2001 Pontiac Firebird problems
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Firebird. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 22% of complaints. Next are brakes (19%) and lighting (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 36 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 20,000 miles 21 complaints with mileage
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%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 21 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 20,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Pontiac Firebird with enough data (30 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.
Electrical power trunk and convertible top. The vehicle caught on fire. It was determined the fire started in the trunk. The housing over the convertible top had burned up. The vehicle was totaled.
When brakes are applied it causes steering wheel to shutter. Took to dealership, and informed by mechanic that rotors needed to be turned. The rotors failed at less than 7500 miles, but the dealer did not replace them claiming they can be turned two or three times.
The front rotors/brakes have been replaced 5 times since I got the car. The first time was when the car had 196 miles on it, and have been replaced about every 8,000 to 12,000. They have been replaced about 2,000 miles ago and the front end is vibrating again now. The car has 45,000 miles on it bought and extended warranty for 60,000 miles.
Front turn signals go out every few weeks. The problem is the design of the socket, which is not sealed well causing the socket to short out. I have replaced the socket and light-bulbs multiple times. I am concerned because I feel turn signals are vitally important, and accidents could and do occur without them. Also, since the sockets are shorting out, I am worried that a bigger electrical problem could manifest because of that.