1995 Pontiac Firebird Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on stalling and electrical faults, ABS and brake warnings, and engine cooling/head gasket problems, with many reports filed when the cars were already well used. Several owners describe fuel odors, fires traced to wiring or fuel lines, and airbags that did not deploy in crashes. The odometer readings in the sample are high, so most reports reflect older, high-mileage vehicles rather than low-mileage failures.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS light and brake warning problems; long wet braking

   • 13 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 2.5 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Complaints describe the ABS warning light coming on for no clear reason, brake warning lights on the dash, and a pedal that sinks toward the floor. Some owners report noticeably longer stopping distances when the discs are wet, returning to normal after several brake applications. Others mention cracked rear drums and repeated work on the rear brakes and sensors. Reports span the whole ownership period; the wet-braking complaint was present from new, and several reports follow repeated dealer visits.

   What to check: Watch the dash for an ABS or brake light during a test drive and on a wet road, and check pedal feel for sinking or a long travel. Ask for service records on the ABS sensors, rear drums and brake hydraulics.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #747870, filed 2001-07

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #887970, filed 2001-05
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Fires from engine wiring or fuel lines

   • 17 complaints (20%)
   • typically at 3.5 yrs old
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2006

   Several owners describe flames from the engine bay or hood area, in one case while parked in an attached garage, with a fire investigator attributing it to an engine fuel line. Others report a wiring harness catching fire while driving, and one owner reported a fire in the steering wheel area. In some cases the cause was not determined and the vehicle was a total loss. Reports are spread across the late 1990s and early 2000s on vehicles of varying age; mileage is not consistently recorded.

   What to check: Have a technician inspect engine wiring, the fuel lines and the fuel rail area for chafing, cracking or prior repairs, and ask whether any fire-related repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #751301, filed 2001-08

   “While driving the vehicle started losing power and vehicle stalled. Pulled over and raised the hood, and saw flames coming from the engine. A nearby driver helped to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire remains unknown. The manufacturer has not been contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #829582, filed 1998-10
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls, no-start and ignition/electrical faults

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 4.4 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2000

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning while stopped, cruising, or accelerating, sometimes with all electrical functions dropping out at the same time. Others report intermittent no-start conditions where the ignition, keys, clutch switch and later the security module were replaced. Complaints mention dealers finding a short in the ignition or being unable to reproduce the problem. Filed across many years of ownership; the no-start reports mention repeat visits during and just after the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty period.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about any history of stalling or intermittent no-start and whether the ignition switch, security module or wiring were serviced. Check that all dash warning lights behave normally on a cold start and test-start the car several times.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During initial 3 yr/36,000 miles warranty period the vehicle was in the shop 5 or more times for the iginition problem. It intermittently will not start. The total ignition and keys, clutch switch were replaced, and eventually I thought the problem was corrected when the security module was replaced at around 37,000 miles. In the last 2 days the iginition has failed approximately 20 times, and worked correctly about 10 times. I have not yet taken it to the dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #703025, filed 1999-02

   “Diagnostic trouble code #29, air pump fuse and wiring are not adequate to prevent fuse from blowing. Fuse blows after engine goes into closed loop operation. Air pump does not work after this, causing check engine light to appear.”

   NHTSA complaint #703128, filed 1999-02
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a crash

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 3.3 yrs old
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe frontal and offset impacts, including a head-on collision with a guardrail and one involving a rear axle failure, in which neither frontal airbag deployed. One owner instead reports the driver airbag deploying without any impact, with the dealer citing a short and replacing the airbag. Seat belts failing to hold the driver are mentioned alongside some of these reports. Reported from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s; vehicle mileage is not stated in most of these complaints.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light comes on at startup and then goes out, and ask whether the airbag system or clockspring has ever been serviced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving driver's airbag deployed unexpectedly and without any impact, causing injuries to driver. Dealer replaced driver's airbag at manufacturer's expense, and said there was a short in the driver's airbag. Please provide further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #864462, filed 2000-06

   “While travelling at 55 MPH the vehicle was involved in crash due to the rear axle breaking in half. Frontal impact and rear impact into a cement wall, and neither airbag deployed. Dealer contacted and cannot duplicate the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #829456, filed 1998-10

Summary written with AI from a sample of 42 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.