Total Complaints
36 filings
PONTIAC FIREBIRD · model year
2001 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
36 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001PONTIACFIREBIRD carries 36 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 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 2001 FIREBIRD is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (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 2001 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.
36
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20170711EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT TURN SIGNALS GO OUT EVERY FEW WEEKS. THE PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN OF THE SOCKET, WHICH IS NOT SEALED WELL CAUSING THE SOCKET TO SHORT OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE SOCKET AND LIGHT-BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I FEEL TURN SIGNALS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT, AND ACCIDENTS COULD AND DO OCCUR WITHOUT THEM. ALSO, SINCE THE SOCKETS ARE SHORTING OUT, I AM WORRIED THAT A BIGGER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COULD MANIFEST BECAUSE OF THAT. I KNOW THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT I AM CONFUSED WHY A RECALL FOR SUCH A BAD AND DANGEROUS DESIGN HAS NOT BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.
Mileage: 100,000
20060821TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE TIRE DEFECTIVE: TREADS COMPLETELY PEELED OFF. *JB
Mileage: 43,580
20060816ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE TRUNK AND NOTICED A BEACH TOWEL HAD TWO BURN MARKS ON IT. THE TOWEL WAS MOVED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
Mileage: 35,000
20050609EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT: WIRING LOOSENED ON FRONT HEADLIGHTS, HAD TO PULL OVER AT NIGHT, AND PLUG IN AGAI. CHECKED FUSES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE THE ACTUAL ONES. ALSO, THE BULBS THAT WORKED THE BLINKERS FAILED, AND THE BACK LIGHTS WENT IN/OUT DUE TO A SHORT. *AK
Mileage: 40,000
20050609ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DT: WIRING LOOSENED ON FRONT HEADLIGHTS, HAD TO PULL OVER AT NIGHT, AND PLUG IN AGAI. CHECKED FUSES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE THE ACTUAL ONES. ALSO, THE BULBS THAT WORKED THE BLINKERS FAILED, AND THE BACK LIGHTS WENT IN/OUT DUE TO A SHORT. *AK
Mileage: 40,000
20050609EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
DT: WIRING LOOSENED ON FRONT HEADLIGHTS, HAD TO PULL OVER AT NIGHT, AND PLUG IN AGAI. CHECKED FUSES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE THE ACTUAL ONES. ALSO, THE BULBS THAT WORKED THE BLINKERS FAILED, AND THE BACK LIGHTS WENT IN/OUT DUE TO A SHORT. *AK
Mileage: 40,000
20050609EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: WIRING LOOSENED ON FRONT HEADLIGHTS, HAD TO PULL OVER AT NIGHT, AND PLUG IN AGAI. CHECKED FUSES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE THE ACTUAL ONES. ALSO, THE BULBS THAT WORKED THE BLINKERS FAILED, AND THE BACK LIGHTS WENT IN/OUT DUE TO A SHORT. *AK
Mileage: 40,000
20050218STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL WAS LOOSE. *NM THIS WAS A RECURRENT ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE WINDOW TO COME OFF TRACK WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO TRAPPING THE CONSUMERS WIFE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR HAD BEEN STRESSED AT THE FACTORY DURING IT'S CONSTRUCTION. THE DOOR WAS UN-REPAIRABLE. *SC *JB
20041227STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
PAINT ON ROOF BEHIND T-TOPS BUBBLING AND LEAKING FLUID ON REST OF PAINT. TOOK TO DEALER AND SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE AFTER WARRANTY. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE CAR THAT IS MEANT TO LOOK GOOD. THIS IS AN EYE SORE.*AK
Mileage: 49,000
20041203FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL POWER TRUNK AND CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK. THE HOUSING OVER THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD BURNED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
Mileage: 22,580
20041026SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AT 6,000 MILES, MY CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PULSE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS WARPED ROTORS. I'VE HAD THEM RESURFACED THREE TIMES NOW! WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THESE ROTORS? ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING TO AVOID A COLLISION. IT IS NOT SAFE AND DEFINATELY NOT NORMAL FOR ROTORS TO WARP SO FAST. WHY WON'T GM DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!*AK
Mileage: 6,000
20041026ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXCESSIVE VALVE CLATTER AND CONSUMPTION OF FUEL. *AK
Mileage: 20,000
20040318EQUIPMENT
ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I HAVE REPORTED TWO CASES TO PONTIAC AND THYE WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURES EVEN THOUGH THIS IS CLEARLY A CONSISTANT FAILURE ON THE FIREBIRD MODEL ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS. WARP ROTORS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 8,000
20040318SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I HAVE REPORTED TWO CASES TO PONTIAC AND THYE WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURES EVEN THOUGH THIS IS CLEARLY A CONSISTANT FAILURE ON THE FIREBIRD MODEL ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS. WARP ROTORS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 8,000
20030808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN SIGNALS OPERATE SPORADICALLY, WHETHER STANDING OR MOVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AND THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG.
Mileage: 19,000
20030725VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
INTERMITTENTLY SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
20030405SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE FRONT ROTORS/BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR HAD 196 MILES ON IT, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT EVERY 8,000 TO 12,000. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 2,000 MILES AGO AND THE FRONT END IS VIBRATING AGAIN NOW. THE CAR HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT BOUGHT AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 60,000 MILES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS LOCKED UP TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN ACROSS FOUR LANES, THE FIRST TIME AND DOING A 180 WHILE ON AN ON RAMP RIGHT AFTER LEAVING LONG PONTIAC OF CHATTANOOGA. EVER TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THEM THEY JUST TELL ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TELL ME IT IS OK. *JB
Mileage: 196
20030405EQUIPMENT
THE FRONT ROTORS/BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR HAD 196 MILES ON IT, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT EVERY 8,000 TO 12,000. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 2,000 MILES AGO AND THE FRONT END IS VIBRATING AGAIN NOW. THE CAR HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT BOUGHT AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 60,000 MILES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS LOCKED UP TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN ACROSS FOUR LANES, THE FIRST TIME AND DOING A 180 WHILE ON AN ON RAMP RIGHT AFTER LEAVING LONG PONTIAC OF CHATTANOOGA. EVER TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THEM THEY JUST TELL ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TELL ME IT IS OK. *JB
Mileage: 196
20030130FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. SCC *TS
Mileage: 22,580
20021216POWER TRAIN
WHEN CAR IS SITTING STILL AND IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THERE IS A VIBRATION THRU OUT CAR @ 2200 RPM'S. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE THE VIBRATION OCCURS AT 48-51 MPH. THIS VIBRATION IS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS SAY THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS CAR. BOTH DEALERSHIPS HAVE AGREED THERE IS A VIBRATION BUT SAY "THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT". THEY HAVE ALSO SAID THAT SOME OF THESE CARS VIBRATIONS ARE WORSE THAN MINE.
Mileage: 4,000
Compare 2001PONTIACFIREBIRD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2001 PONTIAC FIREBIRD have?▼
The 2001 PONTIAC FIREBIRD has 36 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 PONTIAC FIREBIRD?▼
The most-complained component for the 2001 PONTIAC FIREBIRD is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 2001 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.