Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Firebird.
The 1978 Pontiac Firebird recorded just three owner complaints with the electrical system emerging as the top concern area, alongside two recalls documented for the model year. While the broader Firebird lineage tracked from 1990 through 2002 shows complaint volumes ranging from a low of ten in 1990 to a peak of ninety-five in 1995, the 1978 edition's minimal complaint count positions it as an outlier of relative reliability within the nameplate's longer history. This sparse complaint record suggests the 1978 model avoided the systemic issues that would later escalate through the 1990s, marking it as a comparatively trouble-free vintage for researchers evaluating long-term durability trends.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1976 | Trans Am 455 Coupe 7.5L V8 | 7.00 sec | 15.60 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1980 | Turbo Trans Am Coupe 4.9L Turbo V8 | 8.20 sec | 16.70 sec | 210 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | Trans Am Coupe 5.0L V8 | 10.60 sec | 17.50 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
| 1983 | Trans Am Coupe 5.0L V8 | 8.50 sec | 16.44 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
| 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 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1978 Pontiac Firebird exhibits minimal reported issues, with only two complaints regarding the electrical system and one regarding tires. There are zero recorded crash or fire complaints for this target year. In contrast, the generation spanning 1990 to 2002 shows a rising trend in instability, with technical service bulletins increasing from 3 in 1990 to 347 by 2002 and complaints peaking at 95 in 1995. As the provided federal record begins in 1990, the 1978 model falls entirely outside this later arc, and the data does not specify the root cause for its few complaints. Given the lack of significant issues compared to the trends seen in the later record, this is a good year to buy.
All 3 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
THE HUB PORTION OF THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS GENERATED DURING ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS. EVENTUALLY, THE BLADE COULD BREAK APART AT THE HUB AND BLADE PIECES COULD BE PROPELLED INTO… Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.