Total Complaints
48 filings
PONTIAC FIREBIRD · model year
48 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002PONTIACFIREBIRD carries 48 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 4 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 2002 FIREBIRD is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by unknown or other (3) and service brakes, hydraulic (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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 2002 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.
Total Complaints
48 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 3 |
| WHEELS:RIM | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE WELDS NEAR THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE THAT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKET. AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WITH THE OIL LEAKING, IT WAS COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. UPDATED 02/04/16.*JB
Mileage: 100,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKET. AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WITH THE OIL LEAKING, IT WAS COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. UPDATED 02/04/16.*JB
Mileage: 100,000
THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON ,SOMETIMES CAR WILL NOT START AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE DRIVING AND LOSES POWER AT ANY GIVING TIME. THE KEY THAT HAS A THE SENSOR DOES NOT READ OR GIVE THE CORRECT RESISTANCE TO THE VATS SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTS THE CAR OFF. I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KEY RESISTANCE AND THE IGNITION IN WHICH IT GOES INTO. SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS NOT READING OR MAKING CONTACT MESSING UP ALL THE SECURITY IN THE CAR. *TR
Mileage: 43,000
ENGINE OIL LEAK PROBLEM SINCE AUGUST. I HAVE HAD CAR CHECKED ON TWO (2) OCCASIONS BY MY MECHANIC. HE STATED IT COULD NEED A NEW OIL PAN OR THE REAR MAIN SEAL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NOT TOO HAPPY THAT I AM FACING COSTLY ENGINE REPAIRS FOR THIS WELL CARED FOR CAR. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE CHROME ALLOY RIMS ON THE VEHICLE EXHIBIT CRACKS. THE RIMS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED PER THE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, SINCE THERE WAS A MEMO INDICATING THAT THEY COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BUT REPLACED. PONTIAC HAS BEEN VERY UNCOOPERATIVE AND REFUSED TO COMPLY. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES OF THE RIMS AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE BRAND, MANUFACTURER AND ANY RELATED RIM INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 85000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,926. UPDATED 6/21/10 *CN UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB
Mileage: 42,926
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. OUTER SKIN COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM DOOR. LOWER HINGE IS DEFECTIVE. OWNED VEHICLE SINCE NEW, WAS A RECALL RELATED TO HINGE, BUT NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL REGARDING MY VEHICLE. ACTUALLY GLUED SKIN BACK TO DOOR TO REPAIR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHROME RIMS EXHIBITED CORROSION AND RUST ON THE INSIDE SURFACE. IN ADDITION, THE SPOKES WERE SEVERELY CRACKED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY FOUND RUST AND CORROSION ON ALL FOUR RIMS. THE RIMS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 05/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/02/09.*JB
Mileage: 42,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHROME RIMS EXHIBITED CORROSION AND RUST ON THE INSIDE SURFACE. IN ADDITION, THE SPOKES WERE SEVERELY CRACKED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY FOUND RUST AND CORROSION ON ALL FOUR RIMS. THE RIMS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 05/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/02/09.*JB
Mileage: 42,000
CHROME PLATING PEELING FROM WHEELS,CORROSION CAUSING TIRES TO LOOSE AIR AND GO FLAT. LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE CAUSES HANDLING PROBLEMS--CONSTANT PROBLEM-SITUATION HAS BEEN REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES. CLEANING CORROSION FORM WHEEL (WHICH PONTIAC DEALER HAS DONE) CORRECTS PROBLEM FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR
Mileage: 10,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES MADE A CONSISTENT VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS, UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO CLEANED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTATED THE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE PROBLEMS PERSISTED, BUT NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Mileage: 13,000
2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *MR
2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *MR
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING GM CORP PLACING ELECTRONIC RECORDING DEVICES IN VEHICLES WITHOUT INFORMING THE CUSTOMER.*MR *NM
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. LAMPS LITE BUT THE ASSEMBLY DID NOT RISE INTO POSITION.
