1998 Pontiac Firebird
No clear pattern 23.9% of complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Firebird arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 1998 vehicle, but with only 71 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (25 complaints), typically at 1.5 yr.
- Complaints
- 71
- Median age at failure
- 1.8 yr
- Median mileage
- 78,000 n=6
- Crash / fire / tow
- 21.1% of reports
- Safety recalls
- 0
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 4 mo in service
IN A HARD BRAKING SITUATION, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. IN A NORMAL BRAKING SITUATION THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 7,000 MILES. 4,000 MILES LATER, THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 4 mo in service
IN A HARD BRAKING SITUATION, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. IN A NORMAL BRAKING SITUATION THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 7,000 MILES. 4,000 MILES LATER, THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 4 mo in service
EVERY EIGHT THOUSAND MILES THE VEHICLE PULSATES OR VIBRATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, SPEED LIMIT BETWEEN 55-60, DEALER CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE BRAKES THREE TIMES FOR INCIDENT REOCCURRING, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK