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KLUNK
KLUNK

2002 Pontiac Firebird

The Verdict

93 Smooth Ride

The 2002 Pontiac Firebird has 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (11 complaints) and engine (9 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 93/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating.

This is the cleanest year on record. Nice pick.

93

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000166972
2001871082
2002711192

By Category

Electrical
11
Engine
9
Body
7
Transmission
2
Brakes
1

By Severity

1
12
2
16
4
1
5
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKET. AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WITH THE OIL LEAKING, IT WAS COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. UPDATED 02/04/16.*JB

130mo ago
Electrical 1

THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON ,SOMETIMES CAR WILL NOT START AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE DRIVING AND LOSES POWER AT ANY GIVING TIME. THE KEY THAT HAS A THE SENSOR DOES NOT READ OR GIVE THE CORRECT RESISTANCE TO THE VATS SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTS THE CAR OFF. I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KEY RESISTANCE AND THE IGNITION IN WHICH IT GOES INTO. SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS NOT READING OR MAKING CONTACT MESSING UP ALL THE SECURITY IN THE CAR. *TR

167mo ago
Engine 2

ENGINE OIL LEAK PROBLEM SINCE AUGUST. I HAVE HAD CAR CHECKED ON TWO (2) OCCASIONS BY MY MECHANIC. HE STATED IT COULD NEED A NEW OIL PAN OR THE REAR MAIN SEAL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NOT TOO HAPPY THAT I AM FACING COSTLY ENGINE REPAIRS FOR THIS WELL CARED FOR CAR. *TR

168mo ago
Body 1

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE CHROME ALLOY RIMS ON THE VEHICLE EXHIBIT CRACKS. THE RIMS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED PER THE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, SINCE THERE WAS A MEMO INDICATING THAT THEY COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BUT REPLACED. PONTIAC HAS BEEN VERY UNCOOPERATIVE AND REFUSED TO COMPLY. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES OF THE RIMS AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE BRAND, MANUFACTURER AND ANY RELATED RIM INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 85000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,926. UPDATED 6/21/10 *CN UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB

198mo ago
Body 1

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. OUTER SKIN COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM DOOR. LOWER HINGE IS DEFECTIVE. OWNED VEHICLE SINCE NEW, WAS A RECALL RELATED TO HINGE, BUT NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL REGARDING MY VEHICLE. ACTUALLY GLUED SKIN BACK TO DOOR TO REPAIR. *TR

200mo ago
Body 2

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHROME RIMS EXHIBITED CORROSION AND RUST ON THE INSIDE SURFACE. IN ADDITION, THE SPOKES WERE SEVERELY CRACKED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY FOUND RUST AND CORROSION ON ALL FOUR RIMS. THE RIMS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 05/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/02/09.*JB

210mo ago
Body 1

CHROME PLATING PEELING FROM WHEELS,CORROSION CAUSING TIRES TO LOOSE AIR AND GO FLAT. LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE CAUSES HANDLING PROBLEMS--CONSTANT PROBLEM-SITUATION HAS BEEN REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES. CLEANING CORROSION FORM WHEEL (WHICH PONTIAC DEALER HAS DONE) CORRECTS PROBLEM FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

228mo ago
Engine 2

I HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM WITH THIS 2002 GRAND AM. FIRST THERMOSTAT WENT. HAD THERMOSTAT REPLACED -- CAR CONTINUED TO RUN HOT , LOSING POWER AND SHUT OFF.... HAVE REPLACED WATER PUMP, HOSES, AND INTAKE VALVE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTED WITH CAR LOSING PRESSURE AND RUNNING HOT. ALSO HAD HEAD GASKETS REPLACED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.... THIS CAR HAS STOPPED ON ME 4 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY.... IN CHECKING OUT OTHER COMPLAINTS THERE SEEMS TO BE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM.... WHAT CAN I DO TO HAVE THIS CAR REPAIRED -- CAN A RECALL BE ISSUED.... PROFESSIONALS ARE AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS???? *TR

228mo ago
Body 2

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN MY FAN SPEEDS STOPPED IN A DOWN POUR CAUSING MY WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP RAPIDLY & I COULDN'T SEE WHERE I WAS DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR

228mo ago
Electrical 1

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TURN SIGNAL WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND DISPLAYED NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AT 5 MPH, THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES AND THE TURN SIGNALS WERE REPLACED LAST FALL. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

230mo ago
Electrical 2

2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT WOULD NOT START DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH (WHICH WAS ALREADY REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO BY MY GM PONTIAC DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM). NEW IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE BOUGHT TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ONE.

232mo ago
Engine 2

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR(S) BROKE AS WELL AS VALVE TRAIN DAMAGE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. GM TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY.

236mo ago
Brakes 1

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES MADE A CONSISTENT VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS, UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO CLEANED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTATED THE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE PROBLEMS PERSISTED, BUT NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE.

239mo ago
Electrical 2

WITHOUT ANY PRIOR ISSUES ONE DAY THE GM ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED ON OUR CAR, RESULTING IN OUR INABILITY TO START THE CAR. MOTHER AND 9 MONTH OLD CHILD WERE STRANDED BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION. TO FIX THE ISSUE, THE DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY QUOTED US AROUND $250.00. AFTER THEY HAD OUR CAR, THE TUNE CHANGED AND NOW THEY HAVE CHARGED US $860.00. *AK

249mo ago
Electrical 1

I'M THE OWNER OF A 2002 GRAND AM SE. I HEARD ABOUT THE GOVT INVESTIGATING SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONS AND I WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. MY CAR CONTINUES TO MAKE THIS ANNOYING TURN SIGNAL CLICKING SOUND ON IT'S OWN. I CANT DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT. SOMETIMES IT DOES IT AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. PLEASE HELP. IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT. *NM

253mo ago
Electrical 5

2002 PONTIAC FIREBIRD WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *MR

254mo ago
Electrical 2

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING GM CORP PLACING ELECTRONIC RECORDING DEVICES IN VEHICLES WITHOUT INFORMING THE CUSTOMER.*MR *NM

255mo ago
Electrical 2

HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. LAMPS LITE BUT THE ASSEMBLY DID NOT RISE INTO POSITION.

256mo ago
Electrical 2

2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM;TURN SIGNAL CONSTANTLY CLICKING (BEHIND DASH, BY HAZARD BUTTON) AFTER TURN SIGNAL IS IN THE OFF POSITION. VERY ANNOYING. SOUNDS LIKE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALLS TO 2000 AND 2001 GRAND AM'S. HAD DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HAZARD/WARNING SWITCH (WHICH THEY COULD CHANGE OUT FOR APPROX $260.00).

257mo ago
Body 1

I HAVE COMPLAINT ON THE FAILURE OF MY AIR CONDITIONER. THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT JUST SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA AND I BELIEVE THE AIR CONDITIONER SHOULD NOT GO OUT IN 2 YEARS AND OF COURSE IT GOES OUT SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT ON IT. I ALSO HAVE A 1990 CHEVY SILVARADO WITH 141 SOME THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST WENT OUT ON IT. THAT GOES TO TELL YOU THAT GM ISN'T MAKING THEIR PRODUCTS LIKE THEY USED TO THEY MAKE THEM SO THEY BREAK AND THEY CAN GET ALMOST A 1000 TO REPAIR IT EVERY TIME SOMETHING GOES OUT ON THEM. I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO SAY THAT I WILL NEVER BUY A GM PRODUCT AGAIN EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF MY FAMILY WORKS THERE OR RETIRED FROM THERE DUE TO THE FACT THAT GM DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. *AK

263mo ago

30 total

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