1985 Pontiac Firebird
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
Vehicles › Pontiac › Firebird › 1985
These records cover every 1985 Pontiac Firebird. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
6 recalls name the 1985 Pontiac Firebird. Newest first.
Certain honeywell fram racing brand HP4 and HP8 oil filters that were manufactured from may 25, 2006, through september 14, 2007, and sold for use as replacement equipment for vehicles list above. the affected filters are marked with a date code a61451 through a72571 sequentially. the date code and part number appear on the filter housing. fram racing…
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition may cause inadequate sealing and loss of engine oil, possibly resulting in a fire.
Remedy
Honeywell will replace the affected oil filters free of charge. the recall began during november 2007. owners can contact fram customer service toll-free at 1-800-890-2075.
Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes…
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
Remedy
Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. the recall began on october 18, 2006. owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1).
Parking brake adjuster fails to operate and do not work after brake pad wear.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Parking brakes will not completely hold a parked vehiclewhen parked on a slope, causing unintended vehicle rollaway which could resultin a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Replace nonfunctioning parking brake adjusters.
Plastic components of seat belt buckle assemblies do not contain an ultra violet stabilizer, and exposure to direct sunlight and elevated interior temperatures could weaken the plastic components.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This could result in breakage of plastic components whichcould prevent buckle from latching and protecting occupant in a sudden stop oraccident.
Remedy
Replace or repair seat belt buckle.
Dislocation of a spring cover will not allow the shoulder belt to retract after being extended. consequence of defect: although inertial feature that locks the lap belt and shoulder belt in the event of an accident are not…
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Install retaining springs on spring cover of front shoulder belt retractor and, when required, retractors will be replaced.
The hub area of the wheels may not be structurally sound and thus subject to fracture. consequence of defect: the wheels could separate from the car causing a loss of control. This could result in an accident without prior…
Owner complaints
16 complaints2 involved a crash2 involved a fire2 injuries1 deaths
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Parking brake › Conventional
Tl*the contact owns a 1985 pontiac firebird. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign ID number 91v055000 (parking brake:conventional). the dealer informed him that his vehicle could not be repaired under the recall because it did not have rear disc brakes. the contact stated that…
Tl*the contact owns a 1985 pontiac firebird. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign ID number 91v055000 (parking brake:conventional). the dealer informed him that his vehicle could not be repaired under the recall because it did not have rear disc brakes. the contact stated that the braking system was not working and feels that his vehicle should be included in the recall. the failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 06/17/08. *lj the parking brake did not hold and could not be adjusted. Updated
- Parking brake › Conventional · Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Dt: the contact states there are two nhtsa recalls campaign 85v169000 and 91v055000 concerning the front seat belt webbing and parking brake. This vehicle IS experiencing the same problems as indicated in the recalls, but it IS not included in the recalls due to vin. *ak
- Parking brake · Seat belts
Upon receiving my 1985 pontiac firebird, the seat belts have not been working properly. The retracting belt in the ceiling will not retract back into the unit on both sides and the plastic on the locking piece next to the seat IS destroyed by uv rays. The locking part does not work. There IS a…
Upon receiving my 1985 pontiac firebird, the seat belts have not been working properly. The retracting belt in the ceiling will not retract back into the unit on both sides and the plastic on the locking piece next to the seat IS destroyed by uv rays. The locking part does not work. There IS a possible recall on this car nhtsa campaign ID number: 85v169000 and 90v105000 but when I call gm, they ask for my vin and then tell me that they have no recall on my car. *nm
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Vehicle IS within the remedy scope for recall 90v105000 subject: interior systems: active restraints: belt buckles. manufacturer has no record of the recall, and will not authorize the dealer to perform any repairs until recall IS verified. consumer does have a copy of the rcall notice that was sent by the manufacturer.*ak *nlm
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Each of these problems has a corresponding recall. The dealer (wade raulerson) claims my vin IS no good. Their system receives an error. I called pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. John jones was extremely rude and unhelpful. He hung up the phone. He did acknowledge the vin was working…
Each of these problems has a corresponding recall. The dealer (wade raulerson) claims my vin IS no good. Their system receives an error. I called pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. John jones was extremely rude and unhelpful. He hung up the phone. He did acknowledge the vin was working with their dealer world service, the same service that all dealers use. He received no comments with my vin. He could not verify whether this work had been done under the recall of a different owner. He only told me that since there IS nothing coming up, then there IS nothing I can do, and they are not responsible. Gm IS aware of these problems. They are not cooperating in fixing these safety related issues (recalls). No safety defect listed. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Campaign number 90v105000 appears to cover this problem. *Ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Rust accumulation under flex brake hose centre support which has crimped hose and causing flex brake line failure. Mjs
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Driver's side and passenger's side shoulder belts don't work. Driver's side shoulder belt won't hook at all, and passenger's side shoulder seat belt IS hard to hook in, it would come apart. *ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
Vehicle caught fire under the left rear area, believed to be caused by a fuel line connector.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
The female portion of all the seat belt buckles are broken in the vehicle. Cannot fasten the seat belts. These buckles have not been repaired. *ak
- Seat belts
Automatic seat belts failed to operate properly after recall repairs 90v-105. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Seat belt retractor inoperative when outdoor temperature IS below freezing. *Sd
- Electrical system › Wiring › Rear compartment/trunk
Vehicle fire underneath rear of vehicle. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
While driving about 10 mph slid and went to the crub and the passenger seat belt had unlocked and the spring from the seat belt was found on the floor. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage · Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Safety belt replaced.
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing · Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
Seat belt broken. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Throttle sticking
There is no summary currently available
- Rear axle shaft failure
There is no summary currently available
- Rear disc brakes
There is no summary currently available
- Safety buckle breakage
There is no summary currently available
- Safety belt buckle breakag
Summary:reportedly the plastic buckle cover breaks and pieces fallinto the buckle mechanism making the buckle inoperative.===
- Rear disc brakes
Summary: corrosion in the rear brake caliper prevents automatic adjustment for pad wear. This may eventually cause loss of rear service brake and parking brake. Gm has added corrosion protection and changed spring rate to correct problem. Same basic design used on all models identified.
- Frame cracking
Summary: gm's may '88 tsb concerns repair procedures for frame rail cracking on 82-85 camaros. Odi data base contains three reports of frame rail cracking on camaros and firebirds.
- Windshield wipers
Summary:gm believes the problem has been corrected through its publi-cation of 7 service bulletins concerning this matter. In addition, gmdoes not believe windshield wiper failure represents a safety hazard.analysis: three failure modes have been identified; insulating film maybuild up between the brush face and the…
Summary:gm believes the problem has been corrected through its publi-cation of 7 service bulletins concerning this matter. In addition, gmdoes not believe windshield wiper failure represents a safety hazard.analysis: three failure modes have been identified; insulating film maybuild up between the brush face and the commutator of the wiper motor,corrosion may form in the wiper motor brush and disengagement of thewiper arms may occur. In view of the existing legal precedent, the largenumber of warranty claims concerning wiper motor failures (114,000) andthe high wiper motor and motor kit part sales (251,000), it IS imperativethat this matter receive management support.status: gm response dated 2/23/87. Analyzing as time permits.ea closed 3/2/88.=== d@
- Rear brake failure
Summary: the rear disc brake adjust mechanism fails to function after corrosion occurs. Gm has redesigned caliper assm. Same design and problem on gm's e, f, and p cars. Investigation has been combined into one with all gm cars using same rear disc brake design.===
Every Pontiac Firebird model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.