1982 Pontiac Firebird
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1982 Pontiac Firebird is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.
1982 Pontiac Firebird at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1982 Pontiac Firebird recalls 4
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE…
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
Fix: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES". THE NON-COMPLIANCE EXISTS BECAUSE THE REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES MAY PULL THROUGH THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE IF ENOUGH FORCE IS APPLIED.
Fix: UPON INSPECTION, DEALER WILL INSTALL A REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE REINFORCEMENT KIT TO ENSURE PROPER ANCHORING OF SEAT BELTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
FUEL TANK VENTILATOR VALVE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM MAY PRODUCE A LOUD AND PERSISTENT "WHISTLE" DURING VENTING OF THE TANK. IF THE FUEL FILLER CAP IS REMOVED WHILE THIS CONDITION EXISTS AND THE TANK IS MORE THAN 3/4 FULL, GASOLINE MAY BE FORCED OUT OF THE FILLER NECK ONTO BYSTANDERS.
Fix: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATOR AND PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1982 Pontiac Firebird common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1982 Pontiac Firebird — ranges cover the 3 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 5
REAR DISC BRAKES Closed
NHTSA #C90001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · opened Feb 1990 · closed Jul 1991REAR DISC BRAKES Closed
SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.
NHTSA #EA88036 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · opened Jul 1988 · closed Aug 1991FRAME CRACKING Closed
SUMMARY: GM'S MAY '88 TSB CONCERNS REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR FRAME RAIL CRACKING ON 82-85 CAMAROS. ODI DATA BASE CONTAINS THREE REPORTS OF FRAME RAIL CRACKING ON CAMAROS AND FIREBIRDS.
NHTSA #PE88070 · Structure · opened Jun 1988 · closed Sep 1988REAR BRAKE FAILURE Closed
SUMMARY: THE REAR DISC BRAKE ADJUST MECHANISM FAILS TO FUNCTION AFTER CORROSION OCCURS. GM HAS REDESIGNED CALIPER ASSM. SAME DESIGN AND PROBLEM ON GM'S E, F, AND P CARS. INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN COMBINED INTO ONE WITH ALL GM CARS USING SAME REAR DISC BRAKE DESIGN.===
NHTSA #EA86019 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · opened Jun 1986 · closed Jul 1988REAR BRAKE LOCKUP Closed
SUMMARY: THE PROPORTIONING VALVE WAS CHANGED FOR 1983 MODELS (470 PSI TO250 PSI SPLIT POINT) TO REDUCE REAR BRAKE TORQUE. GM CLAIMS THAT BRAKINGPERFORMANCE MAY BE LIMITED BY TIRE TRACTION ON AN UNLOADED VEHICLE WITHNEW UNBURNISHED LININGS, BUT BRAKING BALANCE IMPROVES ONCE THE LININGSHAVE BEEN BURNISHED AS A RESULT OF NORMAL USE.ANALYSIS: TESTING AT ETF SHOWS THAT BRAKING PERFORMANCE OF AN UNLOADEDVEHICLE WAS IMPROVE…
NHTSA #EA84027 · opened Aug 1984 · closed Sep 1987An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the FIREBIRD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 3
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1982 Pontiac Firebird. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Brakes
On certain vehicles, the parking brake system may contain a non-functional parking brake adjuster. This may result in a gradual loss of parking brake effectiveness as the rear disc pads wear. As a result, the parking brake may not hold the vehicle on a steep incline. If the vehicle is parked with the transmission in neutral or a forward gear, the vehicle may roll away and resul…
Transport Canada #1991063 · Apr 1991Brakes
On certain vehicles, the rear brake backing plates may develop a corrosion condition which could result in loss of rear brake fluid and loss of rear braking capabilities. This recall affects vehicles sold in the Maritime provinces only.
Transport Canada #1985007 · Jan 1985Not Entered
THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES MAY PULL THROUGH THE UNDERBODY OF THESE VEHICLES IF SUBSTANTIAL FORCES WERE TO BE APPLIED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH IN WHICH BELT RESTRAINT IS BEING USED. THIS WOULD INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO THE WEARER OF THE SEAT BELT.
Transport Canada #1982072 · Sep 1982Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Pontiac Firebird
The Pontiac Firebird is an American automobile built and produced by Pontiac from the 1967 to 2002 model years. Designed as a pony car to compete with the Ford Mustang, it was introduced on February 23, 1967, five months after GM's Chevrolet division's platform-sharing Camaro. This also coincided with the release of the 1967 Mercury Cougar, Ford's upscale, platform-sharing version of the Mustang. The name "Firebird" was also previously used by GM for the General Motors Firebird series of concept cars in the 1950s.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.