1997 Pontiac Firebird

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

• 12/27/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ROUGH IDLE AFTER ENGINE IS HOT. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START FOR 24 HOURS. *AK

• 12/11/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 55 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL WITH FRONT OF CAR, AND THEN SWUNG AROUND OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND HIT THE SAME WALL. BOTH DRIVER'S/ OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO BE INJURED. *AK

• 11/28/1997· SEATS

  BOTH SEATS SLIDE FOWARD AND BACKWARD WITH NO WARNING.

• 11/21/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CAR HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING. SES LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD GONE BAD AND ALSO NEEDED NEW 0-2 SENSOR. *AK

• 11/21/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WHOLE WIRING WENT BAD ON THAT LIGHT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 11/05/2014· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE MIDDLE LANE ON BELTWAY 495 HEADING TO WORK- I SAW A HUGE TIRE HIGH IN THE AIR & DROPPING IN FRONT OF MY CAR. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. IT HIT THE FRONT GRILLE & WENT UNDERNEATH MY CAR CAUSING IT TO FLY OVER THE TIRE. I LANDED SAFELY ON THE MIDDLE LANE. ( AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZED THAT MY AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON IMPACT.) AT ANOTHER DATE SOMEONE HIT MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AT ABOUT 10 MPH & THE AIRBAG DIDN'T WORK. *TR

• 10/27/1999· PARKING BRAKE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY

  I HAVE HAD THREE SERIOUS OIL LEAKS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH STARTED WHEN IT ONLY HAD 8,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND THE POWER WINDOWS BROKE. THE REAR BUMPER RUSTS AFTER IT RAINS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE DUST. YOU HAVE TO USE RUBBING COMPOUND ONCE A WEEK. OVERALL, THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXHORBINANT AND NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A $28,000 VEHICLE.

• 10/27/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES FOR MASSIVE OIL LEAKS. CAR DOES NOT SHIFT WELL, WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO SECOND AND REVERSE. THE COMPONENT ABOVE BRAKE INTERFERES WITH BRAKING. YOUR FOOT HITS THE COMPONENT ABOVE THE BRAKE AND MAKES YOU PANIC AND FEEL LIKE YOU CANNOT FIND THE BRAKE.

• 10/22/1997· SEATS

  CONSUMER TRIED AJUSTING HEAD REST AND FOUND THAT WHEN AJUSTING TO UP-DOWN POSITION, THE HEAD REST ALLOWS APPROX. 3 INCHES OF SPACE BEFORE IT LOCKS. THE ONLY LOCKING POSITION IS A VERTICLE POSITION WHEREAS WHEN AJUSTING THE HEA DREST WOULD MOVE ALMOST OFF THE SEAT THEN IT WILL LOCK ONLY TO SECURE THE HEAD REST FROM FALLING OFF. CONSUMER HAS SPOKEN TO THE HEAD REST MANUFACTURER FOR PONTIAC IN CANADA. CANADA'S MANUFACTURER ADMITTED TO PROBLEM, AND ALSO SENT CONSUMER SOME PART TO SEE IF IT MADE A DIFFERENCE, THE PARTS DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE HEAD REST WHEN UP, IT WILL FALL DOWN WHEN EVER VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. SHIMMERING OF THESE VEHICLE WILL MAKE HEAD REST FALL DOWN. *AK

• 10/19/2000· POWER TRAIN

  THERE HAS BEEN WHINING IN REAR-END AND A ROARING IN FRONT END. I HAVE HAD CAR IN SHOP 9 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR REAR END PROBLEMS,THE DRIVESHAFT HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED,POWER WINDOW FAILURES,HEADLIGHT FAILURE

• 10/19/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WAS TRAVELING 30MPH & APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP, VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. VEHICLE SPED UP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. OWNER EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS EVERYDAY. PROBLEM IS NOT INTERMITTENT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE COMPUTER MODULE HAD BROKEN FOR ABS BRAKES. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 10/11/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CANNOT MOVE FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT HITTING STEERING COLUMN CONCERN ABOUT EMERGENCY BRAKING.*AK

• 10/11/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WATER PUMP FAILED.

• 10/10/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  LACK OF POWER, HESITATION, BACKFIRING THROUGH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. CANNOT MAINTAIN 40 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, GOING UPHILL.

• 10/10/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  THE GAS GAUGE READS 3/4 FULL WHEN THE TANK IS ACTUALLY 1/2 FULL. THE GAUGE READS 1/2 FULL WHEN ACTUALLY 1/4 FULL. GAUGE READS 1/4 FULL WHEN EMPTY. PONTIAC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT CORRECT IT, OF REMEDY IT FOR CUSTOMERS. PONTIAC SHOULD REMOVE GAS GAUGE FROM DASH BOARD SINCE THE SYSTEM IS THIS FAULTY.

