Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1991 Pontiac Firebird, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Structure3
- Air bags3
- Electrical system3
- Tires2
- Service brakes, air1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Steering1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1991 Pontiac Firebird failed the safety check 0.91% of the time — 19% less often than the average 1991 passenger car (1.13%). Median odometer at inspection: 95,292 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
27 first registered in 1991 are on Dutch roads; 41% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse7
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen7
- Band onvoldoende profiel5
- Wiellager te veel speling5
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot3
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt3
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk2
- Claxon werkt niet goed2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
6 cars built in 1991 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 38 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 Finland
35 of these cars first registered in 1991 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 165,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
5 1991 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% 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 1991 Pontiac Firebird.
| 1994078 21 Apr 1994 | Fuel System THESE VEHICLES COULD EXHIBIT CRACKS OR "PIN HOLES" AT THE FUEL FILLER NECK SOLDER JOINT . THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL ODOUR OR FUEL LEAKAGE. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN… |
| 1991069 29 Apr 1991 | Seats And Restraints THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 209 - SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. - SEAT BELT LATCH PLATES MAY NOT ENGAGE OR MAY DO SO ONLY AFTER WIGGLING AND/OR FO… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE FUEL FILLER NECK SOLDER JOINT CAN DEVELOP CRACKS OR PIN HOLE LEAKS, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE CRACKS AND HOLES CAN ALLOW FUEL VAPOR AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
THE METAL LATCHPLATES MAY NOT ENGAGE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES, CAUSING A "NO LATCH" CONDITION. MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE LATCHPLATE RELEASE FROM THE BUCKLE.
POOR BOND ADHESION BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD GLASS AND THE MOUNTING, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A COLLISION. THIS FAILS TO CONFORM WITH FMVSS 212.
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
Service bulletins
What Pontiac told its dealers about the 1991 Pontiac Firebird: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 615073 | SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10006297 | NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR CORVETTE WITH A 5.0 OR 5.7 LITRE ENGINE. SIT BULLETIN 1450640. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL LEAKS
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL LUG STUDS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation