Most common 1995 Pontiac Firebird problems
Share of the 84 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Firebird complaints by model year
Best Firebird years: 2002, 2000, 2001. Years to avoid: 1995, 1998. Compare all years →
1995 Pontiac Firebird recalls (1)
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
The steering intermediate shaft could have been improperly assembled causing the shaft lower coupling to loosen and rotate on the steering gear input shaft.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the intermediate steering shaft for the correct lower coupling and replace it as required.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1995 Pontiac Firebird:
Fuel tub retaining clip failure
Owners have reported failures of the fuel tube retention clip that attaches to the plastic throttle linkage cover.according to GM, the subject retention clip (p/n 12048089) was implemented in production on October 12, 1993, to address a concern with incorrect assembly plant fuel line routing.mis-routed fuel tubes May fail from contact with a hot air check valve, creating a fire hazard in the engine compartment.GM…
Fuel tube retaining clip failure
Most of the reports reviewed in this investigation are fire incidents in which fuel leakage has been alleged as the cause or the area of origin is consistent with the alleged defect.there is no evidence that the subject clip was a factor in any of these fire incidents and NHTSA testing indicates thatbroken or dislodged retention clip does not result in significant movement of the fuel line bundle toward the left…
What 1995 Pontiac Firebird owners say
Electrical system
While driving the vehicle started losing power and vehicle stalled. Pulled over and raised the hood, and saw flames coming from the engine. A nearby driver helped to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire remains unknown. The manufacturer has not been contacted.
Wife parked vehicle at mall, was informed that vehicle was on fire; turned & noticed flames coming from near hood area. Fire dept. Was called. Took to dealer, did not know what problem was. Recall (93v-199).
Brakes
While driving 65 MPH vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own, brake was applied, but speed increased in excess of 100 MPH. Vehicle started to slow down on its own. Same day vehicle accelerated on its own again, spun out, and hit a tree. Brake was applied both times, cruise was on but not set. Damage to vehicle unknown, no injuries.
I have experienced severely longer braking distances during rainy weather (I.e. With wet disc brakes). This has been a problem from the beginning when I bought the car new. Once the discs are dry (e.g. After braking several times) braking returns to normal. The braking distance increases by a factor of 2-3 x and has almost caused me to rear-end other vehicles several times. It is particularly a problem if the car has been sitting in a rain storm and is then driven. The only solution I have found is to periodically snub the brakes during wet weather in order to keep them dry. I consider this to be a very dangerous situation, and have been unable to get GM to even respond--they simply creat a file and that is the last I ever hear (I have done this several times). I am concerned that one day I will be unable to stop in time. This has nothing to do with wet pavement or with the ABS system. …
Transmission & drivetrain
While travelling at 55 MPH the vehicle was involved in crash due to the rear axle breaking in half. Frontal impact and rear impact into a cement wall, and neither airbag deployed. Dealer contacted and cannot duplicate the problem.
When shifting from reverse into drive, the car fails to proceed, but just sits still for about 4 seconds befor it starts to move foreward. This is scary because I have had near-accidents with this problem when an approaching vehicle is coming up on me from the rear on the roads I have backed out onto. The vehicle was taken to marshall Pontiac in clinton, in for repairs, but the problem still exhists regardless. This creates another potentially dangerous problem when the roads are slick. When the car starts to move foreward, it accelerates and causes tire slippage and loss of traction. About the headlight problem now....when the headlights are shut off, they drop into place, but the motor on the drivers side headlight makes a very loud grinding noise for about 15-20 seconds. The driving lights cannot be turned on without the headlights popping up (even though the headlights are not lit). …
1995 Pontiac Firebird engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1995 Pontiac Firebird a good car?
Based on 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1995 Firebird rates avoid: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Firebird at the same age. It is one of the Firebird years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1995 Pontiac Firebird?
The electrical system — 18 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the brakes (15) and transmission & drivetrain (11).
How many recalls does the 1995 Pontiac Firebird have?
There is 1 recall for the 1995 Pontiac Firebird, the most recent from March 22, 1995 (gear box (other than rack and pinion)). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Firebird?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2000 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1998. See the full Pontiac Firebird years comparison.
At what mileage do 1995 Pontiac Firebird problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 148,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.