Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 1984 Pontiac Fiero, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 23 | 52% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 25% |
| Parking brake | 3 | 7% |
| Engine | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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 ARR
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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 AUTOM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE ENGINE IN THIS FIERO WAS ONE OF THOSE RECALLED. NO SAFETY DEFECT, REQUESTS RECALL INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUSING THE IGNITION SYSTEM NOT TO WORK. NLM
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 CE
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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).
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
Risk: PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
DUE TO AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, THERE IS A RISK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
Risk: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
Fix: CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW ENGINE COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.
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.
Risk: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
Fix: CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW ENGINE COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other sports & two-seaters in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 23 of them (52%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1984 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.