Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Firebird.
The 1983 Pontiac Firebird represented a solid iteration of the third-generation F-body platform, requiring 3 quarts of engine oil with manufacturer recommendations of 20W-20, 20W-40, or 20W-50 viscosity grades for maintenance; this model year recorded only 4 owner complaints across its history, with parking brake and seat belt issues comprising the top reported concerns alongside three recall campaigns. While the 1983 model falls outside the tracked complaint history period of 1990-2002, the data from those later years shows complaint volumes ranging from a low of 10 in 1990 to a high of 95 in 1995, suggesting the 1983 Firebird's minimal complaint count positions it among the more reliable entries in the model's longitudinal record.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 190.2 in |
| Overall width | 72.4 in |
| Overall height | 50 in |
| Wheelbase | 101.2 in |
| Curb weight | 2864 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Trans Am Coupe 5.0L V8 | 8.50 sec | 16.44 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | Trans Am Coupe 5.0L V8 | 10.60 sec | 17.50 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
| 1980 | Turbo Trans Am Coupe 4.9L Turbo V8 | 8.20 sec | 16.70 sec | 210 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | Trans Am Coupe 6.6L V8 | 6.70 sec | 15.30 sec | 220 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Formula Coupe 5.0L V8 | 6.30 sec | 14.90 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Formula Coupe 5.0L V8 | 7.40 sec | 15.30 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | Trans Am Coupe 6.6L V8 | 9.30 sec | 16.90 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1989 | 20th Anniversary Trans Am 3-door Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 4.60 sec | 13.40 sec | 250 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3 qt of 20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 3.5 qt |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 20W-20 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3 qt |
| Engine Oil | 20W-20 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4 qt |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record provided covers 1990 through 2002 and contains no entry for the 1983 model year, so the 1983 Pontiac Firebird sits before the documented trend line. Across the years that are recorded, complaints rise from 10 in 1990 to a high of 95 in 1995, then generally decline while TSB counts climb sharply—especially from 2000 onward—and recalls essentially disappear after 1997. For 1983 itself, the only complaint data supplied are three low-count areas: “Parking Brake,Seat Belts” with two complaints, “Seat Belts” with one, and “Unknown Or Other” with one, plus zero crash and zero fire complaints. Because the year-by-year record does not include 1983, we cannot place it on that arc or infer whether its federal risk profile is better or worse than adjacent model years. The sparse complaint totals and absence of crash/fire reports are reassuring, but they do not offset the absence of recall, investigation, and TSB figures or the general concerns of a four-decade-old vehicle. Overall, the data neither flags 1983 as problematic nor confirms it as a standout choice; it is a buy only if the individual car has been thoroughly inspected and maintained.
All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 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.
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR. Remedy: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
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.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
3 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, 20W-40, 20W-50, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.