AI Damage1998 Pontiac Firebird: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Pontiac Firebird filed 63 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 63
- involving a crash
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 44% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 28 complaints (44% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 7 complaints (11% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 5 complaints (8% of all).
- Steering: 5 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 5 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 63 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The dual air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled due to severe damage. Driver hit shoulder on the steering wheel that caused a ligament tear, and passenger suffered a cut on the head.
Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Driver was injured, but not treated at emergency room, went to private doctor.
I was driving and saw a deer; put on brakes making them sound, deer hit front end of car tearing off left headlight assembly and mangling inside of light; also pushed the left front quarter panel toward the driver's door with minor dent in that section. Took car to dealer next morning and received estimate.
While driving about 50 mph and trying to avoid a deer on road, drove over a wet spot, lost control and crashed into a tree. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.
While driving at 40-45 mph hit a soft spot on shoulder,vehicle spun out of control, hit mail box/ phone box/tree, and rolled over, comming to a stop in middle of road, upside down. Airbags did not deploy. Vehicle was totalled.
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.
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.
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 -
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 4,699 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Firebird has 22 complaints (27 years in the data). This year has 63, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
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 199127 sources
- Firebird 199227 sources
- Firebird 199318 sources
- Firebird 199459 sources
- Firebird 199584 sources
- Firebird 199641 sources
- Firebird 199749 sources
- Firebird 199947 sources
- Firebird 200024 sources
- Firebird 200124 sources
- Firebird 200221 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Pontiac Firebird?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, air bags, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 63. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (13%), headlights and tail lights (10%), airbags did not deploy (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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.