1995 Pontiac Firebird

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/20/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO CAUSE ALL ELECTRONICAL COMPONENTS TO BE INOPERATIVE, DEALER FOUND A SHORT IN THE IGNITION. *SLC

• 11/27/1995· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD IS OPTICALLY DISTORTED CAUSING DRIVER TO GET HEADACHES AND DRIVER FATIGUE. TT

• 11/07/2006· STEERINGCrash

  ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 1 AM,COMING AROUND SOME CURVES, THAT I HAD COME AROUND A HUNDRED TIMES BEFORE, WENT TO CURVE LEFT AND THE CAR STEERED RIGHT, WENT INTO DITCH, HIT A DRIVEWAY CULVERT AND TORE THE TIRE OFF THE RIM AND DESTROYED THE RIM. DIDNT REALIZE ANYTHING MAJOR WAS WRONG TILL I GOT THE TIRE CHANGED AND WENT TO GO HOME, THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT REALLY HARD, GOT IT UP TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE SUBFRAME WAS BENT IN A FEW PLACES. THEY SAID IR WOULD COST ABOUT $1600.00 TO $2000.00 TO FIX IT, WELL I DON'T HAVE THAT KINDA MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO NOW ITS BEEN SITTING. NOTHING CAN BE DONE AT THIS TIME TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME..I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING IN THE CAR. *NM

• 11/07/2002· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 65MPH IN THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

• 10/27/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER AND VEHICLE STALLED. PULLED OVER AND RAISED THE HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A NEARBY DRIVER HELPED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 10/27/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE IGNITION SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURED IN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS (FROM A STOP, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE IN CRUISE, WHILE ACCELERATING, ETC.). DASH INDICATIONS ARE A

• 10/26/1998· POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE TRAVELLING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH DUE TO THE REAR AXLE BREAKING IN HALF. FRONTAL IMPACT AND REAR IMPACT INTO A CEMENT WALL, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/26/1998· STEERINGCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT VEHICLE STARTED SPINNING AROUND, THEN LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES. NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT INCIDENT WOULD OCCUR. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE CAR WAS TOTALLED AND NO REPAIIRS DONE. *AK

• 10/26/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  IE 97060; THERE IS A FUEL LEAKAGE SOMEWHERE AND A SMELL OF GASOLINE. WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL HARD ONE CAN SMELL THE GAS MORE. DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FUEL SMELL, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/24/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT LOST ALL POWER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 10/22/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ABS WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING WHEN LIGHT APPEARS FOR NO APPARENT REASON, DLR. CAN'T CORRECT. *AK

• 10/11/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HORN INOPERATIVE.

• 10/08/2000· EQUIPMENT

  POWER ANTENNA SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING.*ET

• 10/03/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  FUEL LINE FAILED CAUSING FIRE.

• 10/01/1996· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS GOING 60 MPH AND WENT HEAD-ON INTO A BUILDING AND THE BRICKS FROM THE BUILDING FELL DOWN ON THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETAIN THE DRIVER IN THE SEAT.*AK

• 09/26/1996· SUSPENSION,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, RAINY WEATHER, VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, HIT GUARDRAIL HEAD-ON, FRONT NOSE PUSHED INTO/IMBEDDED INTO GUARDRAIL, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

• 09/07/1995· STEERING

  WHEN HIT A STEERING AND CAR VIBRATES AT HIGHER SPEED . TT

• 09/05/1995· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  INSTRUMENTAL CONTROL PANEL MALFUNCTIONED, DUE TO RAP MODULE FAILURE. TT

• 08/28/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  PARKED CAR IN ATTACHED GARAGE. WENT INTO HOME. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES HEARD NOISE IN GARAGE AND OPENED DOOR FROM HOME TO GARAGE TO INVESTIGATE. ENTIRE FRONT HALF OF CAR WAS ON FIRE. ENSUING FIRE CONSUMED ENTIRE CAR, GARAGE, AND HOUSE. FIRE MARSHAL STATED FAILURE WAS WITH ENGINE FUEL LINE.*AK

• 08/28/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL LINE CLAMP HOLDING FUEL LINE ABOVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD/VALVE COVER, CAME OFF. *AK

• 08/27/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. TSB ON A STEERING WIRE CAN SHORT CIRCUIT. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

• 08/27/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH. SMOKE THEN CAME FROM VENTILATION VENTS IN VEHICLE, WHICH THEN RESULTED IN A FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. CAUSE OF FIRE UNKNOWN. *AK

