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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Pontiac Firebird Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1996 Pontiac Firebird has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 41 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Pontiac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Pontiac Firebird, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1996 Pontiac Firebird owner complaints

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Pontiac Firebird, describing incidents dated January 30, 1996 to April 25, 2015.

Most-cited components

  • Service Brakes 11 complaints
  • Electrical System 8 complaints
  • Power Train 7 complaints
  • Engine 6 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 3 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints

Of the 41 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 41 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #10744253 · Filed

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A COSCO SAFETY SEAT LIGHT AND COMFY SAFETY SEAT (NA), MODEL NUMBER: IC-108BVN (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2013. THE SAFETY SEAT WAS BEING UTILIZED IN A 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOTTOM LEFT LATCH BECAME DIFFICULT TO RELEASE WHEN…

  • ODI #10221739 · Filed

    1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD SEAT BACK COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE VIOLENTLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT ON THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AND ACCIDENT WHEN HIS SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, BECAUSE WHEN THE SEAT BROKE, HE…

  • ODI #10100419 · Filed

    THE PLASTIC GEARS THAT DRIVE THE HEADLIGHT PODS ON MY 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD HAVE FAILED. RETRACTION OF THE HEADLIGHT CAUSES LOUD GRINDING NOISES. OCCAISIONALLY, ONE OR OTHER OF THE HEADLIGHT PODS DOES NOT RASIE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. IT CAN ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE PODS NO…

Read all 41 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Pontiac Firebird in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

OIL FILTER/OIL LEAK/POSSIBLE FIRE

NHTSA #07E088000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported October 24, 2007 · HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Potentially affected: 121,680 vehicles

Owners notified November 8, 2007

Defect description

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E065000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported July 17, 2006 · AJ MOTORSPORT

Potentially affected: 3,593 vehicles

Owners notified July 31, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AJ MOTORSPORT AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Pontiac Firebird model years

Check your 1996 Pontiac Firebird VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Pontiac Firebird at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Pontiac VIN