Most common 1998 Pontiac Firebird problems
Share of the 63 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 →
What 1998 Pontiac Firebird owners say
Brakes all 28 →
Vehicle would fail to stop when applying ABS brakes suddenly to avoid an accident at 45mph. Had hit another vehicle at 90 degree angle. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Driver was injured, but not treated at emergency room, went to private doctor.
The front brake rotors on my '98 Pontiac Firebird started warping at 10,000 miles, they got to a point where I came close to losing control of the vehicle on rain slicked roads. The extreme pulsating of the brakes makes the car very hard to control on wet roads. The warping of the rotors gets worse as the brakes get hot. When starting out in the morning the warping isn't very noticable, but gets much worse as they heat up. Which makes it diffcult for the service dept. They check the brakes cold. After much complaining the dealer replaced the rotors at 13,417 miles. They started to warp again at about 16,000 miles. The dealer told me it was normal wear, and that it must be my breaking habits. Later the manager told me that break problems are a very common complaint with GM. …
Air bags
While driving 30 MPH the vehicle was involved in a head on collision. The dual air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled due to severe damage. Driver hit shoulder on the steering wheel that caused a ligament tear, and passenger suffered a cut on the head.
Vehicle was involved in an accident with another vehicle which fishtailed consumer's car, causing vehicle to spin out of control without hitting anything. Both air bags deployed, causing damages to front windshield which tore open, allowing chemicals to escape, making it difficult for consumer to breath and control vehicle. Dealer/manufacturer notified.
Lights
Dt*: the contact stated water was seeping into the right rear taillight from rain corroding the reflective materials in the tail light, which diminished the illumination. The service dealer was notified. The manufacturer was not alerted. Updated 12/1/2006 -
Rear tail light has a design flaw. It allows moisture inside the tail light and has caused problems with numerous replacement bulbs and a build-up of moisture. I feel if this continues, it will eventually damage the entire electrical system. The inside of the tail light cover appears very dark, almost as if the tail light bulb is burned out, therefore causing law enforcement to follow and watch my every move on some instances.
1998 Pontiac Firebird engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 28 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Pontiac Firebird a good car?
Based on 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Firebird rates use caution: 1.5× 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 1998 Pontiac Firebird?
The brakes — 28 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc. Next are the air bags (7) and lights (5).
How many recalls does the 1998 Pontiac Firebird have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Pontiac Firebird. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 1998 Pontiac Firebird problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 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.