The 1982 Pontiac Firebird has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 376,354 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
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.
CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH MAY RESULT FROM A FAILURE OF BELT TO ADEQUATELY RESTRAIN OCCUPANTS.
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.
CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT IF INTRODUCED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE.
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATOR AND PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Engine fire.”
“Engine fire.”
“Transmission failed.”
“Engine failed due to faulty pistons.”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1982 pontiac fire bird. While driving 30 mph, the contact stated that there was a head on crash with another vehicle and her seat belts were inoperable. As of january 3, 2008, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. The front seat passenger sustained a slip disk in the…”
There is no summary currently available
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.===
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.
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.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1982 Pontiac Firebird as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.