Most common 1997 Pontiac Firebird problems
Share of the 49 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 →
1997 Pontiac Firebird recalls (1)
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
These vehicles were manufactured with seat belt retractors out of design position which can cause the retractor to lock-up on slopes less severe than the FMVSS requirement. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belts for proper front seat belt retractor position. Retractors found to be improperly positioned will be reinstalled correctly.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1997 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 1997 Pontiac Firebird owners say
Brakes
At 118,000 miles I had my front brakes changed for the third time. I asked the person changing the brakes to check the rear brakes since they have never been changed. I had asked previous people to look at them when inspecting brakes and I was always told they were fine. This time the person really looked at them and informed me that the brakes had never touched the drums (ever). My rear brakes were showroom new and so were the rear drums. I had had an sccident a few years ago and had those brakes been working I guarantee I would have gotten stopped in time to have prevented the accident and my injuries. The dat of inciden will be the date of this discovery.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 20 MPH and neither air bag deployed. Manufacturer was notified. Consumer stated that the anti lock brakes failed to stop the vehicle during the accident.
Engine & cooling
I was driving my car making an exit off the freeway & as I looked over my shoulder too make sure it was safe to merge over I seen there was smoke coming out of the tailpipe I went to turn back around & smoke was also coming from the sides of the steering wheel , I went too put my eyes back on the road & the whole front end of the car was on fire .
I have had three serious oil leaks with this vehicle which started when it only had 8,000 miles. In addition, the parking brake failed and the power windows broke. The rear bumper rusts after it rains because of the brake dust. You have to use rubbing compound once a week. Overall, the amount of problems have been exhorbinant and not what you would expect from a $28,000 vehicle.
Speed control & acceleration
The car when slowing down lurches, like a tire has a bubble in it, or the rear-end is slipping, or transmission is slipping; you can actually 'feel' each revolution of the tires--rer-rer-rer-rer.....no mechanical cuases/problems noted from auto shop visits.
The gas and brake pedals are poorly placed. Upon moving foot from gas pedal to brake pedal (or vice versa), the top of foot hits steering column. Only way to get from one pedal to other requires a lot of foot/leg movement.
1997 Pontiac Firebird engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 28 / 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 1997 Pontiac Firebird a good car?
Based on 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Firebird rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Firebird at the same age. 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 1997 Pontiac Firebird?
The brakes — 14 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the engine & cooling (7) and speed control & acceleration (6).
How many recalls does the 1997 Pontiac Firebird have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Pontiac Firebird, the most recent from November 4, 1996 (retractor). 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 1997 Pontiac Firebird problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 118,000 miles; 25% 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.