Loss of power steering can not turn vehicle
The worst 1999 Pontiac Firebird problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes17
- Transmission9
- Electrical6
- Engine6
- Visibility6
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes17
- Transmission9
- Electrical6
- Engine6
- Visibility6
- Lights5
- Fuel system3
- Steering3
- Acceleration2
- Airbags2
- Wheels2
- Body1
- Driver assistance1
- Seat belts1
Recalls 1
Power train: clutch assembly
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch master cylinder may have been built with an incorrect retaining ring.
- Risk
- This may not allow the clutch system to disengage the clutch when the clutch pedal is depressed, resulting in unintentional vehicle movement, increased stopping distances, engine stalls, and difficulty in shifting.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch master cylinder with a new cylinder.
Recall number 99V239000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Pontiac Firebird 87
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy...
- Fuel system, gasoline
- This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco...
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Equipment
- This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy...
- This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest...
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Power train
- Vehicle Recalls
1999 Pontiac Firebird fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | RWD | 17 | 26-28 | 20-21 |
| 5.7L 8‑cyl | RWD | 16-17 | 22-26 | 18-20 |
What 1999 Pontiac Firebird owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns 1999 pontiac firebird. The contact stated the vehicle clutch system disengaged whenever the clutch pedal was depressed. This caused the vehicle to have unintentional vehicle movement, increased stopping distances and difficulty in shifting. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnose that the clutch master cylinder failed. The dealer was notified who stated there was a recall the federal safety agency campaign id number: 99v239000 (power train: clutch assembly). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 37,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 pontiac fire bird. The contact stated that the clutch master cylinder was defective and would not allow the clutch system to disengage when being depressed. There was a recall the federal safety agency campaign id number: 99v239000 (power train: clutch assembly) but the contact was informed by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11,200. Updated 10/27/11*bf updated 11/16/11
I recently purchased a 1999 pontiac firebird. While looking up recalls on I came upon a recall for my car (the federal safety agency campaign id number : 99v239000). I called the local pontiac dealer, and inquired about specifics. The service employee checked my VIN, then told me that my vehicle had no recalls showing for it. My vehicle is experiencing the exact same problem that is stated in the recall. With only 56,000 miles on it, the rest of the car is in pristine condition, cosmetically and mechanically otherwise. The recall states that a 'potential' 69 vehicles were affected. Does the word 'potential' mean an average or possibly more?
When starting the car cold, and idling the car... Headlight and turn signal operation is normal. After approximately 20 minutes of driving the car (not idling) the headlights will go dark without warning (the headlamp doors remain open), and the right turn signal fails to operate. Every 6 to 10 seconds, the entire electrical system proceeds to pulse after this occurs, unless the headlight switch is turned from low beam position to parking light position. The pulsing then stops, but the headlights are not lit and if turned off... The doors will not lift up again and the lights will not light. After letting the car sit for a period of time, the car seems to "reset" itself and the lights and signals will become operational for another 20 minutes of driving. This creates an extreme safety hazard. The cause is currently unknown. I plan to take it to my local dealer, norris auto mall for evaluation.
The vehicle just shuts down with no notice at all, the engine just dies. I've had this problem off and on for over a year and my car is in the shop for weeks or more and I'm told they can't find anything wrong with it so I go and get it and it dies on me. Once this happened within minutes. The last time it happened a little over a week after I picked the vehicle up, I was told they couldn't find anything wrong with it and I drove it for a week , before it died on me after they had it for 2 weeks and could not find a problem. They have had it for almost two weeks at the moment stating they can't find anything wrong so they reset the trouble codes in the computer and wait to see if it will happen again, but I'm afraid to drive it because it has died on me in the middle of the highway and that's very scary and dangerous in my opinion. After the vehicle sits for a while it usually starts back up, and drives as if nothing has ever happened to it until it dies again but one never knows when everything will just go dead. It does turn over but has no ignition and after about 15-20 minutes of intermittent cranking it will start back up. They changed a crankshaft position sensor and that lasted for about 9 months and then they changed it in march of 2005 and that lasted for about 6 months and here we are again with the vehicle doing basically the same thing but I'm told its a different problem but they don't know what it is. The 10 failures have occurred within the past year to year and a half. There are sites on the internet where this exact same problem is being discussed about general motors vehicles. The date of oct 20 2005 is the last time that this problem appeared, and they have had the vehicle since the 24th of oct. It was taken to them on the 24th because that's the earliest that they could look at it so I was told.
My service engine soon light keeps coming on (steady and flashing). All in less than 2 months I have had to replace the battery, path lock sensor and ignition cylinder, remote alarms and keys, spark plug wires, clean fuel injectors, replace serpentine belt and upgraded my gas octane in a v6. And now the stupid service engine soon light is on again and the engine is hesitating and the bearings on pulleys are making a noise (after replacing the serpentine belt). I have receipts for all of it so far. I am going tonight to read the code for what is wrong now!!!!! Also I had previously replaced the alternator, my radio volume knob has never worked correctly, and my low traction light comes on every time I hit a puddle of water. This car is a lemon.
Windows freezing up, sporadic, inconsistent. Power window eventually failed completely at 35,000 miles. Both driver side and passenger side power window regulators need replacing. This car was bought brand new, driven off the show-room floor, stored in semi-heated storage throughout cold months. Nothing has been done yet to correct failures, because it is going to cost over $600.00, and I am waiting for gm to acknowledge this defect. I feel that it is too ironic that both regulators went at the same time. This shows poor quality for an expensive car.
When making a u turn steering locked up and I was not able to turn the steering wheel. I had to stop and place gear shift in park and then move back to drive before the wheel would turn. The engine did not die. This is the first time this has ever happened in the 1 1/2 that I have owned this car. Alyse ecker.
On my 1999 pontiac firebird the driver's passenger door panels are cracking since new window motors were installed also have talked to 5 other people driving firebirds whose door panels are cracking also. The cracks or 2-4 inches long and are occurring about 6 to 8 inches from door jam same spot on driver an passenger doors also same on the others I have spoke with.
Compare the 1999 Pontiac Firebird
Other model years
Questions about the 1999 Pontiac Firebird
Is the 1999 Pontiac Firebird reliable?
Owners have filed 47 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Firebird, 2.0 times a typical Firebird model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Pontiac Firebird?
Brakes, with 17 complaints. Next is transmission (9).
How many recalls does the 1999 Pontiac Firebird have?
1 recall, covering power train.
What year does the Pontiac Firebird have bad brakes?
The Pontiac Firebird model years with the most brakes complaints are 1998 (28 complaints), 1999 (17 complaints) and 1995 (15 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1999 Pontiac Firebird get?
Official estimates for the 1999 Pontiac Firebird range from 18 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 17 city and 26-28 highway.
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