Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Firebird, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system7
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Visibility4
- Exterior lighting3
- Wheels3
- Unknown or other3
- Power train3
- Structure2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 2002 Firebird vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them, and 2 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 2002 Pontiac Firebird failed the safety check 0.60% of the time — 70% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 54,019 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
8 cars built in 2002 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 8 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
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 11.3–12.8 L/100 km (about 18–21 mpg US), CO₂ 260–294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebird · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 8.2 | 11.3 |
| Firebird · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 8.8 | 11.6 |
| Firebird · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 14.3 | 9.5 | 12.1 |
| Firebird · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 14.8 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2002 Pontiac Firebird.
| 2001294 17 Dec 2001 | Structure Certain vehicles fail to conform to C.M.V.S.S. 208, "occupant crash protection" and C.M.V.S.S. 214 "side door strength". The weld strength on the drivers door h… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE WELDS NEAR THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE THAT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.
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 2002 Pontiac Firebird: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637314 | CONCERNS WITH BUBBLES IN THE WINDSHIELD. *TT |
| 637236 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SCRAPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT WHEEL AREA ON VEHICLES WITH CHROME WHEELS. *TT |
| 637174 | SUBJECT REGARDING WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS FOR CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF BUBBLES IN THE WINDSHIELD. *TT |
| 636700 | SERVICE MANUAL ADVISES INCORRECT USAGE OF CONVERTIBLE TOP FLUID. *TT |
| 636658 | SUBJECT REGARDING PINION BEARING NOISE. *TT |
| 636605 | A NUMBER OF CONVERTIBLES BUILT PRIOR TO MARCH 28 MAY DEVELOP A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC TOP SYSTEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE TOP NOT TO OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY. *TT |
| 636601 | SUBJECT REGARDING PRODUCTION OF LOCKING WHEEL NUTS. *TT |
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *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 |
| 634242 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM REGARDING BRAKE BOOSTER POWER PISTON. *TT |
| 634236 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM BULLETIN REGARDING VEHICLES WITH BRAKE BOOSTER CONTAINING CERTAIN INTERNAL PARTS THAT ARE NOT TO SPECIFICATION. *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 |
| 631210 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0341 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR PERFORMANCE. *SLC |
| 629826 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON (SVS) LAMP IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B0670 SET. *TT |
| 629791 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF PINION BEARING NOISE. *TT |
| 629751 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF SMOKE IN LENS, WATER IN LENS, CRACKS IN THE LENS, FOG OR MOISTURE IN THE LENS. *TT |
| 629736 | INFORMATION ON PINION BEARING NOISE. *TT |
| 629645 | SUBJECT REGARDING REPORTS OF WATER ACCUMULATING INSIDE THE LEFT SIDE TAIL LAMP. *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 |
| 628815 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC TIPS FOR SLIPPING OR MISSING SECOND, THIRD AND/OR FOURTH GEAR. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)