1998 Pontiac Firebird problems
Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Firebird. Brakes is the most reported problem area, at 36% of complaints. Next are air bags (9%) and body & structure (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 91 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 36% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 14 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 14 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Pontiac Firebird with enough data (65 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving at 40-45 MPH hit a soft spot on shoulder,vehicle spun out of control, hit mail box/ phone box/tree, and rolled over, comming to a stop in middle of road, upside down. Airbags did not deploy. Vehicle was totalled.
While driving 30 MPH the vehicle was involved in a head on collision. The dual air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled due to severe damage. Driver hit shoulder on the steering wheel that caused a ligament tear, and passenger suffered a cut on the head.
Bought the car in jan. Of 98, and didn't have any problems with it until 700 miles. That is when the gas pedal stuck for the first time. It went to the floor and I didn't have any control over it. Luckily I was on a rural road and shut the car off and it stopped. It happened 2 times after that, one time taking me 100 MPH. The final time I was in heavy traffic and had no choice but to put it in neutral, which blew my motor and cost me 4000 to replace.
Dt*: the contact stated water was seeping into the right rear taillight from rain corroding the reflective materials in the tail light, which diminished the illumination. The service dealer was notified. The manufacturer was not alerted. Updated 12/1/2006 -