6.2% of complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Firebird came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1999 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 2.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (15 complaints), typically at 1.5 yr or about 27,000 miles.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RETAINING RING.
THIS MAY NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, RESULTING IN UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, ENGINE STALLS, AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING.
I HAVE NOTICED WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES LIKE THE ROTORS ARE DAMAGED OR WARPED. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I DON'T THINK IT IS VERY SAFE. I HAVE NOTICED ON LS1.COM MANY OTHER FIREBIRD OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IT IS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
WHENEVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD STICK TO FLOOR & WOULD NOT LET UP. VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TAKE OFF. WOULD APPLY BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE FAIL TO STOP. VEHICLE HIT A CURB & WENT AIRBORNE & LANDED 200 FEET FACING THE OTHER DIRECTION. DRIVE VEHICLE TO SHOP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK THE THROTTLE LINKAGES ON VEHICLE. *AK
BRAKES PULSATED WHEN APPLIED AT OR ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR. TOOK INTO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND FOUND THAT FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND SAID THAT GM KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. WITH LESS SURFACE AREA ON THE ROTORS NOW, I AM WORRIED THEY WILL WARP AGAIN IN LESS MILES. THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH HIGHER QUALITY ROTORS TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING. *AK