1998 Pontiac Firebird: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 91 complaints
91
Total Complaints
69,500mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
Top Issue
14
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

56,500 25th Percentile
69,500 Median Mileage
88,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2
STRUCTURE:BODY
2

Severity Assessment

14
Crashes
2
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"PMEMATURE WEAR OF PADS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED."
"WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55-60 MP, THE DRIVER'S SIDE T TOP SHATTERED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK"
"BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS FAILED, REPLACED AND STILL DO NOT WORK PROPERLY."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28