1984 Pontiac Fiero problems
The Pontiac Fiero is a rear mid-engine, light sports car manufactured and marketed by Pontiac for model years 1984–1988.
Styled by George Milidrag and Hulki Aldikacti as an economical commuter car with modest performance aspirations, it was Pontiac's first two-seater since their 1926 to 1938 coupes, and the first rear mid-engine mass-produced car by any American manufacturer.
In addition to using 4- and 6-cylinder engines to help Pontiac meet America's 'CAFE' average fuel economy requirements, the Fiero's chassis and structure technology used non-load-bearing, composite body-panels, contributing to the car's light-weight and unique selling proposition. Pontiac engineers modified the design over its life to enhance its performance and reposition the two-seater closer to the implications of its sporty configuration.
The Fiero 2M4 (two-seat, mid-engine, four-cylinder) was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1984, and was the Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500 for 1984.
A total of 370,168 Fieros were manufactured over five years' production. After suffering criticisms related to its mild performance as well as reliability and safety issues, the Fiero was discontinued after annual sales fell steadily.
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Common 1984 Pontiac Fiero problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Pontiac Fiero 1984, several common problems have been identified:
- Engine Problems: The 1984 Pontiac Fiero faced issues with bad connecting rods fracturing, which could lead to engine failures. This problem was significant and contributed to the car's reliability concerns.
- Cooling System: The Fiero's cooling system was described as capricious, vulnerable to air bubbles due to long pipes connecting the front-mounted radiator and the engine. This design flaw made the cooling system prone to issues, affecting the car's performance and reliability.
- Suspension and Handling: The Fiero's suspension system, particularly in the 1984-1987 models, was based on the chassis of the Chevrolet Chevette and utilized a double wishbone design. The complex independent suspension with multiple pivot and attachment points made maintenance challenging and expensive, impacting the car's overall handling and driving experience.
- Clutch System: The clutch system in the Fiero presented significant issues, requiring attention to prevent potential headaches down the road. Replacing the clutch's hydraulic system was recommended to avoid future problems and ensure smooth operation of the vehicle.
- Rust: Pontiac Fieros were prone to rust in specific areas such as under the battery, the sides of the trunk by the wheel wells, and the radiator braces. Rust issues could affect the structural integrity of the car and require restoration work to maintain the vehicle's condition.
These common problems highlight some of the key issues faced by owners of the Pontiac Fiero 1984, impacting its reliability, performance, and overall ownership experience.
What was the best year for the Pontiac Fiero?
1988 GT
The best-performing Fieros in the market are 1988 GT coupe models. That final production year saw in improved suspension to make that model the best of the breed, and prices reflect it, with #2-condition values at $13,400.
What engine is in a 1984 Pontiac Fiero?
Manual
| Year | Engine/Transmission | Rev. |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | I4/4-spd (performance) | 3.42 |
| 1985–88 | I4/5-spd | 3.50 |
| 1985–86 | V6/4-spd | 3.42 |
| 1986–88 | V6/5-spd | 3.41 |
What year Fiero caught fire?
However, it was almost exclusively the 2.5-liter and the 1984 model which caught fire. By mid-1987, the 1984 Fieros were catching fire at a rate of about 20 per month.
How many 1984 Fieros were made?
Only 2000 Indy Pace Car edition Fieros were built in 1984, a tiny fraction of the nearly 137,000 standard models sold that year. While they looked great with their body kits and decklid wings, each of those production models—which you're seeing in these photos—was powered by the Iron Duke.
Is a Pontiac Fiero safe?
The unique plastic body-on-spaceframe design, helped the Fiero to achieve a NHTSA NCAP frontal crash test rating of five stars, the highest rating available.
What is special about the Pontiac Fiero?
Some of the amazing features of the Pontiac Fiero include: Mid-engine layout: This gave the Fiero a better weight distribution and handling than front-engine cars. Composite body panels: These panels were lightweight and helped to improve the Fiero's fuel economy.
