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2002 Pontiac Firebird Recalls & Complaints

1

open safety recall on record

Serious

48 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 1.21 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious01V381000

Structure:Frame And Members

IN A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL STRUCTURAL RIVETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," AND NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE WELDS NEAR THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE THAT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.

Complaint volume

48 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

2Crashes
2Fires
2Injuries
4Deaths

Across 48 complaints. Severity Index 1.21.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System5 · 10%Unknown Or Other3 · 6%Service Brakes, Hydraulic3 · 6%Wheels · Rim3 · 6%Engine And Engine Cooling…2 · 4%Visibility · Power Window…2 · 4%Power Train · Manual Tran…2 · 4%Engine And Engine Cooling2 · 4%
  1. Electrical System — 5 reports
  2. Unknown Or Other — 3 reports
  3. Service Brakes, Hydraulic — 3 reports
  4. Wheels:Rim — 3 reports
  5. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — 2 reports
  6. Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls — 2 reports
  7. Power Train:Manual Transmission — 2 reports
  8. Engine And Engine Cooling — 2 reports
  9. Engine — 2 reports
  10. Visibility:Windshield — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (3) · 1996 (2) · 1997 (3) · 1998 · 1999 (1) · 2000 · 2001 · 2002

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.