PontiacFirebird1998Overview/pontiac/firebird/1998/base/

1998 Pontiac Firebird

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Firebird.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1998 Pontiac Firebird is a passenger car specified for 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. This model year recorded 78 total owner complaints, placing it between the 1990 low of 10 complaints and the 1995 high of 95 across the 1990-2002 model history. While the hydraulic service brakes were the most frequent area of complaint, the vehicle maintained a record of zero recalls.

Model year200220012000199919981997199619951994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 690 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 690 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-60R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731172 alt 12731175
Engine air filter25042562
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued · alt 25139035
Spark plug12681664 alt 12681665
Front wiper blades22143969 discontinued
Serpentine belt12569527 alt 19172681
Thermostat24506986 alt 24506985

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length193.3 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight3477 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 60.6 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

5.1–5.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.10 sec — 1998 Trans Am Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1998Trans Am Coupe 5.7L V85.10 sec13.40 sec305 hpRWD
1998Formula Coupe 5.7L V85.30 sec13.80 sec305 hpRWD
1998Trans Am Coupe 5.7L V85.50 sec14.00 sec305 hpRWD
1999Trans Am Convertible 5.7L V85.30 sec13.90 sec320 hpRWD
1996Trans Am WS6 Coupe 5.7L V85.40 sec14.00 sec285 hpRWD
1996Formula WS6 Coupe 5.7L V85.50 sec14.10 sec285 hpRWD
1996Formula WS6 Coupe 5.7L V85.50 sec13.90 sec285 hpRWD
1996Formula WS6 Coupe 5.7L V85.80 sec14.30 sec285 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)22 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)18 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)18 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)74 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)18 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)10 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Type41-921
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.50 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeGM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance690 cca
Standard BCI Group Number75

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature178-198 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum55.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)48-55

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket160 ft-lbs / 27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle100 ft-lbs / 160 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.005 in / 0.006 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.26 in / 1.02 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.26 in / 1.02 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.223 in / 0.985 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1110 ft. lbs., step 2: 76110 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
137 ft. lbs.37 ft. lbs
2120 degrees.120 degrees
3Bolts 1-430 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep M11 Bolts 1-10:

122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees.90 degrees
3Bolts 1-890 degrees
122
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.6 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.6 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1811 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miShift Linkage (inspect)
At 7,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 1998 Pontiac Firebird represents the second-highest complaint year in this generation with 78 complaints, trailing only the 1995 peak of 95. Notably, 1998 is one of only three model years in this dataset with zero federal recalls (alongside 2000 and 2001), which suggests no widespread safety defects requiring manufacturer action. However, the 87 Technical Service Bullins issued for 1998 indicates dealers were addressing numerous field issues, and this number would climb sharply to 94 in 1999 and then explode to 286 in 2000. The complaint profile reveals a significant focus on service brake hydraulic systems (24 complaints), substantially outpacing all other categories. While the lack of recalls is a positive for liability concerns, the elevated complaint volume and high TSB count suggest this model year experienced persistent quality or durability issues that were addressed through dealer bulletins rather than formal safety actions. A prospective buyer should prioritize a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection, particularly of the brake system, given the complaint concentration in that area.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
87
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
78
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 78 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic24
Exterior Lighting5
Steering4
Air Bags4
Visibility4
Seats3
Structure3
Fuel/Propulsion System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 87 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D2020-01-31Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
19NA2732019-12-02Electrical SystemThis informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA0732019-09-18EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

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

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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 1998 Firebird take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 Firebird have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.