PontiacFiero1984Overview/pontiac/fiero/1984/base/

1984 Pontiac Fiero

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1984 Fiero.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1984 Pontiac Fiero, with its 3-quart oil capacity calling for 10W-30 or 5W-30 viscosity and a 3-speed automatic transmission, delivered EPA fuel economy of 21 city, 29 highway, and 24 combined mpg. A standout spec is its 29 mpg highway rating, but the model's reliability headline reveals 44 total owner complaints—led by Engine & Engine Cooling issues—and 4 recalls. This inaugural year sits outside the model's complaint history from 1991 to 1996, which recorded only a single complaint in 1991, meaning the 1984 Fiero experienced more reported problems than any subsequent year in that span.

Model year19881987198619851984

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/29/24 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length160.2 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height46.9 in
Wheelbase93.3 in
Curb weight2449 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)44/56

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 29 / 24 mpg
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Fiero of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.5–11.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.50 sec — 1984 SE Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1984SE Coupe 2.5L I-410.50 sec17.70 sec92 hpRWD
1984SE Coupe 2.5L I-410.90 sec18.10 sec92 hpRWD
1984SE Coupe 2.5L I-411.20 sec17.60 sec92 hpRWD
1984SE Coupe 2.5L I-411.60 sec18.20 sec92 hpRWD
1988Formula Coupe 2.8L V67.50 sec15.70 sec135 hpRWD
1988Formula Coupe 2.8L V68.00 sec16.00 sec135 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1050017 OR EQUIVALENT

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The provided year-by-year federal record covers only 1991, 1994, and 1996, each registering one complaint, zero recalls, zero investigations, and one TSB, indicating a flat, minimal trend across those later years with no recalls or investigations. Because 1984 is omitted from that record, the target year cannot be placed directly within that year-by-year arc; however, the 1984 model itself shows 23 engine and engine cooling complaints, 11 electrical system complaints, and 9 fire complaints, alongside zero crash complaints, though the supplied data does not specify root causes. Relative to the negligible complaint volume and complete absence of recalls visible in the later years of the record, the 1984 model carries a concentrated complaint load in engine and fire-related categories that lacks corresponding federal recall or investigation context. Given that the 1984 model exhibits the highest specific complaint counts in the available data—including nine fire complaints—without any offsetting recall history in the provided record, it represents a risky prospect for buyers prioritizing documented reliability.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
8
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
44
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 9 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 44 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling23
Electrical System11
Parking Brake3
Engine2
Unknown Or Other2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Power Train1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

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… Remedy: 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…

91V055000Parking Brake:ConventionalReported 11/04/1991

PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR. Remedy: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Fiero. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1984 Fiero take?

3 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1984 Fiero have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Fiero get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined mpg.