PONTIAC FIREBIRD · model year

1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD

112 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995PONTIACFIREBIRD carries 112 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 14 fires, 11 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 1995 FIREBIRD is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 11 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (8) and power train:automatic transmission (6). 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 1995 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.

112
Complaints
14
Crashes
14
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

112 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP11
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN2
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2

Recent Complaints

20061107CrashSTEERING

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

Mileage: 147,700

20060721STRUCTURE

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

20050415FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE FIRE CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *NM

20030624SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

20021107CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20020812FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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 CONNE

20020607CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

20020607CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

20020408ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CRACKED HEAD AT 65000 MILES? I HAVE SEEN NOW 20 DIFFENT OWNERS POSTED ON WEB SITES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT EVEN LOWER MILES....AND GM DOES NOT RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS. *AK

20020219ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

20020131ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES THE SINGLE DRIVE BELT CONSISTENTLY SLIPS LOSING POWERSTEERING, AC AND ALTERNATOR FUNCTION. THE BELT DOES COME BACK ON LINE, BUT THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAS RESULTED IN THE SAFETY PROBLEM OF SEVERAL NEAR CRASHES. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN WITH ASSURANCE AND SAFETY DURING RAIN STORMS.*AK

20020131STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES THE SINGLE DRIVE BELT CONSISTENTLY SLIPS LOSING POWERSTEERING, AC AND ALTERNATOR FUNCTION. THE BELT DOES COME BACK ON LINE, BUT THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAS RESULTED IN THE SAFETY PROBLEM OF SEVERAL NEAR CRASHES. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN WITH ASSURANCE AND SAFETY DURING RAIN STORMS.*AK

20010830FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

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

20010711SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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 A

20010510SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM

TOOK VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR MAINTENANCE DUE TO BRAKES SQUEALING WHEN APPLIED. HAD BRAKES CHECKED. MECHANIC NOTICED THAT REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE CRACKED. NO EXPLANATION OF HOW THEY BECAME CRACKED. *AK

20010305VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTEL RELAXER MOTOR FAILED WHICH STOPPED CAR IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. *AK

20010206ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

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

20001107EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

POWER ANTENNA SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING.*ET

20000725ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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.

20000725ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

Compare 1995PONTIACFIREBIRD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD have?
The 1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD has 112 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 14 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD?
The most-complained component for the 1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1995 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.