Skip to content
Pontiac FirebirdModel year report

2002 Pontiac Firebird Problems

Complaints
21filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
17,976miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Pontiac Firebird (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Firebird. The part named most often is electrical system, with 7 complaints (33% of the total), followed by brakes (5) and engine cooling (5). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 82% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 17,976 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 284 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 56 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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: Body and structure (2), Air bags (1), Equipment (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10479380, filed 2012-10, 43,000 miles

Brakes: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10068186, filed 2004-05

Engine cooling: “I purchased the 2002 Pontiac collectors edition Firebird as my first new car. I regret to say that I am very disappointed in the performance and construction of this vehicle. My first complaint is a severe vibration throughout the vehicle when driving over 55 MPH or after it warms up. This vibration is felt through the shifter as well as being apparent when you stand behind the vehicle near the exhaust while it is running. …”

NHTSA complaint #10062038, filed 2004-03, 3,500 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The accelerator pedal was stuck, the vehicle was taken to 3 different dealers, who were unable to duplicate the problem. There was a noise in the drivetrain, the front back of the upper seat was discolored(replaced), foam from the driver's seat had come apart, the gas pedal would stick with of without the cruise control engaged from stop, after a heavy rain storm, the horn would sound different, when the vehicle was driven at the speed of 50 MPH, there would be a rumble noise in the front wheel, the driveshaft was out of balance(warranty replaced), and the driver's window was…”

NHTSA complaint #10011425, filed 2003-03, 1,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

82% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 43,000 miles.

18%0–1036%10–2527%25–509%50–750%75–1009%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 17,976 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

200342005200720102015
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 2002 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 rated4 / 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 2002 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 RWD3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172821$3,200
Firebird RWD3.8L 6-cyl5-speed manual172921$3,200
Firebird RWD5.7L 8-cyl6-speed manual172520$4,100
Firebird RWD5.7L 8-cyl4-speed automatic162319$4,350

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 2002 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. 284 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 284 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 2002 Pontiac Firebird have?

NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Firebird as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Pontiac Firebird is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 7 complaints (33% of the total), followed by brakes with 5.

Has the 2002 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 2002 Pontiac Firebird get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Pontiac Firebird (Firebird, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 17 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Pontiac Firebird reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 17,976 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 43,000 miles; 82% 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.