What year is the best Pontiac Fiero?
1988 GT
The best-performing Fieros in the market are 1988 GT coupe models. That final production year saw in improved suspension to make that model the best of the breed, and prices reflect it, with #2-condition values at $13,400.
How many Fieros caught fire?
Those 260 cars which burned made up just 0.7 percent of all Fieros sold. Also, unlike the case of the Ford Pinto, no deaths resulted from Fiero fires, and there were only ten cases of minor injury. GM would kill the car off in 1988, despite the fact it considerably became a better car than it was in 1984.
1984 Pontiac Fiero car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Pontiac Fiero problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Electrical system problems
- Parking brake problems
- Engine problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1984 Pontiac Fiero vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 1984 Pontiac Fiero
The NHTSA has received 44 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 1984 Pontiac Fiero vehicles.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-11-15
- VIN: 1G2AM37R4EP
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 PONTIAC FIERO (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD BOLT WOULD BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE CAUSED OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND ENGINE BLOCK. IN ADDITION, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1988-06-24
- Fire: 1
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: A FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY 1984 PONTIAC FIERO WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY DETERMINED AN OIL LIKE SUBSTANCE WAS SPRAYED ON THE MANIFOLD. MY FRIEND WAS ARRESTED FOR ARSON & I WAS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL SOLICITATION. AFTER GOING THROUGH THE COURT PROCEDURES AND BEING CONVICTED OF A FELONY I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM PONTIAC RECALLING MY CAR FOR POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE. THE CAR WAS ALREADY GONE THOUGH & I NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION AND HAVE HAD A FELONY RECORD FOLLOWING ME FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS! I WANT SOMETHING DONE TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-08-18
- VIN: 1G2AM37R9EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: I PURCHASED A 1984 PONTIAC FIERO ON APRIL, 4 2003. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE SAFETY RECALL ON THIS AUTO. FROM THE INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 89V232000 CONCERNING ENGINE FIRE APPLIES TO THIS AUTOMOBILE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS SAFETY RECALL AND DETERMINED THE REQUIRED WORK HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON MY AUTO. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS RECALL EITHER HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE, OR THAT IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY AUTO. BY THE INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND ALL 1984 FIERO'S WERE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE VIN NUMBER OF MY AUTO IS [XXX]. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO DETERMINE IF THE ABOVE RECALL DOES OR DOES NOT APPLY TO MY AUTO. IF IT DOES, IT APPEARS THAT I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING PONTIAC TO PERFORM THE SPECIFIED SERVICE TO THIS AUTOMOBILE. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2AM37R0EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: RECALL 89 V 232 000 ENGINE. CONSUNER STATES THAT THE DEALER ( TOM WOOD PPONTIAC INDIANOPOLIS, IN 317-352-9311) IS REFUSING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL. NLM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-06-04
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G2AM37R6EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: CONSUMER STATES HE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTDUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-89-165)*JB
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2AF37R0EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: THE VEHICLE HAS A LOUD KNOCKING/RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE BLOCK IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CONNECTING ROD IS ABOUT TO COME APART , I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AFTER I FOUND A CAMPAIGN ON THE PONTAIC FIERO ENGINES. AND THE CANT TELL ME IF THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED OR NOT THEY JUST TOLD ME THERE IS NO OPEN CAMPAIGN ON THE VEHICLE AND I ALSO CALLED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS ON THE CAR. THE VECHICLE IS EXHIBITING THE SAME NOISE AS THE CAMPAIGN STATES.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-10-16
- VIN: 1G2AF37R2EP
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE ENGINE IN THIS FIERO WAS ONE OF THOSE RECALLED. NO SAFETY DEFECT, REQUESTS RECALL INFORMATION. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUSING THE IGNITION SYSTEM NOT TO WORK. NLM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUSING THE IGNITION SYSTEM NOT TO WORK. NLM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2AF37R3EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: PONTIAC (800 PM-CARES) TOLD ME I HAD TWO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 1998. WHEN CALLED IN FEBRUARY OF 1999, THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE (NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE YET). WHEN CALLED IN MARCH OF 1998, THEY SAID THEY HAD NO VIN RECORDS FOR ANY 1980S CARS. LOCAL DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DO RECALL WITHOUT PONTIAC AUTHORIZATION. MORE THAN 25 OTHER PONTIAC FIERO OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES WITH ATTEMPTING TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2AF37R0EP
