Car Model History

Fourth generation · LT1/LS1 F-body · 1993–2002

2002Pontiac Firebird

The final Firebird — rounded composite-panel styling, the LT1 (1993–1997) then LS1 (1998–2002) V8 in the Trans Am and Formula, and the WS6 Ram Air package. Production ended August 30, 2002.

Fourth generation · LT1/LS1 F-body

2002 Pontiac Firebird 3.8L V6, fourth generation — black coupe, rear three-quarter view

Photo: “2002 Pontiac Firebird 3.8L V6” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Quick facts

Engines
1offeredLS1 5.7L V8
Top output
310hpLS1 5.7L V8

Body stylesCoupe · Convertible

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 2002 Pontiac Firebird model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Complete, source-verified lineup

Find your exact 2002 Firebird

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

10factory configurations
Verified complete for the U.S.-marketHow this lineup was verified

We checked this U.S.-market lineup against period sources for factory model, body, engine, and transmission combinations represented by the cited exact-year records. Every version shown below has its own detail page.

Verified 2026-09-01 from Pontiac Motor Division — 2002 Firebird specifications and features.

10versions shown
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Firebird Coupe 3.8L 3800 Series II V6 5-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Firebird Coupe 3.8L 3800 Series II V6 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Firebird Convertible 3.8L 3800 Series II V6 5-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Firebird Convertible 3.8L 3800 Series II V6 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Formula Coupe 5.7L LS1 V8 6-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
5.7-liter LS1 V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Formula Coupe 5.7L LS1 V8 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
5.7-liter LS1 V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Trans Am Coupe 5.7L LS1 V8 6-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
5.7-liter LS1 V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe

Trans Am Coupe 5.7L LS1 V8 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive hatchback coupe
Engine
5.7-liter LS1 V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Trans Am Convertible 5.7L LS1 V8 6-speed manual

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
5.7-liter LS1 V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible

Trans Am Convertible 5.7L LS1 V8 4-speed automatic

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive convertible
Engine
5.7-liter LS1 V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 2002 model year

Overview

2002 was the Firebird's final model year; production ended on August 30, 2002, retiring the nameplate after 35 years alongside its Chevrolet Camaro F-body sibling. The send-off centered on the LS1-powered Trans Am and a 35th-anniversary Collector Edition — finished in exclusive Pontiac Collector Yellow with a modern 'screaming chicken' graphics package — with the optional WS6 Ram Air package the most coveted setup.

Specifications

Engines
  • LS1 5.7L V8310 hp
Body styles
Coupe, Convertible

Year over year

What changed

  • Final model year of the Firebird; production ended August 30, 2002.
  • A 35th-anniversary Collector Edition in exclusive Pontiac Collector Yellow marked the end of the line. // UNCONFIRMED: 2002 Collector Edition total production — sources disagree (supercars.net cites 2,390 = 1,349 coupes + 1,041 convertibles; others say ~2,000), so NO firm number is published here.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • The last Firebird; the F-body platform was retired after 2002.
  • WS6 Ram Air cars are the most sought-after fourth-generation Trans Ams.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • LS1-era F-body; the LS1 V8 is robust, but check for hard use given the car's performance reputation.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 2002 Firebird on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 2002 Pontiac Firebird. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
6
Factory intervals
5
Fitment-scoped
6
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2002 · United States

    Published interval: 12 months · Follow the GM Oil Life System; change at least annually.

    Source: General Motors — 2002 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Scheduled Maintenance — Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance · checked

    Oil-life system accidentally reset

    Applies to: 2002 · United States

    Published interval: 3,000 mi / 5,000 km · Change 3,000 miles after the last oil change if the system is accidentally reset.

    Source: General Motors — 2002 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Scheduled Maintenance — Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance · checked

  • Engine air cleaner filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2002 · United States

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 50,000 km · Replace; inspect at 15,000 miles under dusty conditions.

    Source: General Motors — 2002 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — air-cleaner filter intervals · checked

  • Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2002 · United States

    Published interval: 100,000 mi / 166,000 km · Replace.

    Source: General Motors — 2002 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — spark-plug replacement interval · checked

  • Automatic transmission fluid and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2002 · United States

    Published interval: 50,000 mi / 83,000 km · Normal service; manual-transmission fluid has no scheduled replacement.

    Source: General Motors — 2002 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — automatic-transmission service · checked

    Automatic transmission severe service

    Applies to: 2002 · United States

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 25,000 km · Heavy hot-city, mountainous, trailer-towing, taxi, police, or delivery use.

    Source: General Motors — 2002 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — severe automatic-transmission service · checked

  • Engine cooling system

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2002 · United States

    Published interval: 150,000 mi / 240,000 km / 60 months · Drain, flush, and refill; whichever comes first.

    Source: General Motors — 2002 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual · Maintenance Schedule — cooling-system service interval · checked

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Manufacturer-catalog fitment scoped to the exact 2002 Firebird engine listing.

    K&N HP-1001 cataloged fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.

    Applies to: 2002 · 3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6 · United States · K&N's vehicle application listing assigns HP-1001 to the 2002 Firebird 3.8L V6 gasoline application; confirm the engine and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Pontiac Firebird replacement oil filters · 2002 Pontiac Firebird 3.8L V6 gasoline application listing — oil filter — HP-1001 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    K&N HP-1007 cataloged fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes filter fitment only; it does not alter the separately sourced service schedule.

    Applies to: 2002 · 5.7-liter LS1 V8 · United States · K&N's vehicle application listing assigns HP-1007 to the 2002 Firebird 5.7L V8 gasoline application; confirm the engine and installed filter before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Pontiac Firebird replacement oil filters · 2002 Pontiac Firebird 5.7L V8 gasoline application listing — oil filter — HP-1007 · checked

    Verified ordering references

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Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Famous variants this year

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — "Pontiac Firebird"
  2. Wikipedia — "Pontiac Firebird Trans Am"

Other Fourth generation years

Explore the LT1/LS1 F-body generation →All Fourth generation · LT1/LS1 F-body years →

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