• 09/30/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN BRAKES GET WET THEY BECOME HARD, CAUSING, THE BRAKES TO GRADUALLY STOP, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

• 09/19/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN OCCURRED VEHICLLE WOULD NOT RESTART FOR AN HOUR OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALERS SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

• 09/10/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  ABS FAILED WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY / SUDDEN STOP, WHICH LED TO A VEHICLE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *JLG

• 09/10/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 20 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH

• 09/08/1999· SEATS

  FRONT SEAT FLOOR TRACK FAILURE.

• 09/04/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY, BEGAN TO SMELL GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, HAD TO PULL OVER AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND GAS WAS FLOODING OVER THE ENGINE, THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED GAS WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK

• 08/11/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PREMATURE BURN OUT OF REAR TAIL LIGHTS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO T DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT IT WILL WILL COST $100.00 PER LIGHT.*AK

• 08/07/1997· POWER TRAIN

  POWER TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE BRAKE IS TO BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, HOWEVER IT'S POSSIBLE TO PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT BRAKE DEPRESSION.

• 08/05/2003· STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAS CRACKS DEVELOPING, AND DEALER INDICATES THAT PANELS ARE SEPARATING. *AK

• 08/05/1998· SEATS

  HEADREST, DESIGNED TO ADJUST AT ANGLES, NO LONGER LOCKS AT DESIRED ANGLE.

• 08/01/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEFire

  I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE ROAD & THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE . *TR

• 08/01/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDALARE POORLY PLACED. WHEN DRIVER MOVES FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE PEDAL, THE TOP PART OF THE FOOT HITS THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

• 07/22/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK. HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO DLR 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

• 07/11/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE POORLY PLACED. UPON MOVING FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE PEDAL (OR VICE VERSA), THE TOP OF FOOT HITS STEERING COLUMN. ONLY WAY TO GET FROM ONE PEDAL TO OTHER REQUIRES A LOT OF FOOT/LEG MOVEMENT. *AK

• 06/30/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE WHEN BRAKES ARE WET. VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP PROPERLY. IT TAKES A LOT LONGER FOR VEHICLE TO STOP WHEN BRAKES ARE WET. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT CONDITION STILL OCCURS AND UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.*AK

• 06/27/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 06/27/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  OWNER FILLED THE VEHICLE AND FORGOT TO REPLACE THE CAP. WITHIN ONE MILE OF DRIVING, THE GAS TANK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE WAS GAS SPILLING OUT OF THE TANK AND RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EXHAUST.

• 06/21/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE PROBLEM WITH CRACKING INTAKE MANIFOLD. MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP. ONLY OFFERED REMEDY WAS TO COMPLETLY REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $6,000.00.

• 06/16/2009· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT SOCKETS ON THE 1997 FIREBIRD (AND PROBABLY OTHER MODEL YEARS) BURN UP AFTER A TIME CAUSING SIGNAL FAILURE AND MARKER LIGHT FAILURE. THE CAUSE IS THE EXCESSIVE HEAT GIVEN OFF BY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. PONTIAC USED THE TURNING SIGNAL ELEMENT OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AS A FULL ON,ALL THE TIME, VISIBILITY LIGHT FOR DAYTIME DRIVING. I LOVE THE IDEA FOR SAFETY REASONS BUT I FEEL THE SIGNAL SOCKET NEEDS TO BE BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE THE HEAT OF THESE LIGHTS BEING ON ALL THE TIME. VISIBILITY IS GREAT BUT HAVING THESE SOCKETS FAIL AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SIGNAL SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE SOCKETS BURN BLACK AND HAVEN'T CAUGHT ON FIRE ON MY CAR AND I'M NOT SURE OF THE FIRE POTENTIAL OF THIS, BUT BEING THAT THE BUMPER FENDERS AND VIRTUALLY MOST OF THE CAR IS PLASTIC, IF THEY EVER DID CATCH FIRE I'D HATE TO SEE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WOULD BURN!. I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO USING A SMALL JUMPER WIRE TO GROUND THE DRL SIGNAL OUT SO THAT I EFFECTIVELY DISABLED THE LIGHTS SO THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO CONTINUALLY HAVE TO REPAIR THE SOCKETS OR RISK HAVING A FIRE. THE NEXT QUESTION ASKS FOR A DATE OF INCIDENT AND I'M NOT SURE HOW TO ANSWER SO I'LL PUT TODAY'S DATE IN THERE. THE SOCKETS SEEM TO BURN OUT ONCE EVERY FEW YEARS, EVEN THE REPLACEMENTS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE AFTER A COUPLE YEARS. MY SOCKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 134,000 MILES AND THIS THIRD SET OF SOCKETS ARE SCORCHED AFTER BEING REPLACE SIX MONTHS AGO SO I DISABLED THE DRL BEFORE THEY GOT WORSE. *TR

• 05/19/1999· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WEARING OUT AT 39,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS REPAIR CHARGES GO TO CONSUMER. *AK

• 05/11/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE CAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN LURCHES, LIKE A TIRE HAS A BUBBLE IN IT, OR THE REAR-END IS SLIPPING, OR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING; YOU CAN ACTUALLY 'FEEL' EACH REVOLUTION OF THE TIRES--RER-RER-RER-RER.....NO MECHANICAL CUASES/PROBLEMS NOTED FROM AUTO SHOP VISITS. *AK

• 05/11/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES SLIP AND DO NOT CATCH WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE,HAVE TO REALLY NAIL THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND PRAY.

