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Engine & cooling

2002 Pontiac Firebird Engine problems

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2002 Pontiac Firebird's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 27% of all its complaints, most recently on October 29, 2015. They describe 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac firebird. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, there was a burning odor emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that oil was leaking from the valve cover gasket. As a result, the technician informed the contact that the oil pan gasket and the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 1/12/16 *cn the consumer stated with the oil leaking, it was coming in contact with the exhaust manifold. Updated 02/04/16.*Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · EngineNHTSA 10786992
Engine & cooling

Engine oil leak problem since august. I have had car checked on two (2) occasions by my mechanic. He stated it could need a new oil pan or the rear main seal. The car only has 50,000 miles on it and has been very well maintained. I am the original owner and not too happy that I am facing costly engine repairs for this well cared for car. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10475926
Engine & cooling

I have numerous problems with the cooling system with this 2002 grand am. First thermostat went. Had thermostat replaced -- car continued to run hot , losing power and shut off.... Have replaced water pump, hoses, and intake valve and problem still existed with car losing pressure and running hot. Also had head gaskets replaced because of this problem.... This car has stopped on me 4 times on the highway.... In checking out other complaints there seems to be problem with the cooling system.... What can I do to have this car repaired -- can a recall be issued.... Professionals are at a loss as to what the problem is???? *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10206647
Engine & cooling

While driving the engine stopped running. The timing chain and gear(s) broke as well as valve train damage. The car only has 41,000 miles but is out of warranty. Gm takes no responsibility.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10181285
Engine & cooling

I purchased the 2002 pontiac collectors edition firebird as my first new car. I regret to say that I am very disappointed in the performance and construction of this vehicle. My first complaint is a severe vibration throughout the vehicle when driving over 55 mph or after it warms up. This vibration is felt through the shifter as well as being apparent when you stand behind the vehicle near the exhaust while it is running. I have been informed from two seperate dealerships that they acknowledge the problem but...

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gm will not approve the repair due to the mileage and the lack of a computer code, even though the gm mechanics have agreed there is a problem. The car has now gone over the mileage requirment and it is worse. I also was involved in an accident with this car due to a drunk driver damaging the driver's door. When this was being replaced it seems that gm never painted the bottoms of either door. I was again informed by the dealership that gm's response was "no one sees the bottoms of the doors and they wont rust, therefore it didnt need paint." The original yellow paint job was very thin over the black primer used. The paint codes on the car doesnt match for repairs due to this thin paint coat, when applied it is two different shades. The camaro is also not painted on the bottom of the doors, however, the corvette seems to be painted. I am very discouraged with gm for the issues listed above, I have put forth a lot of money for my first time car and it seems that the manufacturer has taken advantage of the normal consumer purchasing these vehicles. Gm also seems unwilling to make the correction needed. How does a company get away with charging this much money for merchandise and then not even giving a full paint job, let alone it not working properly.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10062038
SteeringSuspensionBrakesEngine & coolingVisibility & wipersEquipment & accessories

I have had numerous problems with my firebird which I bought less than a year ago brand new from the dealer. I don not have the exact dates and mileage of the problems at hand. In short the following have been reported to the purchasing dealer and/or repaired: roters(brakes) 2x, antena 3 or 4x, open circuit(remote keyless entry-trunk/windows/doors and alarm)1 or2x, cd/stereo still isn't repaired and unsure of problem, suspension off, left blinker malfunctioning, misc. Fuses continuously blown, power steering column leak .....I think thats it! That's enough though.

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Visibility · Equipment · Unknown or otherNHTSA 10070846
BrakesEngine & coolingFuel systemTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

Problems with electrical system, clutch, pistons, dash fan and rear right molding. *Mr the vehicle developed a crack in the cylinder head. Saturn repaired the part but would not reimburse the consumer for repair cost due to the vehicle exceeding the warranty. At the time of the repair the vehicle had 96k plus miles. The vehicle also experienced the following: engine knocking/loss of power (8 pistons were replaced), after engine problem/repair, engine oil consumption occurred (one quart every 1300 hundred...

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miles, bang noise in the clutch (bearing was replaced), water and haze was in the high/low beam inside the bulbs, left headlight shorted out/wire burnt (actuator was replaced), the brake pedal rubber guard had detached, the gas tether detached, there was an engine knock upon acceleration, the ignition module and camshaft position sensor experienced performance problems, the transmission shimmies when shifting under the vehicle when the clutch depressed, the headlights, rear light, dash lights, radio lights, and the interior lights would continuously flicker. *Scc in cold weather the shifter failed to engage in 2nd and 4th gears. *Jb

Filed Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Power train · Electrical system · Exterior lighting · VisibilityNHTSA 10044101
Engine & cooling

While operating the vehicle at approximately 65 mph the vehicle experiences a total loss of power. When the accelerator is pressed the rpm's on the vehicle hit the roof but the engine or transmission do not respond leaving the vehicle cruising at about 15 mph on a very busy interstate highway i-95. The vehicle has been brought in to the dealership on two seperate ocasions for the same problem. The service team says they can not or are not able to recreate the loss of power in the vehicle therefore are not able to fix it. This incident has occured three times in about a six month period. The vehicle is new and no indicator lights are activated when this happens.*Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Unknown or otherNHTSA 10008060

Pontiac Firebird engine complaints by year

Firebird engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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