• 08/26/2007· VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS

  MY FAMILY, AND I WERE RETURNING HOME ON I-77 FROM A CAMPING TRIP, WHEN WITHOUT WARNING, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. WE MADE IT SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SCARED, AND DAZED, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO MAKE IT THE REST OF THE WAY HOME, WHEN ABOUT FIVE MILES LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WE WERE IN NO ACCIDENT, AND HAD NO WARNING LIGHT, OR SIGNAL. MY DAUGHTER WAS BURNED, AND CUT WITH FLYING GLASS, I TOO, WAS CUT, AS WAS MY FIANCE. OUR LIVES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. AIR BAGS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT NOT KILL. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MALFUNCTIONS IN THEIR PRODUCTS. WE COULD HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED, AND I DON'T FEEL THAT G.M. CARES. AND NOW TO FIND OUT THAT G.M. KNEW ABOUT POSSIBLE MALFUNCTIONS, AND DIDN'T LET THE PUBLIC KNOW. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!!!!! *TR

• 08/21/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALTERNATOR FAILED.

• 08/19/1995· POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH FAILED. *SKD

• 08/15/1995· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED. *SKD

• 08/14/2000· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND LEAVE A SMEAR ON DRIVERS SIDE. *AK

• 08/11/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE SAFETY RELATED FAILURE INVOLVES AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT THE FULE PUMP WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK IMMERSED IN GASOLINE. THE CONNECTER WAS ARCHING, OVERHEATED AND MELTED AND FINALLY LOST CONTINUITY WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO NO LONGER OPERATE. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THIS CONNECTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THROUGH ARCHING AND OVERHEATING COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION OF THE GAS TANK. SINCE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DOES NOT MOVE OR WEAR UNDER USE, I BELIEVE THE CONNECTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IN QUESTION HAS SIGNIFICANT MILEAGE, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ABNORMAL FAILURE. I WOULD NOT COMPLAIN IF THE FUEL PUMP SIMPLY STOPEED OPERATING DUE TO USE AND WEAR. IN THIS CASE THE FULE PUMP STILL RUNS, BUT I CHOSE TO REPLACE THE PART DUE TO THE BURNED CONDITION AT THE ELECTRIAL CONNECTION. I BELIEVE ARCHING AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS MELTING INSIDE A GAS TANK IS UNSAFE. I HAVE RETAINED THE PARTS FOR INSPECTION. WHEN I TOOK THE PARTS FOR INSEPCTION TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE BASICALLY IGNORED MY CONCERN.*AK

• 08/08/1996· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  DURING OPERATION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. WHEN GOING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE.*AK

• 08/02/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, WHEN VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR LESS THAN THREE MINUTES, LOSS OF BRAKING, UNKNOWN REASON. TT

• 07/27/1998· PARKING BRAKE

  EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILING 3 TO 4 TIMES IN THE 3 YRS OWNED. THE IDIOT LIGHT ABS INOP LIGHT SOMEHOW LIGHTS UP. EACH TIME THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND REALIGNES MY BACK BRAKES. BLEW OUT AGAIN, BOTH FRONT HUB AND SENSORS ARE TOTALLY OUT AND NEED REPLACING.

• 07/22/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN REAR BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT ABS BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION. POSSIBLE CAUSE CROSS UP OF WIRES. CONSUMER HAD PARTS REPLACED, BUT CONDITION STILL EXIST. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK *TT

• 07/20/2006· STRUCTURE

  THE LEFT SIDE OF THE T-TOP ON THE CONSUMER 1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD CAME OFF. *TS THE T-TOP STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THAT VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD AND ROOF. UPDATED 07/20/06. *JB

• 07/11/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKES DO NOT RESPONED DURING WET WEATHER, RESULTING IN LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

• 07/10/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT

  TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ONCE AND BEEN REBUILT, STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT. ENGINE HAS HAS MULTIPLE LEAKS INCLUDING THE REAR MAIN SEAL, THE HEAD GASKET AND THE MANIFOLD. ANTENA NO LONGER RETRACTS.

• 07/10/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, AIRCrash

  NO SUMMARY

• 07/05/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERELY LONGER BRAKING DISTANCES DURING RAINY WEATHER (I.E. WITH WET DISC BRAKES). THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. ONCE THE DISCS ARE DRY (E.G. AFTER BRAKING SEVERAL TIMES) BRAKING RETURNS TO NORMAL. THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES BY A FACTOR OF 2-3 X AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO REAR-END OTHER VEHICLES SEVERAL TIMES. IT IS PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM IF THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN A RAIN STORM AND IS THEN DRIVEN. THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO PERIODICALLY SNUB THE BRAKES DURING WET WEATHER IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM DRY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET GM TO EVEN RESPOND--THEY SIMPLY CREAT A FILE AND THAT IS THE LAST I EVER HEAR (I HAVE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES). I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE DAY I WILL BE UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WET PAVEMENT OR WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY SKIDING, ETC. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS IN HEAVY RAINS AND IS ELIMINATED AFTER SEVERAL HARD STOPS WHICH DRIES OFF THE BRAKES.*AK

• 07/01/1998· STEERING

  VEHICLE BEING BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST.