• 04/21/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NLM

• 04/16/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS SYSTEM FAILED.

• 04/15/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  I ARRIVED AT WORK, PARKED THE 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. 10 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE.*AK

• 04/13/2005· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE SEALS FOR THE PLASTIC "LENSES" ON THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS OF MY 1997 GRAND PRIX FAILED. WHEN THE SEALS BROKE, DIRT AND WATER ENTERED THE REFLECTIVE AREAS OF MY HEADLIGHTS. ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT SHORTLY AFTER THE SEAL WAS COMPROMISED. THE ORIGINAL SEAL ON EACH OF THE LIGHTS HAD DEGRADED SO FAR THAT I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE LENSES OFF BY HAND WITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY. I HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM BY PULLING OFF THE CLEAR "LENS" OF EACH HEADLIGHT AND RESEALING THEM WITH AQUARIUM SEALANT. I'VE NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER CARS THAT APPEAR TO BE THE SAME STYLE AS MINE. IF OTHER HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE AS MINE WERE, I WORRY THAT WATER LEAKING INTO THE LIGHTS WILL CAUSE THE BULBS TO BURN OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, ESPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER. AS WATER AND DIRT ENTER THE REFLECTIVE AREA OF THE LIGHT, IT WILL PROBABLY ALSO CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT'S TO BECOME DIMMER AND DIMMER.*AK

• 04/06/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY .DAYTIME RUNNING MODULE REPLACED TWICE AND HEADLAMP DIMMER SWITCH ONCE , BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING. *AK

• 04/05/2002· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

  THE MFG. WILL NOT FIX THE AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT DASH WARNING LIGHTS AT NO COST .I PAID $40 TO HAVE THEM CHECKED AND THEY WANT $500+ TO INSTAL A NEW COMPONENT EVEN THOUGH THE BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED . AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS THEY ARE WILLING TO GO 50%. I DON'T AGREE TO PAYING ANY$ FOR THIS BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED AND THEY MUST HAVE A DEFECT ! PLEASE HELP AND RESPOND VIA EMAIL IF POSSIBLE. I HAVE NAMES AND RECORDS ETC. ALSO HAVE GM 5 YR. 60000 WARRANTY EXPIRES 9-20-02. *AK

• 04/01/2002· STEERING

  POER STEERING HOSE GONE TOO, LEAKING EVEYWHERE, MANY OTHER GRAND PRIXS HAVE THIS PROBLEM TOO. *AK

• 03/26/2024· WHEELS

  Hi my Pontiac firebird got Impounded properly parked for 3 hrs on private property on the same property where I’m a Tenant at [XXX] Las Vegas it was towed illegally and was in pound yard where I was charged $474.64 by tow guys 3823 losse rd 89030 they did not put sticker they illegally towed no sign on wall saying we cannot park at night there I’m parking space got impounded from the wheel in the rear and popped my right front tire pulling it and towed it like that damaging my front suspension I’d like to get my refund . My contact # is [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 02/24/1998· POWER TRAIN

  REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKES NOISE, UNABLE TO FIX PROPERLY.

• 02/22/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  AT 118,000 MILES I HAD MY FRONT BRAKES CHANGED FOR THE THIRD TIME. I ASKED THE PERSON CHANGING THE BRAKES TO CHECK THE REAR BRAKES SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN CHANGED. I HAD ASKED PREVIOUS PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THEM WHEN INSPECTING BRAKES AND I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THEY WERE FINE. THIS TIME THE PERSON REALLY LOOKED AT THEM AND INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKES HAD NEVER TOUCHED THE DRUMS (EVER). MY REAR BRAKES WERE SHOWROOM NEW AND SO WERE THE REAR DRUMS. I HAD HAD AN SCCIDENT A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAD THOSE BRAKES BEEN WORKING I GUARANTEE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN STOPPED IN TIME TO HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT AND MY INJURIES. THE DAT OF INCIDEN WILL BE THE DATE OF THIS DISCOVERY.*AK

• 02/19/1998· AIR BAGS

  THE VEHICLE WAS CROSSING A RAILROAD TRACK AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH WHEN THE AIR BAGE DEPLOYED. *AK.

• 02/12/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE IS OVERHEATING BECAUSE OF RADIATOR COOLANT (DEX/COOL) BREAKING DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 02/09/1998· SEATS

  THE HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE RIREBIRD TRANS AM AND FIREBIRD FORMULA MODELS WITH OPTIONAL "UPLEVEL SEATS WILL NOT STAY ADJUSTED. SINCE HEADREST POSTS ARE NOT NOTCHED, THE HEAD RESTRAINTS SLIP BACK DOWN TO THE TOPS OF THE SEATBACKS WHILE DRIVING. *AK