2002 Pontiac Firebird problems
Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Firebird. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 15% of complaints. Next are engine (15%) and brakes (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 48 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 4
- Typical mileage
- 13,000 miles 19 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 | 12 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 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 19 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 13,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported; 4 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 86% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Pontiac Firebird with enough data (37 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac firebird. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a burning odor emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that oil was leaking from the valve cover gasket. As a result, the technician informed the contact that the oil pan gasket and the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Design of windshield distorts images of outside environment and causes occupants to experience headaches and nausea. Consumer contacted dealership, and was informed that design could not be changed. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
While operating the vehicle at approximately 65 MPH the vehicle experiences a total loss of power. When the accelerator is pressed the rpm's on the vehicle hit the roof but the engine or transmission do not respond leaving the vehicle cruising at about 15 MPH on a very busy interstate highway I-95. The vehicle has been brought in to the dealership on two seperate ocasions for the same problem.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 pontiac firebird. The contact stated that all four of the chrome alloy rims on the vehicle exhibit cracks. The rims were previously replaced per the warranty; however, since there was a memo indicating that they could not be repaired but replaced. Pontiac has been very uncooperative and refused to comply. The dealer took pictures of the rims and determined that it was a cosmetic issue and not a safety issue. The brand, manufacturer and any related rim information was not available.