Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1971 Firebird.
The 1971 Pontiac Firebird occupies a documented reliability record running from 1990 through 2002, tracking owner complaints filed against this model year well after its production run concluded. Within that window the picture is sharply uneven, with reports bottoming at 10 in 1990 and climbing to 95 by 1995 — the latter representing the most concentrated cluster of owner dissatisfaction in the dataset. That 1995 peak effectively defines the 1971 Firebird's place in its own nameplate history, marking it as a year whose complaint footprint weighs far more heavily than the quiet 1990 baseline would suggest, and a model year researchers should approach with its uneven ownership record clearly in view.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 191.7 in |
| Overall width | 73.2 in |
| Overall height | 50.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 111.8 in |
| Curb weight | 3250 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Firebird of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Trans Am 455 H.O. Coupe 7.5L V8 | 5.40 sec | 13.80 sec | 335 hp | RWD |
| 1969 | Trans Am 400 Coupe 6.6L V8 | 5.80 sec | 14.37 sec | 345 hp | RWD |
| 1969 | Trans Am 400 Coupe 6.6L V8 | 6.50 sec | 14.90 sec | 345 hp | RWD |
| 1968 | Trans Am 400 H.O. Coupe 6.6L V8 | 5.50 sec | 14.20 sec | 335 hp | RWD |
| 1967 | Sprint Coupe 3.8L I-6 | 10.10 sec | 17.20 sec | 215 hp | RWD |
| 1976 | Trans Am 455 Coupe 7.5L V8 | 7.00 sec | 15.60 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | Trans Am Coupe 6.6L V8 | 9.30 sec | 16.90 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | Trans Am Coupe 6.6L V8 | 6.70 sec | 15.30 sec | 220 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Remedy:
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.