FaultScore

Worst years for a Pontiac Trans AM

Owners have filed 196 complaints about the Pontiac Trans AM with NHTSA across model years 1969 to 2002. More of them are about the brakes than anything else.

Avoid

2002 Pontiac Trans AM

43 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

1998 Pontiac Trans AM

22 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Pontiac Trans AM year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2002 F 43 7 0 16,095 Engine & Cooling
2001 C 10 1 1 Engine & Cooling
2000 C 13 1 0 42,900 Engine & Cooling
1999 C 23 2 0 65,000 Body & Structure
1998 C 22 1 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
1997 C 14 0 2 Electrical System
1996 8 0 0 Engine & Cooling
1995 5 1 0 Steering
1994 C 13 3 1 Fuel & Propulsion
1993 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling
1992 10 0 0 Lights
1991 2 0 0 Acceleration & Cruise Control
1989 1 0 0 Steering
1988 1 0 0 Seat Belts
1987 3 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
1986 10 1 1 Seat Belts
1984 10 0 0 Wheels
1982 2 0 1 Brakes
1980 1 0 0 Suspension
1979 1 1 0 Steering
1977 2 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1969 1 0 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers

What breaks on a Pontiac Trans AM

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Brakes 24 12.2%

Worst in 2002

Engine & Cooling 23 11.7%

Worst in 2002

Transmission & Drivetrain 18 9.2%

Worst in 1998

Body & Structure 17 8.7%

Worst in 1999

Electrical System 13 6.6%

Worst in 1997

Steering 13 6.6%

Worst in 2002

Lights 13 6.6%

Worst in 2002

Fuel & Propulsion 13 6.6%

Worst in 1994

Seat Belts 12 6.1%

Worst in 1986

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 11 5.6%

Worst in 1994

Suspension 9 4.6%

Worst in 1999

Acceleration & Cruise Control 8 4.1%

Worst in 1994

Other & Unspecified 6 3.1%

Worst in 2002

Tires 4 2.0%

Worst in 2002

Exactly what failed on a Pontiac Trans AM

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 8 15.1%
Engine 7 13.2%
Automatic Transmission 7 13.2%
Gasoline 6 11.3%
Differential Unit 5 9.4%
Headlights 5 9.4%
Front 4 7.5%
Roof AND Pillars 4 7.5%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 4 7.5%
Cooling System 3 5.7%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Pontiac Trans AM, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Nov 1996 peak 10 Aug 2017

Compare the Pontiac Trans AM

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.