NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Pontiac Firebird Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1998 Pontiac Firebird has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 63 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 1998 Pontiac Firebird, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1998 Pontiac Firebird owner complaints

Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Firebird, describing incidents dated January 1, 1998 to August 1, 2022.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 25 complaints
Air Bags 7 complaints
Exterior Lighting 5 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 5 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 5 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 4 complaints

Of the 63 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 63 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11479174 · Filed August 13, 2022
Fuel lines on this car are non-metallic. Apparently, some sharp-toothed critter bit the line causing a fuel leak as confirmed by the independent service center indicated on the uploaded invoice. There was no warning. I noticed a puddle under the differential. Replacement lines are no longer…
ODI #10498362 · Filed February 16, 2013
SLOW LEAK OF GASOLINE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR DIDN'T NOTICE IT BUT I COULD SMELL GAS WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON THE REAR WAS SMOKING BUT NOT FROM THE EXHAUST THEN FIRE. *TR
ODI #10170510 · Filed October 11, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WATER WAS SEEPING INTO THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT FROM RAIN CORRODING THE REFLECTIVE MATERIALS IN THE TAIL LIGHT, WHICH DIMINISHED THE ILLUMINATION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 12/1/2006 - *NM

Read all 63 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Pontiac Firebird as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

1998 Pontiac Firebird 2-DR

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

63 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Pontiac Firebird.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11479174

Incident: August 1, 2022 · Filed: August 13, 2022

Fuel lines on this car are non-metallic. Apparently, some sharp-toothed critter bit the line causing a fuel leak as confirmed by the independent service center indicated on the uploaded invoice. There was no warning. I noticed a puddle under the differential. Replacement lines are no longer available from manufacturer. Problem must be known because repair kits (see invoice) are available. "Best" solution is replacement of existing nylon lines with metallic lines (as should have been done when the car was first manufactured). As this would be an extremely costly and impractical repair, may I suggest an alternative: cover the fuel lines with a braided stainless steel sheath. This would be effective as well as both practical and relatively inexpensive. Leaving the lines exposed risks further damage and increased possibility of fire. My car is available for inspection upon request.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10498362

Fire

Incident: February 23, 2012 · Filed: February 16, 2013

SLOW LEAK OF GASOLINE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR DIDN'T NOTICE IT BUT I COULD SMELL GAS WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON THE REAR WAS SMOKING BUT NOT FROM THE EXHAUST THEN FIRE. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10170510

Incident: October 1, 2001 · Filed: October 11, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WATER WAS SEEPING INTO THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT FROM RAIN CORRODING THE REFLECTIVE MATERIALS IN THE TAIL LIGHT, WHICH DIMINISHED THE ILLUMINATION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 12/1/2006 - *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10140506

Incident: March 5, 2005 · Filed: October 22, 2005

BOUGHT THE CAR IN JAN. OF 98, AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL 700 MILES. THAT IS WHEN THE GAS PEDAL STUCK FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER IT. LUCKILY I WAS ON A RURAL ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IT STOPPED. IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES AFTER THAT, ONE TIME TAKING ME 100 MPH. THE FINAL TIME I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, WHICH BLEW MY MOTOR AND COST ME 4000 TO REPLACE. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP BECAUSE THIS IS A LIFE THREATING PROBLEM. *JB

Unknown or Other

ODI #10070840

Incident: September 15, 2003 · Filed: January 15, 2004

LAST YEAR I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT MOTOR BROKE. I COULDNT AFFORD TO FIX IT. I GOT IT FIXED IN JULY 03. NOW IN SEPTEMBER 03 THE LEFT IS GONE. IM VERY UPSET WITH THIS. DONT YOU THINK GM COULD MAKE SOMETHING LAST LONGER THEN 4 OR 5 YEARS? I CANT AFFORD THIS. I JUST PUT OVER $3,OOO INTO THIS CAR BETWEEN TIRE RODS BRAKES,HEADLIGHTS, NEW PASSENGER MIRROR, UNIVERSAL JOINTS,EVERYTHING IS GOING ALL AT ONCE GIVE ME A BREAK. IM 24 AND I HAVE OWNED AN 87 & 95 FIREBIRD BESIDES THIS ONE. I LOVE THE CAR BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH HOW LONG STUFF LASTS IN IT. MELONY MCNEANEY

Air Bags; Unknown or Other

ODI #10057367

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: January 29, 2004 · Filed: March 23, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE. *NM DRIVER HIT SHOULDER ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CAUSED A LIGAMENT TEAR, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED A CUT ON THE HEAD. *LA

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10049076

Incident: October 8, 2001 · Filed: December 2, 2003

REAR TAIL LIGHT HAS A DESIGN FLAW. IT ALLOWS MOISTURE INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT AND HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH NUMEROUS REPLACEMENT BULBS AND A BUILD-UP OF MOISTURE. I FEEL IF THIS CONTINUES, IT WILL EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE INSIDE OF THE TAIL LIGHT COVER APPEARS VERY DARK, ALMOST AS IF THE TAIL LIGHT BULB IS BURNED OUT, THEREFORE CAUSING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FOLLOW AND WATCH MY EVERY MOVE ON SOME INSTANCES.*AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #8024085

Filed: December 10, 2002

LEFT SIDE HEAD LIGHT IS OVERHEATING BURNING OUT THE AMBER BULB WHICH IS USED FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT. THE MOTOR FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE HEADLIGHT LID PERFORMS ERRATIC. THE HEADLIGHT MOTOR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE LID HAS SHUT AND CONTINUES TO RUN. THE OWNER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

Wheels

ODI #8020249

Incident: September 10, 2002 · Filed: October 4, 2002

THE TIRE RIM IS CUTTING INTO TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR

Electrical System

ODI #8007756

Incident: April 15, 2002 · Filed: April 16, 2002

BATTERY IS LINKING INTO WIRING HARNESS, AND IS HARD TO START MOTOR.*AK

Other Pontiac Firebird model years

Check your 1998 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.

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