1990 Pontiac Firebird

Routine

Owners filed 9 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal3
100
Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood2
025
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
000
Seat Belts1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System1
010

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment07E088000
Filed Oct 24, 2007121,680 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

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 HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Risk. 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings90V114000
Filed Jun 12, 199010,297 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. FUEL RETURN HOSES MAY BREAK AT EITHER CRIMPED COUPLING.

Risk. IF THIS COUPLING SEPARATED, ALLOWING GASOLINE TO LEAK,AND AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. INSTALL A PROPERLY CRIMPED FUEL RETURN HOSE.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly90V105000
Filed May 14, 19901,500,000 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat Belts
Filed Dec 2, 2014MI

INSIDE PLASTIC PARTS BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. REPLACEMENT DOES NOT STAY BUCKLED. RECALLS - SEARCH RESULTS SEARCH RESULTS REPORT DATE : DECEMBER 2, 2014 AT 11:21 PM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 90V105000 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): CHEVROLET / CAMARO 1984-1990 PONTIAC / FIREBIRD 1984-1990 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: MAY 14, 1990 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 90V105000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA90001 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1,500,000 SUMMARY: PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS. CONSEQUENCE: THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. REMEDY: REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE. NOTES: SYSTEM: SEAT BELT BUCKLE.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. *JS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling SystemFire
Filed Jul 1, 1999FL

PURCHASSED CAR 9/98 FROM ACCENT AUTO ANOTHER CHANCE FINANCE, RETURNED TO DEALER WITH OVERHEATING PROBLEMS NEXT DAY. THEY SAID IT WAS A MINOR PROBLEM & SAID IT WAS FIXED. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AT LEAST 1 TIME A MONTH. TOOK IT TO OTHER MECHANICS AND HAD MANY ITEMS FIXED BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING. FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE RIGHT ENGINE FOR THE CAR. CONTINUED TO HAVE HEATING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM AGAIN, THEY DID NOT. THE CAR STARTED BACKFIRING AND DIED. THE DEALER TOWED THE CAR, SAID THEY WOULD PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN. THIS TOOK 3/4WKS, I PICKED IT UP GOT TO WORK AND THE ENGINE DID THE SAME BACKFIRE & HEATING AS BEFORE. THEY TOWED IT AGAIN AND SAID THEY WOULD PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN. I TOOK IT FOR TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER, IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, THE DEALER DROVE IT BACK TO THE LOT AS FIRE STARTED COMING OUT OF ENGINE. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE DEALERS NON-COMPLIENCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. I HAD NO USE OF THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. NO LONER CAR TILL LAST 3 DAYS BEFORE GETTING CAR AGAIN. TODAY IS THE SECOND DAY I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK AND IT IS STARTING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN PICKED UP CAR WAS TOLD THAT I MADE THE PROBLEM BY OUTTING IN A RADIO! THEY SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND MADE ME PAY FOR FIXING THAT PROBLEM AND TOWING COSTS. DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY PAPER WORK ON REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. ALSO WILL NOT GIVE ME COPY OF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CAR. I AM WORRIED THAT E

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Mar 4, 1996CA

THE AIR BAG IS COMING OUT CONSTANTLY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ANY REASON.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Mar 4, 1996CA

THE AIR BAG IS COMING OUT CONSTANTLY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ANY REASON.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Feb 7, 1996AL

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION (12:00) AT 45 MPH. TT

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 6, 1995NJ

THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK WHEN VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Apr 18, 1995CA

VEHICLE FIRE WHEN TURNING ON IGNITION, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. TT

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Apr 18, 1995VA

STEERING WHEEL BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND FELL INTO DRVER'S LAP. TT

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire5 injured
Filed Mar 31, 1995CA

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. TT

9 of 9 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200221112Fatalities reported
200124020Routine
200024000Routine
199947100Routine
199863020Routine
199749320Routine
199641240Routine
1995843140Routine
1994593101Fatalities reported
199318320Routine
199227400Routine
199127500Routine
1990 — this page9430Routine

Compare every Firebird year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 24, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.