOT THE CAR BACK IN JANUARY 2002 AND ON 2/13/02 THE CAR AGAIN WENT TO FULL THROTTLE ON ITS OWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND WRECKING IT AGAIN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #758459
Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2001
Exterior LightingCrash
WHENEVER TURN SIGNAL IS IN USE IT FAILS TO FLASH, IT WOULD REMAIN SOLID. VEHICLE WAS REARENDED DUE TO RIGHT SIGNAL NOT BLINKING. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND MECHANIC REPLACED TWO BULBS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #898973
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2001
Fuel System, Other
GAS GAUGE NEEDLE JUMPS AROUND ALL THE TIME AND IT IS HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #754101
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2001
Visibility
BOTH POWER WINDOW MOTORS WILL FREEZE WHEN ROLLING UP OR DOWN. THE MOTOR WILL HAVE TO REST AND COOL OFF BEFORE THE WINDOW WILL CONTINUE TO WORK, ONLY TO FREEZE AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN BOTH WINDOWS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #754100
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2001
Exterior Lighting
WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS EXECUTED IT WILL NOT BLINK, IT JUST STAYS LIT UP INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. OTHER VEHICLES ARE UNABLE TO TELL THAT I AM TURNING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #754098
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 · Apr 19, 2001
Visibility
DOCUMENT NUMBER 766918 IN THE GM DATABASE ON THIS ISSUE. "DISTORTION IN OUTER SURFACE OF VEHICLE GLASS" THE WINDSHIELD HAS AN "ORANGE PEEL " EFFECT THAT IMPAIRS SAFE VISON THROUGH IT. PONTIAC CLAIMS THAT THIS IS DUE TO OWNER NEGLIGENCE AND THAT DETERGENTS WITH HYDROCHLORIC ACID HAVE BEEN USED TO CAUSE THIS. I HAVE NEVER USE…
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DOCUMENT NUMBER 766918 IN THE GM DATABASE ON THIS ISSUE. "DISTORTION IN OUTER SURFACE OF VEHICLE GLASS" THE WINDSHIELD HAS AN "ORANGE PEEL " EFFECT THAT IMPAIRS SAFE VISON THROUGH IT. PONTIAC CLAIMS THAT THIS IS DUE TO OWNER NEGLIGENCE AND THAT DETERGENTS WITH HYDROCHLORIC ACID HAVE BEEN USED TO CAUSE THIS. I HAVE NEVER USED A DETERGENT ON THIS CAR CONTAINING IT. PONTIAC STANDS FIRM ON NOT COVERING THIS PROBLEM THROUGH THEIR 3/36000 BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY.
NHTSA ODI #744285
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WARPED BRAKE ROTORS CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHAKE. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE THREE TIMES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #877035
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE TAKEN IN MY CAR THREE TIMES WITH IN FEB/00 TO 12/00 PUTNUM HAS ONLY CHANGED MY BRAKES AND I ALSO HAVE ROTOR PROBLEMS AND I FEEL ABS PROBLEMS. THEY ARE SAYING I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO BE FIXED AND THE REASON WHY MY ROTORS ARE WORPED IS THE BREAKS GET HOT SO THEY SAY. I AM NOT FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS DUE TO WHEN DRIVING MY…
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I HAVE TAKEN IN MY CAR THREE TIMES WITH IN FEB/00 TO 12/00 PUTNUM HAS ONLY CHANGED MY BRAKES AND I ALSO HAVE ROTOR PROBLEMS AND I FEEL ABS PROBLEMS. THEY ARE SAYING I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO BE FIXED AND THE REASON WHY MY ROTORS ARE WORPED IS THE BREAKS GET HOT SO THEY SAY. I AM NOT FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS DUE TO WHEN DRIVING MY CAR AND BREAKING MY CAR SHAKES REALLY BAD. I JUST WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN TODAY AFTER APPLYING MY BRAKESTHEY DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. I HOPE TO GET THIS BREAKING PROBLEM IN CONTROL BEFORE I OR SOMEONE ELSE GETS HURT. OTHER WISE I AM VERY HAPPY WITH MY TRANSAM. PUTNUM HAS BEEN GOOD TO OTHER THEN THIS PROBLEM CAN WE FIX THIS? THANKS SO MUCH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #737590
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000
Electrical System
VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES WITHIN PAST YEAR FOR ALTERNATOR, ELECTRICAL POWER DROP OFF UPON RELEASE OF ACCELERATOR AND OR BRAKING. PROBLEM CAUSES INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS TO DIM 50% AND ALTERNATOR GAUGE NEEDLE FALLS WAY INTO CAUTION ZONE. I'VE BEEN INFORMED AT LAST REPAIR SERVICE, 10-20-00, TSB 43-64-07A STATES THIS …
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VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES WITHIN PAST YEAR FOR ALTERNATOR, ELECTRICAL POWER DROP OFF UPON RELEASE OF ACCELERATOR AND OR BRAKING. PROBLEM CAUSES INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS TO DIM 50% AND ALTERNATOR GAUGE NEEDLE FALLS WAY INTO CAUTION ZONE. I'VE BEEN INFORMED AT LAST REPAIR SERVICE, 10-20-00, TSB 43-64-07A STATES THIS PROBLEM IS NORMAL FOR FIREBIRDS. I DON'T BUY THAT.
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.
1999 Pontiac Firebird Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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