RecallMyCar

1985 Pontiac Firebird Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1985 Pontiac Firebird, and owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
16
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–24
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1985 Pontiac Firebird

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Conventional (parking brake)

    NHTSA 91V055000 Reported 179,036 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Parking brake adjuster fails to operate and do not work after brake pad wear.

    Remedy: Replace nonfunctioning parking brake adjusters.

  2. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 90V105000 Reported 1,500,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Plastic components of seat belt buckle assemblies do not contain an ultra violet stabilizer, and exposure to direct sunlight and elevated interior temperatures could weaken the plastic components.

    Remedy: Replace or repair seat belt buckle.

  3. Webbing (seat belts)

    NHTSA 85V169000 Reported 738,485 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Dislocation of a spring cover will not allow the shoulder belt to retract after being extended. Consequence of defect: although inertial feature that locks the lap belt and shoulder belt in the event of an accident are not affected, if slack is more than recommended in owners manual, injuries to upper body and head would be increased in…

    Remedy: Install retaining springs on spring cover of front shoulder belt retractor and, when required, retractors will be replaced.

  4. Hub (wheels)

    NHTSA 85V018000 Reported 2,687 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The hub area of the wheels may not be structurally sound and thus subject to fracture. Consequence of defect: the wheels could separate from the car causing a loss of control. This could result in an accident without prior warning.

    Remedy: Install new front and rear tire/wheel assemblies.

16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1985 Pontiac Firebird have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 100,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 3 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl*the contact owns a 1985 pontiac firebird. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 91v055000 (parking brake:conventional). The dealer informed him that his vehicle could no”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 2, 2008 · Parking brake

“Dt: the contact states there are two NHTSA recalls campaign 85v169000 and 91v055000 concerning the front seat belt webbing and parking brake. This vehicle is experiencing the same problems as indicate”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 22, 2005 · Seat belts

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1985 Pontiac Firebird/Trans Am/Formula (Firebird). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–24 mpg
City / Highway14–21 / 20–31
FuelRegular
EPA classSubcompact Cars
Engine4/6/8 cyl, 2.5/2.8/5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Pontiac Firebird model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Pontiac Firebird model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Pontiac Firebird10
1968 Pontiac Firebird20
1969 Pontiac Firebird20
1970 Pontiac Firebird10
1971 Pontiac Firebird10
1972 Pontiac Firebird10
1973 Pontiac Firebird20
1974 Pontiac Firebird30
1975 Pontiac Firebird10
1976 Pontiac Firebird21
1977 Pontiac Firebird11
1978 Pontiac Firebird13
1979 Pontiac Firebird22
1980 Pontiac Firebird21
1981 Pontiac Firebird10
1982 Pontiac Firebird33
1983 Pontiac Firebird24
1984 Pontiac Firebird611
1985 Pontiac Firebird416
1986 Pontiac Firebird219
1987 Pontiac Firebird110
1988 Pontiac Firebird210
1989 Pontiac Firebird220
1990 Pontiac Firebird29
1991 Pontiac Firebird327
1992 Pontiac Firebird227
1993 Pontiac Firebird018
1994 Pontiac Firebird159
1995 Pontiac Firebird184
1996 Pontiac Firebird041
1997 Pontiac Firebird149
1998 Pontiac Firebird063
1999 Pontiac Firebird147
2000 Pontiac Firebird024
2001 Pontiac Firebird024
2002 Pontiac Firebird121

Checking a specific 1985 Pontiac Firebird

How do I know if my 1985 Pontiac Firebird has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1985 Pontiac Firebird; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Pontiac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 85V018000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Pontiac models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.