• 07/01/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  HATCH/TRUNK AREA WHERE THE LOCK PANEL AND HATCH MEET IS GLUED IN A STRATEGIC AND DANGEROUS SPOT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE LOCK IS NOT GRABBING TOGETHER COMPLETELY.

• 07/01/1998· STEERING

  WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. REPAIR INCLUDED STEERING COLI KIT 14.865.

• 06/30/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  REAR OIL SEAL REPLACED, CONTINUED LEAKAGE, SHOP DENIES. *AK

• 06/29/2000· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER. DEALER REPLACED DRIVER'S AIRBAG AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE, AND SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 06/24/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LIGHT APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD, AND PEDAL GOING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *AK

• 06/24/1996· STEERING

  INTERMITTENT LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN LOCKS UP. *AK

• 06/07/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT SPEED INCREASED IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH. VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. SAME DAY VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AGAIN, SPUN OUT, AND HIT A TREE. BRAKE WAS APPLIED BOTH TIMES, CRUISE WAS ON BUT NOT SET. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN, NO INJURIES.*AK

• 06/07/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN

  COME TO SLOW STOP, LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, CAR SLIPS FORWARD SLIGHTLY, ABS SYSTEM CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH SCANNER THOUGH ALL OTHER AREAS DO. *AK

• 06/05/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKES KEEP GOING OUT AND EVERY TIME THE BRAKE IS APPLIED THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

• 05/26/1999· POWER TRAIN

  THE SHIFT LEVER GEAR WOULD JUMP FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL WHEN NOT PHYSICALLY HOLDING IT. ITS A 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION (T-56). BEEN TO DEALER & NOTHING FOUND. *AK

• 05/26/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE DURING COLLISION, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SKD

• 05/17/1999· POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE CAR FAILS TO PROCEED, BUT JUST SITS STILL FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS BEFOR IT STARTS TO MOVE FOREWARD. THIS IS SCARY BECAUSE I HAVE HAD NEAR-ACCIDENTS WITH THIS PROBLEM WHEN AN APPROACHING VEHICLE IS COMING UP ON ME FROM THE REAR ON THE ROADS I HAVE BACKED OUT ONTO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARSHALL PONTIAC IN CLINTON, IN FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXHISTS REGARDLESS. THIS CREATES ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN THE ROADS ARE SLICK. WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE FOREWARD, IT ACCELERATES AND CAUSES TIRE SLIPPAGE AND LOSS OF TRACTION. ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM NOW....WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SHUT OFF, THEY DROP INTO PLACE, BUT THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT MAKES A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOR ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS. THE DRIVING LIGHTS CANNOT BE TURNED ON WITHOUT THE HEADLIGHTS POPPING UP (EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT LIT). I FIND MYSELF SHUTTING OFF MY HEADLIGHTS BEFORE I REACH A POPULATED AREA TO AVOID EMBARRASMENT OF THE NOISE. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS, I REALIZE. IT CAN BE HEARD A BLOCK AWAY. I HAVE TALKED TO ABOUT 5 OTHER FIREBIRD AND TRANS AM OWNERS IN JUST MY AREA THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE SHIFT FROM R TO DRIVE. WHEN THEY HAD THE HEADLIGHT MOTOR REPLACED, THEY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN WITH THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR/MODULE. NOW ABOUT THE IGNITION....THE CAR TAKES THREE, SOMETIMES FOUR TRYS TO START. THIS WAS QUITE A PROBLEM FOR ME WHEN I WAS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION NEEDING TO RUSH MY DAUGHTER TO THE HOSPITAL AS SHE CUT OFF HER THUMB RECENTLY. WE LOST VALUABLE TIME TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO START WHILE SHE WAS LOSING ALOT OF BLOOD. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY FRUSTRATING. MARSHALL PONTIAC IN CLINTON, IN HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHT MOTORS ON THESE 90 MODEL FIREBIRD AND TRANS AMS IN THE PAST WITHOUT INFORMING THE OWNER THAT OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A PROB. LOCALLY, WHAT ARE THE NAT'NL NUMBERS?