2001 Pontiac Firebird Reliability Score: 9.5 out of 10

24 NHTSA Complaints

0 Recalls

2 Fire Reports

0 Crash Reports

Reliability Score

9.5 / 10

Reliability score

Very few owner complaints against similar sports cars

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 3 powertrain complaints. A typical sports car fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 29.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.1 points in the typical case.

Breakdown

Complaints overall3 complaints against about 29 for similar vehicles

9.5

Last three years

n/aNot enough data

Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced

n/aNot enough data

Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating

n/aNot enough data

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

L36

3.8L 6-cyl

10 complaints 10.0 per year

2 fire reports

View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical

exterior

brakes

wheels tires

body

Same engine used in

CHEVROLET Malibu (2004-2007)CHEVROLET Impala (2006-2016)BUICK Park Avenue (2000-2005)CHEVROLET Uplander (2005-2009)BUICK LeSabre (2000-2005)CHEVROLET Monte Carlo (2000-2007)

+3 more

CHEVROLET Impala (2000-2005)CHEVROLET Camaro (2000-2002)CHEVROLET Silverado 1500 (2000-2006)

Show 2 additional engine variants with limited data

These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

LS1

5.7L 8-cyl

8 complaints 8.0 per year

View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical

engine

cooling

brakes

transmission

Same engine used in

CHEVROLET Corvette (2005-2013)BUICK Century (2000-2005)CHEVROLET Camaro (2000-2002)CHEVROLET Corvette (2000-2004)

Pontiac Firebird Unidentified Engine

6 complaints 6.0 per year

View details

Complaint Breakdown

brakes

body

engine

cooling

electrical

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Pontiac Firebird, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical System: 8 owner complaints

Brakes: 6 owner complaints

All Generations

20002000 20012001 20022002

Alternatives in Sports Car

4 engines / 69 complaints

6 engines / 41 complaints

3 engines / 27 complaints

1 engine / 22 complaints

3 engines / 75 complaints

2 engines / 37 complaints

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2001-2001 Pontiac Firebird complaints?

Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001-2001 Pontiac Firebird. The systems they name most often are the electrical system, the brakes and the engine.

Is the 2001-2001 Pontiac Firebird a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001-2001 Pontiac Firebird. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001-2001 Pontiac Firebird have?

NHTSA has 24 owner complaints on file for the 2001-2001 Pontiac Firebird as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2001-2001 Pontiac Firebird?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001-2001 Pontiac Firebird.

What should I check before buying a used Pontiac Firebird?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the electrical system, the brakes and the engine, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

Does the Firebird have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2001 Pontiac Firebird. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 24 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: low. Last updated: 2026-10-12.