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND THEFT DETERENT KEY CHIP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND THE RADIO FACE DISPLAY NOT WORKING AT ALL UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON UNTIL IT WORK SOMETIME 5 OR 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR NOW THE VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES AND IT IS MUCH WORSE WITH SOME DIFFICULTY SHIFTING ON ACCASION. THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS A WHINING NOISE AT 50-60 MPH AT CRUISING RPM AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL. I AM SEVERELY IRRITATED WITH GM FOR THE DISREGARD TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE WITHIN YOUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT GETTING A LOANER VEHICLE DURING ANY REPAIRS. THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS KEEPING ME FROM GIVING THEM MY CAR. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA HAVE ALL TOLD ME THAT WEAR PARTS ARE NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY WHICH IS "BUMPER TO BUMPER" FULL WARRANTY. I JUST DON'T THINK A T
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND THEFT DETERENT KEY CHIP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND THE RADIO FACE DISPLAY NOT WORKING AT ALL UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON UNTIL IT WORK SOMETIME 5 OR 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR NOW THE VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES AND IT IS MUCH WORSE WITH SOME DIFFICULTY SHIFTING ON ACCASION. THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS A WHINING NOISE AT 50-60 MPH AT CRUISING RPM AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL. I AM SEVERELY IRRITATED WITH GM FOR THE DISREGARD TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE WITHIN YOUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT GETTING A LOANER VEHICLE DURING ANY REPAIRS. THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS KEEPING ME FROM GIVING THEM MY CAR. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA HAVE ALL TOLD ME THAT WEAR PARTS ARE NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY WHICH IS "BUMPER TO BUMPER" FULL WARRANTY. I JUST DON'T THINK A T
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND THEFT DETERENT KEY CHIP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND THE RADIO FACE DISPLAY NOT WORKING AT ALL UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON UNTIL IT WORK SOMETIME 5 OR 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR NOW THE VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES AND IT IS MUCH WORSE WITH SOME DIFFICULTY SHIFTING ON ACCASION. THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS A WHINING NOISE AT 50-60 MPH AT CRUISING RPM AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL. I AM SEVERELY IRRITATED WITH GM FOR THE DISREGARD TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE WITHIN YOUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT GETTING A LOANER VEHICLE DURING ANY REPAIRS. THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS KEEPING ME FROM GIVING THEM MY CAR. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA HAVE ALL TOLD ME THAT WEAR PARTS ARE NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY WHICH IS "BUMPER TO BUMPER" FULL WARRANTY. I JUST DON'T THINK A T
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY AND THEFT DETERENT KEY CHIP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND THE RADIO FACE DISPLAY NOT WORKING AT ALL UNLESS I TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON UNTIL IT WORK SOMETIME 5 OR 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE 6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR NOW THE VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES AND IT IS MUCH WORSE WITH SOME DIFFICULTY SHIFTING ON ACCASION. THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS A WHINING NOISE AT 50-60 MPH AT CRUISING RPM AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL. I AM SEVERELY IRRITATED WITH GM FOR THE DISREGARD TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE WITHIN YOUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT GETTING A LOANER VEHICLE DURING ANY REPAIRS. THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS KEEPING ME FROM GIVING THEM MY CAR. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA HAVE ALL TOLD ME THAT WEAR PARTS ARE NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY WHICH IS "BUMPER TO BUMPER" FULL WARRANTY. I JUST DON'T THINK A T
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY FIREBIRD WHICH I BOUGHT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. I DON NOT HAVE THE EXACT DATES AND MILEAGE OF THE PROBLEMS AT HAND. IN SHORT THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE PURCHASING DEALER AND/OR REPAIRED: ROTERS(BRAKES) 2X, ANTENA 3 OR 4X, OPEN CIRCUIT(REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY-TRUNK/WINDOWS/DOORS AND ALARM)1 OR2X, CD/STEREO STILL ISN'T REPAIRED AND UNSURE OF PROBLEM, SUSPENSION OFF, LEFT BLINKER MALFUNCTIONING, MISC. FUSES CONTINUOUSLY BLOWN, POWER STEERING COLUMN LEAK .....I THINK THATS IT! THAT'S ENOUGH THOUGH.
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY FIREBIRD WHICH I BOUGHT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. I DON NOT HAVE THE EXACT DATES AND MILEAGE OF THE PROBLEMS AT HAND. IN SHORT THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE PURCHASING DEALER AND/OR REPAIRED: ROTERS(BRAKES) 2X, ANTENA 3 OR 4X, OPEN CIRCUIT(REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY-TRUNK/WINDOWS/DOORS AND ALARM)1 OR2X, CD/STEREO STILL ISN'T REPAIRED AND UNSURE OF PROBLEM, SUSPENSION OFF, LEFT BLINKER MALFUNCTIONING, MISC. FUSES CONTINUOUSLY BLOWN, POWER STEERING COLUMN LEAK .....I THINK THATS IT! THAT'S ENOUGH THOUGH.
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.