Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Firebird, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system8
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Exterior lighting3
- Structure2
- Equipment2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Tires1
- Seat belts1
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 2001 Firebird vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Pontiac Firebird failed the safety check 1.30% of the time — 35% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 66,786 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
2 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 7 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
1 2001 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
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 11.3–12.9 L/100 km (about 18–21 mpg US), CO₂ 260–297 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebird · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 8.3 | 11.3 |
| Firebird · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 8.2 | 11.3 |
| Firebird · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 14.4 | 9.8 | 12.3 |
| Firebird · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 10.6 | 12.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2001 Pontiac Firebird.
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 2001 Pontiac Firebird: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637236 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SCRAPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT WHEEL AREA ON VEHICLES WITH CHROME WHEELS. *TT |
| 636700 | SERVICE MANUAL ADVISES INCORRECT USAGE OF CONVERTIBLE TOP FLUID. *TT |
| 636663 | SUBJECT REGARDING RING AND PINION GEAR REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634829 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 634788 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A MILD TO SEVERE ENGINE PING (COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SPARK KNOCK) USUALLY WORSE DURING ACCELERATION AND / OR AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. *TT |
| 634723 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A MILD TO SEVERE ENGINE PING (SPARK KNOCK) DURING ACCELERATION AND / OR ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0332 SET. *TT |
| 634617 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE FUEL CAP TETHER IS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 632322 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE ELIMINATION OF THE SERVICE BAY TEST PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 632306 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A BUZZ OR RATTLE SOUND FROM THE DOOR PANEL OR REAR QUARTER PANEL TRIM SPEAKER LOCATIONS. *TT |
| 629751 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF SMOKE IN LENS, WATER IN LENS, CRACKS IN THE LENS, FOG OR MOISTURE IN THE LENS. *TT |
| 629625 | SUBJECT REGARDING COMPLAINTS OF CONDENSATION INSIDE THE HEADLAMP SEALED BEAM. *TT |
| 629457 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLUTCH PEDAL RETURN SPRING BREAKS OR SCRAPING NOISE WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL APPLIED (REPLACE CLUTCH PEDAL RETURN SPRING) *JG |
| 628934 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP IS ILLUMINATED, NO 3RD AND 4TH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY, THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL OR A LOSS OF DRIVE OCCURS. *TT |
| 628879 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE REAR FLOOR OR THE TRUNK IS WET. *TT |
| 628819 | PRODUCT EMISSION RECALL TO REPROGRAM UNCERTIFIED SERVICE CALIBRATIONS. *TT |
| 628815 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC TIPS FOR SLIPPING OR MISSING SECOND, THIRD AND/OR FOURTH GEAR. *TT |
| 627912 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP ILLUMINATED, INCORRECT TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, POOR PERFORMANCE OF ENGINE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *YH |
| 627693 | INFORMATION REGARDING NOISE/RATTLE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *YH |
| 627622 | INFORMATION REGARDING HIGHER THAN EXPECTED OIL CONSUMPTION. *YH |
| 625297 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO A RATTLE NOISE HEARD FROM THE REAR AXLE. *JG |
| 619765 | SUBJECT REGARDING AN INVESTIGATION OF 2-4 BAND OR 3-4 CLUTCH DAMAGE ON 4L60E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TT |
| 619742 | THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT TECHNICIANS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE CONNECTORS FROM THE PARK / NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH, USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DURING TRANSMISSION SERVICE. *TT |
| 619720 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS INFORMATION ON VARIOUS WINDNOISE / WATER LEAK CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 619715 | SUBJECT ORDERING REFERENCE TABLE FOR ORDERING THE NEW VALVE BODY, SPACER PLATE AND GASKET KIT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)