1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
50
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
The 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD has received a total of 50 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EQUIPMENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (9 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (4 complaints), and Power Trainautomatic Transmission (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD, potentially affecting up to 125,273 vehicles.
Recall 07E088000 — EQUIPMENT
| 121,680 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND...
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
View full details →Recall 06E065000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 3,593 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
50 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A COSCO SAFETY SEAT LIGHT AND COMFY SAFETY SEAT (NA), MODEL NUMBER: IC-108BVN (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2013. THE SAFETY SEAT WAS BEING UTILIZED IN A 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOTTOM LEFT LATCH BECAME DIFFICULT TO RELEASE WHEN REMOVING THE CHILD SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SCREWDRIVER WAS NEEDED TO DEPRESS THE LATCH IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE CHILD SEAT. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE CHILD WAS IN THE SAFETY SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN.
1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD SEAT BACK COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE VIOLENTLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT ON THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AND ACCIDENT WHEN HIS SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, BECAUSE WHEN THE SEAT BROKE, HE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND INSTINCTIVELY APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT WILL NOT LOCK IN ANY POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THE SEAT FAILED. *JB
THE PLASTIC GEARS THAT DRIVE THE HEADLIGHT PODS ON MY 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD HAVE FAILED. RETRACTION OF THE HEADLIGHT CAUSES LOUD GRINDING NOISES. OCCAISIONALLY, ONE OR OTHER OF THE HEADLIGHT PODS DOES NOT RASIE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. IT CAN ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE PODS NO LONGER OPERATE AT ALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE GIVEN THE LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AMONG FIREBIRD OWNERS AND SOME ENTERPRISING SOUL HAS EVEN COME UP WITH A "FIX". NOTE THIS FIX REQUIRES THE DISASSEMBLY OF PARTS THAT WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE TAKEN APART. HTTP://WWW.BFRANKER.BADZ28.COM/HEADLIGHTFIX/INDEX.HTM GM CHARGE OVER $200 DOLLARS FOR THE POD DRIVE MOTOR. THAT IS SIMPLY EXTORTION.*AK
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE MIRROR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THIS CAR. THE MIRROR BREAKS OFF OF THE CONTROLS WHICH MAKES IT FLOP AROUND. YOU CAN'T USE IT TO DRIVE WITH, NOR CAN YOU GET IT TO STAY STILL. YOU CAN'T REPLACE JUST THE MIRROR EITHER. YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE PIECE (CASING AND MIRROR) THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT PAINTED. GRRRRRRRRRR!
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE MIRROR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THIS CAR. THE MIRROR BREAKS OFF OF THE CONTROLS WHICH MAKES IT FLOP AROUND. YOU CAN'T USE IT TO DRIVE WITH, NOR CAN YOU GET IT TO STAY STILL. YOU CAN'T REPLACE JUST THE MIRROR EITHER. YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE PIECE (CASING AND MIRROR) THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT PAINTED. GRRRRRRRRRR!
View all Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
General Motors, LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
9709016116A — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
COMMENTS OF AN ENGINE OIL LEAK THAT APPEARS TO ORIGINATE TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE; REAR OF ENGINE. *YC
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the PONTIAC FIREBIRD
- 1991 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 29 complaints
- 1992 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 33 complaints
- 1993 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 18 complaints
- 1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 72 complaints
- 1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 112 complaints
- 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD (current)
- 1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 59 complaints
- 1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 91 complaints
- 1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 76 complaints
- 2000 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 34 complaints
- 2001 PONTIAC FIREBIRD — 36 complaints
Other PONTIAC Models
- PONTIAC G6 — 8,406 total complaints
- PONTIAC GRAND AM — 8,105 total complaints
- PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — 7,302 total complaints
- PONTIAC BONNEVILLE — 2,576 total complaints
- PONTIAC VIBE — 2,132 total complaints
- PONTIAC SUNFIRE — 1,641 total complaints
- PONTIAC MONTANA — 1,451 total complaints
- PONTIAC TRANS SPORT — 1,262 total complaints