Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 1986 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 | 17 | 57% |
| Parking brake | 6 | 20% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM. I SEE IN YOUR DATABASE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 4 RECALLS ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
RECALL TO MY 1986 PONTIAC FIERO (VIN# 1G2PF3795GP23433) WAS NEVER COMPLETED DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A SERIOUS RECALL, AS IT INVOLVED A POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. GM RECALL NUMBER 88-C-24
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM OF THESE VEHICLE'S MAY CONTAIN A NONFUNCTIONAL PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN 91V055000; THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
THE CONSUMER STATED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL, IT WOULD ROLL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THAT THIS WAS CAUSING
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 90V104000 CONCERNING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. WHEN THE TRUNK IS OPENED IN THE RAIN WATER DRIPS THROUGH THE TRUNK ONTO THE OXYGEN SENSOR. A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED, BUT THE THIS V
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE DUMPED OIL FROM THE ENGINE UPON STARTING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY RECALL INFORMATION FROM EITHER DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT OIL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE GROUND. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE 88C24, MANFACTURER HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE HAD NO PARTS. ALSO, HAD BEEN CALLING DEALER, PONTIAC CUSTOMER CARE CENTER FOR ABOUT 120 DAYS, AND NO RESPONSE. RE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1986 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.
PCV GROMMET OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LEAKS, PISTON CONNECTING ROD FAILURES BREAKING THROUGH ENGINE WALL CAUSING OIL SPILLAGE, FUEL RAIL LEAKS, COOLANT LEAKS, ROCKER COVER OIL LEAKS, AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, COULD CAUSE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
Risk: AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN SPREAD TO THE PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT AND INJURE OCCUPANTS.
Fix: CORRECT OR INSTALL NEW COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE FIRE RISK.
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.
| Reliability raw | 89 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other sports & two-seaters in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 17 of them (57%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 89/100 (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 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1986 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 75/100. 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.