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-12-19
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G2AF37R1EP
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. ANOTHER CONSUMER HELP PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE WIRES HAD BURNED UP. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS GETTING TOO HOT AND CATCHING ON FIRE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-12-16
- VIN: 1G2AF37R5EP
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: STARTER FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2AM37R4EP
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: ENGINE FAILED DUE TO WIRING TO THE ECM BURNING UP.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G2AM37R2EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ON THE ENGINE . OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A SLOPE FIRE CAME OUT FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2AF37R6EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: CONSUMER CLAIMS RECALL REPAIRS REGARDING POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRES WERE NOT DONE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT ABOUT RECALL, CLAIMING THEY ALREADY HAVE BEEN DONE (89V-232). *AK
PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2AM37R2EP
- Components: PARKING BRAKE
- Summary: THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT WORKING BEFORE THE RECALL, AND AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WORKED ONLY FOR A MONTH. RECALL 91V-055000. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-10-21
- VIN: 1G2AF37R5EP
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK DUE TO DRAINED BATTERY.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-10-14
- VIN: 1G2AF37R5EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE OIL LEAK.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-10-14
- VIN: 1G2AF37R5EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: PISTON RINGS AND BEARINGS FAILED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-10-14
- VIN: 1G2AF37R5EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM EXHAUST.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-10-14
- VIN: 1G2AF37R5EP
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: RADIATOR HOSES LEAK.
PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2AM37R6EP
- Components: PARKING BRAKE
- Summary: OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR PARKING BRAKE PROBLEMS, CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ENGINE. RECALL (91V-055). *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP , PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-05-31
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G2AF37R4EP
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: VEHICLE WAS PARKED, LEFT VEHICLE, FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD SUDDENLY, ENTIRE FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS BURNED. *AK
1984 Pontiac Fiero recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the 1984 Pontiac Fiero.
- Manufacturer: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
- Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
- Summary: PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
- Consequence: PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Remedy: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
- Summary: DUE TO AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, THERE IS A RISK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
- Consequence: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
- Remedy: CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW ENGINE COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- Summary: DUE TO AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, THERE IS AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF CONNECTING ROD FAILURE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
- Consequence: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
- Remedy: CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW ENGINE COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1984 Pontiac Fiero problems:
What are the most common Fiero problems? - Pennock's Fiero Forum
Dec 31, 2000 ... The second biggest problem is that many of them were given to kids that did not care about them as "first cars." When I got my 1984 Fiero ...
Pontiac Fiero History and FAQ: GM's Most Famous Failure?
Feb 2, 2023 ... The Pontiac Fiero had a litany of issues, most of which were limited to the inaugural 1984 model year. The biggest were the low-capacity oil ...
Common problems? - Pennock's Fiero Forum
Oct 24, 2005 ... ... 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT was 1980s America's everyday exotic. The Fiero, which debuted in 1984, had roots that went back nearly 20 years. Chief ...
Pontiac Fiero Questions - what should I look for when buying a 1987 ...
May 18, 2011 ... Most problems int he GT 2.8L V6) are ignition module, trunk corners (Rust. Look under carpet in sides of trunk) ...
common problems on used fieros? - Pennock's Fiero Forum
Aug 18, 2004 ... sardonyx247. 5032 posts. Member since Jun 2003. Fuel pumps seem to be common problems in the Fieros I have worked ...
Other years of Pontiac Fiero
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