Pontiac Trans Sport Problems by Year
NHTSA has 655 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls on file for the Pontiac Trans Sport, across 9 model years (1995–2003). The 1997 model year has the most complaints (236). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Pontiac Trans Sport years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Trans Sport year: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1997 Trans Sport: 236 complaints, 5 recalls
- 1998 Trans Sport: 227 complaints, 5 recalls
- 1995 Trans Sport: 113 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2000 Trans Sport: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 Trans Sport: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2003 Trans Sport: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Pontiac Trans Sport problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 128 | 5 | 2 |
| Steering | 92 | 4 | 7 |
| Structure | 80 | 6 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 70 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility | 66 | 7 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 51 | 5 | 5 |
| Power Train | 48 | 4 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 41 | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 39 | 6 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 32 | 4 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 31 | 4 | 13 |
| Seats | 27 | 5 | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 | 6 | 1 |
| Suspension | 15 | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 4 | 2 |
| Tires | 12 | 6 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Pontiac Trans Sport problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 1998: engine and engine cooling (52)
- 1997: steering (54)
All Pontiac Trans Sport model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Trans Sport | 3 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2002 Trans Sport | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2001 Trans Sport | 3 | 0 | — | Child Seat | |
| 2000 Trans Sport | 2 | 0 | — | Tires | |
| 1999 Trans Sport | 10 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Trans Sport | 227 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Trans Sport | 236 | 5 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Trans Sport | 61 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Trans Sport | 113 | 3 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Pontiac: all Pontiac models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Trans Sport years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (113), 1996 (61), 1997 (236), 1998 (227) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Trans Sport year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Pontiac Trans Sport?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 128 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Pontiac Trans Sport have?
10 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.