Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1981 Pontiac Firebird failed the safety check 0.62% of the time — 15% less often than the average 1981 passenger car (0.73%). Median odometer at inspection: 57,440 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
37 first registered in 1981 are on Dutch roads; 73% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde14
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld7
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen7
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot4
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm3
- CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan2
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm2
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
15 cars built in 1981 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 4 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
5 1981 cars are on the New Zealand register; 60% arrived as used imports, 40% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1981 Pontiac Firebird.
| 1988154 10 Nov 1988 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: A STAGED PURGE CONTROL VALVE WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE CHARCOAL CAN… |
| 1981057 5 May 1981 | Not Entered THE RIGHT OR LEFT REAR SEAT LAP BELT OUTER AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR MAY NOT FULLY LOCK WHEN THE OCCUPANT BUCKLES UP THE SEAT BELT. THIS MAY RESULT IN SMALL … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITIONS CONTAIN FIRST LOCK POSITIONS WHICH WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USED BY SMALLER PASSENGERS. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION".
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
NHTSA investigations
FUEL LEAKAGE AT FILLER NECK
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation