Model year record

1986 Pontiac Firebird

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 27 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 91V055000

Parking brake: conventional

Component
Parking brake: conventional
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
179,036
Reported to NHTSA
1991-04-11
Owners notified
1991-07-01

Defect description

PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.

Safety risk

PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 90V105000

Seat belts: front: buckle assembly

Component
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,500,000
Reported to NHTSA
1990-05-14
Owners notified
1991-03-07

Defect description

PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly92,000 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage4
Fuel system, other2
Seat belts2
Electrical system: ignition1
Electrical system: starter assembly1
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock1
Parking brake1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum1
Steering: column1
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device1
Vehicle speed control: cruise control1

The 1985 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1987 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.