Total Complaints
28 filings
PONTIAC FIERO · model year
28 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986PONTIACFIERO carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 FIERO is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 7 filings, followed by parking brake:conventional (3) and engine and engine cooling (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 1986 FIERO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
28 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 7 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM. I SEE IN YOUR DATABASE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 4 RECALLS ISSUED.
RECALL TO MY 1986 PONTIAC FIERO (VIN# 1G2PF3795GP23433) WAS NEVER COMPLETED DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A SERIOUS RECALL, AS IT INVOLVED A POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. GM RECALL NUMBER 88-C-24A. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 6/21/2006, UNAWARE THAT THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE. I TRIED TO GET PONTIAC TO COVER THIS RECALL BUT THEY REFUSE. FOR MY SAFETY, I'M MOVING FORWARD AND PAYING FOR THE RECALL TO BE DONE FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE FROM PONTIAC. *NM
THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM OF THESE VEHICLE'S MAY CONTAIN A NONFUNCTIONAL PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN 91V055000; THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR HER VEHICLE. *TC
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 90V104000 CONCERNING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. WHEN THE TRUNK IS OPENED IN THE RAIN WATER DRIPS THROUGH THE TRUNK ONTO THE OXYGEN SENSOR. A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED, BUT THE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 98,000
CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE DUMPED OIL FROM THE ENGINE UPON STARTING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY RECALL INFORMATION FROM EITHER DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT OIL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE GROUND. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL, IT WOULD ROLL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THAT THIS WAS CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO PASS STATE INSPECTION.*AK *SC *JB
CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE 88C24, MANFACTURER HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE HAD NO PARTS. ALSO, HAD BEEN CALLING DEALER, PONTIAC CUSTOMER CARE CENTER FOR ABOUT 120 DAYS, AND NO RESPONSE. RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON VEHICLE.*AK
THE REAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, INJURYING ONE PERSON. *SLC
THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS ARE FROZE SOLID AND NOT WORKING BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING THEM IS A BAD SYSTEM, AS STATED BY THE BRAKE REPAIR SHOP.
EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT KEEP CAR FROM ROLLING AWAY. I GOT A RECALL ON IT. PONTIAC SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT ANYTIME IN THE FUTURE THAT I WANTED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS BEING SAVED AS A COLLECTABLE. THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE IT WAS SAFETY RELATED THERE WAS NO TIME FRAME. NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO AVOID FIXING THE PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAUSING OIL TO SPILL ON THE ENGINE, AND SMOKE IS COMING FROM FROM VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR SERVICE TWICE, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
OIL LEAK FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN. LOCATED APPROXIMATELY AT UPPER PART OF ENGINE DOWN TO PULLY AND BELTS. ALSO WIRES LOCATED NEAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN ENGINE ARE EXTREMELY HOT, DISCOLORED AND BRITTLE HARNESS..CONCERN FOR ? OF FIRE, ESPECIALLY WITH OIL LEAKAGE NEAR BY...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON..AND IS UNKNOWN PROBLEM TO THE DEALER
OIL LEAK FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN. LOCATED APPROXIMATELY AT UPPER PART OF ENGINE DOWN TO PULLY AND BELTS. ALSO WIRES LOCATED NEAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN ENGINE ARE EXTREMELY HOT, DISCOLORED AND BRITTLE HARNESS..CONCERN FOR ? OF FIRE, ESPECIALLY WITH OIL LEAKAGE NEAR BY...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON..AND IS UNKNOWN PROBLEM TO THE DEALER
OIL LEAK FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN. LOCATED APPROXIMATELY AT UPPER PART OF ENGINE DOWN TO PULLY AND BELTS. ALSO WIRES LOCATED NEAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN ENGINE ARE EXTREMELY HOT, DISCOLORED AND BRITTLE HARNESS..CONCERN FOR ? OF FIRE, ESPECIALLY WITH OIL LEAKAGE NEAR BY...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON..AND IS UNKNOWN PROBLEM TO THE DEALER
1986 PONTIAC FIERO THAT THE DEALER SAYS IS NOT IN THERE DATA BASE AND HAS NOT HAD THE RECALLS DONE TO IT I HAVE THE RECALL #S THE DATES AND A VERY DETAILED OUT-LINE OF THE RECALLS THAT WERE TO BE DONE. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT MY CAR AND THE TSB BULLITIONS I HAVE AND SAID THE CAR CLEARLY HAS NOT HAD THE RECALLS DONE. THE DEALER AND GM CLAIM IT'S UP TO THE OTHER ONE WHO HAS TO LOOK AT IT THE DEALER AT FIRST SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED. BUT WHEN I READ THE TSB TO HIM, AND GAVE HIM THE CAMPAIGN NUMBERS AND READ FROM THEM VEBATUM HE SAID THECOMPUTER ONLY GOES BACK TEN YEARS! AND I READ TO HIM "DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THS CAMPAIGN AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE,AGE OF VEHICLE,OR OWNERSHIP, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD." AND SAID TO CALL PONTIAC CUSTOMER CARES 800 PM CARES. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING ITS UP TO THE DEALER. WE CANT MAKE THEM LOOK AT YOUR CAR . THEN I CALLED THE DEALER BACK AND HE SAID THE PROBLEM IS IF THEY DO THE WORK, GM MAY NOT
THE METAL IN THE LOCKING PORTION OF THE SEATBELT SNAPPED AND IT FLEW OFF AND SMACKED ME IN THE FACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT AND THE PLASTIC CASING AROUD THE BELT BROKE WHEN IT DID THIS. *AK
APPARENTLY, THIS CAR IS INFAMOUS FOR FIRES, BUT I WAS NOT WARNED UPON PURCHASE 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS, PLUS I HAD SPENT CLOSE TO $400 ON REPAIRS AFTER PURCHASE AND IT DID PASS SAFETY INSPECTION 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO BURSTING INTO FLAMES
4 SPEED SHIFTER ASSY WILL NOT ENGAGE BACK UP LIGHT SWITCH AND IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR AT TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED SHIFTER TWICE, THIS BEING THE 3RD ONE FOR THE CAR. EACH TIME THE FAILURE HAS BEEN DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR ON TWO RIVITS COMING LOOSE ON FORWARD RIGHT SIDE OF ASSY AND THE SUBSQUENTAL WEAR OF SHIFT EGAGEMENT ARM MECHANISM FOR REVERSE GEAR. UNLESS YOU HOLD THE GEARSHIFT ARM IN THE FULL REVEARSE POSITION, YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY BACKUP LIGHTS. AT TIMES THE SHIFTING MECHANISM WILL JAM AND YOU CANNOT SHIFT .
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.