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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Pontiac Firebird Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1997 Pontiac Firebird has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 49 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 1997 Pontiac Firebird, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1997 Pontiac Firebird owner complaints

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Pontiac Firebird, describing incidents dated November 1, 1996 to March 20, 2024.

Most-cited components

  • Service Brakes 13 complaints
  • Engine 7 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 6 complaints
  • Electrical System 5 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 5 complaints
  • Power Train 5 complaints

Of the 49 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 49 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11579567 · Filed

    Hi my Pontiac firebird got Impounded properly parked for 3 hrs on private property on the same property where I’m a Tenant at [XXX] Las Vegas it was towed illegally and was in pound yard where I was charged $474.64 by tow guys 3823 losse rd 89030 they did not put sticker they illegally towed no sign…

  • ODI #10652891 · Filed

    WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE MIDDLE LANE ON BELTWAY 495 HEADING TO WORK- I SAW A HUGE TIRE HIGH IN THE AIR & DROPPING IN FRONT OF MY CAR. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. IT HIT THE FRONT GRILLE & WENT UNDERNEATH MY CAR CAUSING IT TO FLY OVER THE TIRE. I LANDED SAFELY ON THE MIDDLE LANE. ( AT THE…

  • ODI #10533166 · Filed

    I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE…

Read all 49 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997 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.

GM/FMVSS 209, SEAT BELT RETRACTORS

NHTSA #96V219000 · Seat Belts — Front — Retractor · NHTSA notice

Reported November 4, 1996 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 1,573 vehicles

Owners notified November 20, 1996 · Vehicles built June 1, 1996 – September 30, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS OUT OF DESIGN POSITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE RETRACTOR TO LOCK-UP ON SLOPES LESS SEVERE THAN THE FMVSS REQUIREMENT. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY THAN THOSE USING SEAT BELTS.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS FOR PROPER FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR POSITION. RETRACTORS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WILL BE REINSTALLED CORRECTLY.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN IN OCTOBER 1996. NOTE:OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Other Pontiac Firebird model years

Check your 1997 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