Pontiac Fiero Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Pontiac Fiero model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1991 drew the fewest (1) and the 1984 the most (30).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 1994 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 1996 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Suspension | — | — |
| 1988 | 13 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 18–25 |
| 1987 | 15 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 18–25 |
| 1985 Among the most complaints |
18 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 18–25 |
| 1986 Among the most complaints |
26 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 19–25 |
| 1984 Among the most complaints |
30 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 24–25 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Pontiac Fiero years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1984 Pontiac Fiero: 30 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 16 (53%); Electrical system 9 (30%); Parking brake 3 (10%).
Reports mention 8 fires. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1986 Pontiac Fiero: 26 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 15 (58%); Parking brake 5 (19%); Electrical system 2 (8%).
Reports mention 5 fires, 2 injuries. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1985 Pontiac Fiero: 18 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 14 (78%); Parking brake 4 (22%); Power train 2 (11%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 4 fires. 3 recall campaigns listed.
The Pontiac Fiero years with the fewest complaints
1994 Pontiac Fiero: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 1 (100%).
Reports mention 1 fire, 2 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
1996 Pontiac Fiero: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 1 (100%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Pontiac Fiero owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 30 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Pontiac Fiero recalls
- ENGINE (1984–1988 model years; 244,000 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 1989; 89V232000)
- EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE:MECHANICAL (1984–1986 model years; 179,036 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 1991; 91V055000)
- ENGINE:OTHER PARTS (1984 model year; 125,440 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 1987; 87V181000)
- ENGINE (1985–1988 model years; 102,162 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 1990; 90V104000)
All 4 Pontiac Fiero recall campaigns · Pontiac Fiero problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Pontiac Fiero years FAQ
Which Pontiac Fiero year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1991 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Pontiac Fiero years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1984, 1986 and 1985 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine and engine cooling. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Pontiac Fiero problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine and engine cooling (65 of 105 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Pontiac Fiero have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the Pontiac Fiero. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Pontiac Fiero recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.