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2002 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: 11 of 21 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
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43,000 miles · Oct 9, 2012
Electrical System

THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON ,SOMETIMES CAR WILL NOT START AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE DRIVING AND LOSES POWER AT ANY GIVING TIME. THE KEY THAT HAS A THE SENSOR DOES NOT READ OR GIVE THE CORRECT RESISTANCE TO THE VATS SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTS THE CAR OFF. I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KE…

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THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON ,SOMETIMES CAR WILL NOT START AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE DRIVING AND LOSES POWER AT ANY GIVING TIME. THE KEY THAT HAS A THE SENSOR DOES NOT READ OR GIVE THE CORRECT RESISTANCE TO THE VATS SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTS THE CAR OFF. I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KEY RESISTANCE AND THE IGNITION IN WHICH IT GOES INTO. SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS NOT READING OR MAKING CONTACT MESSING UP ALL THE SECURITY IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479380

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury

2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *MR

NHTSA ODI #10133477

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2005
Electrical System

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING GM CORP PLACING ELECTRONIC RECORDING DEVICES IN VEHICLES WITHOUT INFORMING THE CUSTOMER.*MR *NM

NHTSA ODI #10132399

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2004
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND THEFT DETERENT KEY CHIP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND THE RADIO FACE DISPLAY NOT WORKING AT ALL UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON UNTIL IT WORK SOMETIME 5 OR 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMI…

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I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND THEFT DETERENT KEY CHIP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND THE RADIO FACE DISPLAY NOT WORKING AT ALL UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON UNTIL IT WORK SOMETIME 5 OR 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR NOW THE VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES AND IT IS MUCH WORSE WITH SOME DIFFICULTY SHIFTING ON ACCASION. THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS A WHINING NOISE AT 50-60 MPH AT CRUISING RPM AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL. I AM SEVERELY IRRITATED WITH GM FOR THE DISREGARD TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE WITHIN YOUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT GETTING A LOANER VEHICLE DURING ANY REPAIRS. THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS KEEPING ME FROM GIVING THEM MY CAR. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA HAVE ALL TOLD ME THAT WEAR PARTS ARE NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY WHICH IS "BUMPER TO BUMPER" FULL WARRANTY. I JUST DON'T THINK A TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE DOING THIS AT 17000 MILES. NOT TO MENTION I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE MOST OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 10000 MILES ON IT FROM A STICKING BRAKE CALIPER. I AM VERY DISPLEASED SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068186

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CLUTCH, PISTONS, DASH FAN AND REAR RIGHT MOLDING. *MR THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. SATURN REPAIRED THE PART BUT WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIR COST DUE TO THE VEHICLE EXCEEDING THE WARRANTY. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD 96K PLUS MILES. THE V…

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PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CLUTCH, PISTONS, DASH FAN AND REAR RIGHT MOLDING. *MR THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. SATURN REPAIRED THE PART BUT WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIR COST DUE TO THE VEHICLE EXCEEDING THE WARRANTY. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD 96K PLUS MILES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: ENGINE KNOCKING/LOSS OF POWER (8 PISTONS WERE REPLACED), AFTER ENGINE PROBLEM/REPAIR, ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION OCCURRED (ONE QUART EVERY 1300 HUNDRED MILES, BANG NOISE IN THE CLUTCH (BEARING WAS REPLACED), WATER AND HAZE WAS IN THE HIGH/LOW BEAM INSIDE THE BULBS, LEFT HEADLIGHT SHORTED OUT/WIRE BURNT (ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED), THE BRAKE PEDAL RUBBER GUARD HAD DETACHED, THE GAS TETHER DETACHED, THERE WAS AN ENGINE KNOCK UPON ACCELERATION, THE IGNITION MODULE AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR EXPERIENCED PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIMMIES WHEN SHIFTING UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED, THE HEADLIGHTS, REAR LIGHT, DASH LIGHTS, RADIO LIGHTS, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FLICKER. *SCC IN COLD WEATHER THE SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE IN 2ND AND 4TH GEARS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10044101

10,080 miles · Oct 12, 2003
Electrical System

CONSUMER WOULD PUT KEY INSIDE IGNITION AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER STATED THAT IGNITION WIRES WERE WORN/WEAK. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT 4-5 TIMES. A FEW TIMES THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON WITH A LITTLE MANIPULATION OF THE KEY. BUT THE LAS…

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CONSUMER WOULD PUT KEY INSIDE IGNITION AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER STATED THAT IGNITION WIRES WERE WORN/WEAK. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT 4-5 TIMES. A FEW TIMES THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON WITH A LITTLE MANIPULATION OF THE KEY. BUT THE LAST 2 TIMES THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 90'S AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED AT ALL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TS *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10034351

1,000 miles · Mar 12, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainSeats

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS, WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE FRONT BACK OF THE UPPER SEAT WAS DISCOLORED(REPLACED), FOAM FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD COME APART, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK WITH OF WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL EN…

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THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS, WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE FRONT BACK OF THE UPPER SEAT WAS DISCOLORED(REPLACED), FOAM FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD COME APART, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK WITH OF WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED FROM STOP, AFTER A HEAVY RAIN STORM, THE HORN WOULD SOUND DIFFERENT, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT THE SPEED OF 50 MPH, THERE WOULD BE A RUMBLE NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL, THE DRIVESHAFT WAS OUT OF BALANCE(WARRANTY REPLACED), AND THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE(REPLACED THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR). SCC

NHTSA ODI #10011425

Official recalls

1

01V381000 · Structure:frame And Members

Dec 12, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE WELDS NEAR THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE THAT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL STRUCTURAL RIVETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

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.