Pontiac / Trans Sport / 1997
1997 Pontiac Trans Sport problems
Owners have filed 307 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport with NHTSA. Steering accounts for 17.9% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of exterior lighting at 13.7%.
Complaints307
Crashes11
Fires3
Injuries12
Deaths6
What owners report breaking
Steering 17.9% · 55
Exterior lighting 13.7% · 42
Engine and engine cooling 13.7% · 42
Structure 12.1% · 37
Visibility 8.5% · 26
Service brakes, hydraulic 5.5% · 17
Latches/locks/linkages 5.5% · 17
Power train 4.9% · 15
Severity
Of those complaints, 11 describe a crash, 3 describe a fire, 12 report an injury and 6 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 4 model years of the Pontiac Trans Sport in this data, 1997 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 4 in the last three years against 20 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 90,000 miles.
In owners' own words
While driving at 40mph steering momentarily locked up. Vehicle then locked up making left hand turn. Had to pull steering wheel a few degrees to the right to free up bind. Took vehicle to Pontiac dealership, and was told that rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. Was also informed that the rack and pinion failure destroyed the air bag coil which had to be replaced. Steering
Steering wheel would lock up when making a left turn. Vehicle taken to dealer for inspection, and informed that rack and pinion steering was broken ,and needed replacement. *Ak a nut had broken on the bottom of the rack and pinion system causing it to fall apart, the air bag coil was twisted also causing a bind up in the steering wheel. *Slc Steering
Dt: the consumer states the right and left steering knuckles were cracked, right where the tie rod knuckle connects. The consumer was doing an oil change when he noticed the problem. The dealership was called to find out if there were any recalls. The consumer thinks because they are made of aluminum, it has happened because of old age. Steering
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…