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Pontiac FirebirdModel year report

1997 Pontiac Firebird Problems

Complaints
49filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
89,000miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Pontiac Firebird (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 49 consumer complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Firebird. The part named most often is brakes, with 14 complaints (29% of the total), followed by engine cooling (6) and vehicle speed control (6). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 89,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 20 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Body and structure (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “At 118,000 miles I had my front brakes changed for the third time. I asked the person changing the brakes to check the rear brakes since they have never been changed. I had asked previous people to look at them when inspecting brakes and I was always told they were fine. This time the person really looked at them and informed me that the brakes had never touched the drums (ever). My rear brakes were showroom new and so were the rear drums. …”

NHTSA complaint #10111934, filed 2005-02, 118,000 miles

Engine cooling: “I have had three serious oil leaks with this vehicle which started when it only had 8,000 miles. In addition, the parking brake failed and the power windows broke. The rear bumper rusts after it rains because of the brake dust. You have to use rubbing compound once a week. Overall, the amount of problems have been exhorbinant and not what you would expect from a $28,000 vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #713939, filed 1999-10

Vehicle speed control: “The car when slowing down lurches, like a tire has a bubble in it, or the rear-end is slipping, or transmission is slipping; you can actually 'feel' each revolution of the tires--rer-rer-rer-rer.....no mechanical cuases/problems noted from auto shop visits.”

NHTSA complaint #706418, filed 1999-05

Electrical system: “I was driving my car making an exit off the freeway & as I looked over my shoulder too make sure it was safe to merge over I seen there was smoke coming out of the tailpipe I went to turn back around & smoke was also coming from the sides of the steering wheel , I went too put my eyes back on the road & the whole front end of the car was on fire .”

NHTSA complaint #10533166, filed 2013-08, 119,280 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 118,000 miles.

25%0–100%10–250%25–5025%50–750%75–10050%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 89,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

19982000112002200520132024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Pontiac Firebird. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Firebird · coupe not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1997 Pontiac Firebird version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Firebird/Formula RWD3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172620$3,350
Firebird/Formula RWD3.8L 6-cyl5-speed manual172820$3,350
Firebird/Formula RWD5.7L 8-cyl4-speed automatic152318$4,550
Firebird/Formula RWD5.7L 8-cyl6-speed manual152418$4,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1997 Pontiac Firebird → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 20 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 20 bulletins →

Other model years of the Pontiac Firebird

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20022117,9761—21—Stable
20012421,2900—21—Stable
20002437,5000—20—Stable
19994741,5001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19986369,5000—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19974989,0001—20Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19964157,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199584147,7001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199459157,0001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19931813,3000—20—Stable
19922750,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19912768,3003—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19909—2—18—Not enough data
198920—2—18—Rising
19881080,2282—18—Not enough data
19871063,0001—18—Not enough data
1986192,0002—18—Stable
198516100,0004—19—Stable
198411100,0006—19—Not enough data

All Pontiac Firebird model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Pontiac Firebird have?

NHTSA recorded 49 consumer complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Firebird as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Pontiac Firebird is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 14 complaints (29% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 6.

Has the 1997 Pontiac Firebird been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Pontiac Firebird get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Pontiac Firebird (Firebird/Formula, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Pontiac Firebird reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 89,000 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 118,000 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.