AI Damage1991 Pontiac Firebird: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Pontiac Firebird filed 27 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 27
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 26% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 7% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 7 complaints (26% of all).
- Air bags: 3 complaints (11% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 27 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
In a frontal collision none of the air bags deployed on impact.
The right rear axle broke due to a bad casting causing the wheel to leave the vehicle and the car to crash
Vehicle ran into a tree at 40mph head-on, and the air bags did not deploy. Dealer has not been contacted.
Car was in an accident and the air bag didn't deploy talk to dealer was to come out and look at the car in two week it is now 12 week and no one has look. Tt
Seat belt sometimes latch and sometimes it won't/ fuel leak and fumes
The contact stated that there was fuel leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the souder joint was fractured which, allowed fuel to leak.
The contact took the vehicle to be repaired when he was advised by the dealer that the drivers side pressure sensor, behind the headlight, was defective. The failure mileage was 10,000 and the current was 56,000. Updated 05/10/10 the dealer replaced the throttle position sensor. Updated 06/11/10
Tl contact owns a 1991 pontiac firebird. The contact stated that the first time he placed fuel in the vehicle, gasoline began to leak and fumes were present. The dealer stated that there were no recalls that applied to his vin.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,189 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Firebird has 22 complaints (27 years in the data). This year has 27, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
- Firebird 19783 sources
- Firebird 19823 sources
- Firebird 19834 sources
- Firebird 198411 sources
- Firebird 198516 sources
- Firebird 198619 sources
- Firebird 198710 sources
- Firebird 198810 sources
- Firebird 198920 sources
- Firebird 19909 sources
- Firebird 199227 sources
- Firebird 199318 sources
- Firebird 199459 sources
- Firebird 199584 sources
- Firebird 199641 sources
- Firebird 199749 sources
- Firebird 199863 sources
- Firebird 199947 sources
- Firebird 200024 sources
- Firebird 200124 sources
- Firebird 200221 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Pontiac Firebird?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 27. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (7%), fuel system, fuel smell (7%), A/C or heater (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Pontiac Firebird?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1991 Pontiac Firebird from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1991 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.