AI Damage1999 Pontiac Firebird: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Pontiac Firebird filed 47 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 47
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 36% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 19% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 13% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 11% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 6% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 17 complaints (36% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 9 complaints (19% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (13% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (13% of all).
- Visibility: 6 complaints (13% 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-speednamed in 1 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 47 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 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 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.
The vehicle was in park and engine was off when the vehicle rolled forward down the driveway. Vehicle crashed into a fence.
Cars engine would suddenly go to full throttle on its own. Rpms would race for a moment then return to normal. Dealer said it was carbon build up. We had hunter chevrolet in hendersonville, nc perform the 30,000 mile service maintenance 10/30/01 which included cleaning out the throttle body.
Whenever turn signal is in use it fails to flash, it would remain solid. Vehicle was rearended due to right signal not blinking. Consumer had taken vehicle to dealer and mechanic replaced two bulbs. Problem has not been resolved.
In a high speed crash, and flipping over several times, airbags did not deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 pontiac fire bird. The contact stated that the clutch master cylinder was defective and would not allow the clutch system to disengage when being depressed.
Headlight and turn signal operation is normal. After approximately 20 minutes of driving the car (not idling) the headlights will go dark without warning (the headlamp doors remain open), and the right turn signal fails to operate.
The vehicle just shuts down with no notice at all, the engine just dies. I've had this problem off and on for over a year and my car is in the shop for weeks or more and I'm told they can't find anything wrong with it so I go and get it and it dies on me. Once this happened within minutes.
And now the stupid service engine soon light is on again and the engine is hesitating and the bearings on pulleys are making a noise (after replacing the serpentine belt). I have receipts for all of it so far. I am going tonight to read the code for what is wrong now!!!!!
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 5,507 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Firebird has 22 complaints (27 years in the data). This year has 47, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
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 199863 sources
- Firebird 200024 sources
- Firebird 200124 sources
- Firebird 200221 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Pontiac Firebird?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 47. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (11%), knocking, grinding or other noise (6%), windows, sunroof (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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 2026-11-05.