Total Complaints
5 filings
PONTIAC FIREBIRD · model year
1982 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1982PONTIACFIREBIRD carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 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 1982 FIREBIRD is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1) and power train:automatic transmission (1). 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 1982 FIREBIRD. 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.
5
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080103CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1982 PONTIAC FIRE BIRD. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HEAD ON CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HER SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SLIP DISK IN THE LOWER BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE, AN INTERNAL CRANIAL BRAIN INJURY; THE MEDIAL NERVES IN HER RIGHT ARM WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 82V089000). A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, MILEAGES, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNAVAILABLE.
19980826FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
19980526ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
19980220ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FAULTY PISTONS.
19980220POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Compare 1982PONTIACFIREBIRD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1982 PONTIAC FIREBIRD have?▼
The 1982 PONTIAC FIREBIRD has 5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1982 PONTIAC FIREBIRD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1982 PONTIAC FIREBIRD is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1982 PONTIAC FIREBIRD safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
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.