RecallMyCar

1997 Pontiac Firebird Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1997 Pontiac Firebird, and owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
49
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–20
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 1997 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. Retractor (seat belts)

    NHTSA 96V219000 Reported 1,573 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Pontiac Firebird have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 74,335 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 11 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Hi my Pontiac firebird got Impounded properly parked for 3 hrs on private property on the same property where I’m a Tenant at [XXX] Las Vegas it was towed illegally and was in pound yard where I was c”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 26, 2024 · Wheels

“While i was driving on the middle lane on beltway 495 heading to work- i saw a huge tire high in the air & dropping in front of my car. I took my foot off the accelerator. It hit the front grille & we”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 5, 2014 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Pontiac Firebird/Trans Am/Formula (Firebird/Formula). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–20 mpg
City / Highway15–17 / 23–28
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classSubcompact Cars
Engine6/8 cyl, 3.8/5.7 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-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 1997 Pontiac Firebird

How do I know if my 1997 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 Pontiac Firebird; your car may already have been repaired under it.

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 96V219000).

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.