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1997 Pontiac FirebirdProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 49 owner complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Firebird, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

49
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.1× the Firebird median · #4 of 18 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints4910 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage118kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 26, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Pontiac Firebird has problems

49 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic133
Vehicle speed control60
Engine and engine cooling60
Seats50
Power train50
Electrical system51
Air bags43
Fuel system, gasoline41
Exterior lighting20
6 other systems61

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1997 Pontiac Firebird recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Front: retractor

Recall 96V-219 · Nov 4, 1996 · 1,573 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY THAN THOSE USING SEAT BELTS.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Firebird year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Firebird median. How we score

'67'68'69'70'71'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Pontiac Firebird safety ratings

1997 Pontiac Firebird 2-DR in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Pontiac Firebird, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL TUBE RETAINING CLIP FAILUREEA97024 · closed Sep 29, 1998
    No recall
  2. FUEL TUB RETAINING CLIP FAILUREPE97036 · closed Nov 13, 1997
    No recall
In owners' words

What Firebird owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 10111934 · Feb 22, 2005 · 118,000 miles
ABS FAILED WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY / SUDDEN STOP, WHICH LED TO A VEHICLE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *JLG
Complaint 8018300 · Sep 10, 2002
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
Complaint 8018290 · Sep 10, 2002

Own a 1997 Firebird?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.