FaultScore report
Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM with NHTSA between 1999 and 2007. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 7 worst.
FaultScore 44/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Pontiac Trans AM.
How this is worked out22
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN, STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE HIT A BARRIER. NO INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8011303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STEERING:LINKAGES
STEERING COLUMN, THE TWO PINS THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TOGETHER AT THE HINGED PART SO THE ADJUSTABLE WHEEL CAN UP AND DOWN, WORK THEIR WAY OUT AND CAUSE THE STEERING TO BECOME VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10182471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL JERK, AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF TIME THAT VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8019039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL JERK, AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF TIME THAT VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8019039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN, STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE HIT A BARRIER. NO INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8011303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CONSUMER STARTED SMELLING GAS FORM THE OUTSIDE OF CAR. CONSUMER MENTIONED TO DEALER WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, DEALER DID NOT CHECK IT AT THAT TIME. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND RETURN VAPOR LINE HAD POPPED COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER SNAPPED IT BACK TOGETHER AND SO FAR IS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEM. ONCE IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO SHOW DEALER WHERE PROBLEM WAS, SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED IT MUST BE OKAY NOW. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #898783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #753711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NEW CAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY HAD TO WELD THE PILLAR POST TO THE FRAME. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED MANY TIMES UNTIL THEY FOUND THE BROKE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND WAS JUST FIXED AND THE CAR NOW HAS A FIREWALL RATTLE. THE BRAKES ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEM. IT WOULD BE MY COST TO REAPIR THEM. THEY ARE STILL WARPED. THIS CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN ALSO. 4 RADIO, TWO REAR SPEAKERS, BELT TENSION PULLEY,OIL LEVEL SENSOR, U JOINTS,ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR CAP,LUMBAR SUPPORT REPAIRED 5 TIMES. THIS CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. IT IS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE IT. I AM DISABLED AND BOUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE A NICE LOOKING DEPENDABLE CAR. I BOUGHT A JUNK THAT HAD A STICKER PRICE OF 28-29,000. THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP. CHRIS GALLAGHER 770 719-9754
NHTSA complaint #729682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NEW CAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY HAD TO WELD THE PILLAR POST TO THE FRAME. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED MANY TIMES UNTIL THEY FOUND THE BROKE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND WAS JUST FIXED AND THE CAR NOW HAS A FIREWALL RATTLE. THE BRAKES ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEM. IT WOULD BE MY COST TO REAPIR THEM. THEY ARE STILL WARPED. THIS CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN ALSO. 4 RADIO, TWO REAR SPEAKERS, BELT TENSION PULLEY,OIL LEVEL SENSOR, U JOINTS,ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR CAP,LUMBAR SUPPORT REPAIRED 5 TIMES. THIS CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. IT IS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE IT. I AM DISABLED AND BOUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE A NICE LOOKING DEPENDABLE CAR. I BOUGHT A JUNK THAT HAD A STICKER PRICE OF 28-29,000. THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP. CHRIS GALLAGHER 770 719-9754
NHTSA complaint #729682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NEW CAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY HAD TO WELD THE PILLAR POST TO THE FRAME. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED MANY TIMES UNTIL THEY FOUND THE BROKE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND WAS JUST FIXED AND THE CAR NOW HAS A FIREWALL RATTLE. THE BRAKES ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEM. IT WOULD BE MY COST TO REAPIR THEM. THEY ARE STILL WARPED. THIS CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN ALSO. 4 RADIO, TWO REAR SPEAKERS, BELT TENSION PULLEY,OIL LEVEL SENSOR, U JOINTS,ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR CAP,LUMBAR SUPPORT REPAIRED 5 TIMES. THIS CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. IT IS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE IT. I AM DISABLED AND BOUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE A NICE LOOKING DEPENDABLE CAR. I BOUGHT A JUNK THAT HAD A STICKER PRICE OF 28-29,000. THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP. CHRIS GALLAGHER 770 719-9754
NHTSA complaint #729682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NEW CAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY HAD TO WELD THE PILLAR POST TO THE FRAME. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED MANY TIMES UNTIL THEY FOUND THE BROKE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND WAS JUST FIXED AND THE CAR NOW HAS A FIREWALL RATTLE. THE BRAKES ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEM. IT WOULD BE MY COST TO REAPIR THEM. THEY ARE STILL WARPED. THIS CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN ALSO. 4 RADIO, TWO REAR SPEAKERS, BELT TENSION PULLEY,OIL LEVEL SENSOR, U JOINTS,ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR CAP,LUMBAR SUPPORT REPAIRED 5 TIMES. THIS CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. IT IS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE IT. I AM DISABLED AND BOUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE A NICE LOOKING DEPENDABLE CAR. I BOUGHT A JUNK THAT HAD A STICKER PRICE OF 28-29,000. THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP. CHRIS GALLAGHER 770 719-9754
NHTSA complaint #729682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NEW CAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY HAD TO WELD THE PILLAR POST TO THE FRAME. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED MANY TIMES UNTIL THEY FOUND THE BROKE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND WAS JUST FIXED AND THE CAR NOW HAS A FIREWALL RATTLE. THE BRAKES ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEM. IT WOULD BE MY COST TO REAPIR THEM. THEY ARE STILL WARPED. THIS CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN ALSO. 4 RADIO, TWO REAR SPEAKERS, BELT TENSION PULLEY,OIL LEVEL SENSOR, U JOINTS,ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR CAP,LUMBAR SUPPORT REPAIRED 5 TIMES. THIS CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. IT IS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE IT. I AM DISABLED AND BOUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE A NICE LOOKING DEPENDABLE CAR. I BOUGHT A JUNK THAT HAD A STICKER PRICE OF 28-29,000. THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP. CHRIS GALLAGHER 770 719-9754
NHTSA complaint #729682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #724324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #718665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #718665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #718665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHILE DRIVING AT 15MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED . THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER.
NHTSA complaint #853693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING AT 15MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED . THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER.
NHTSA complaint #853693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE, DIFFERNTIAL LEAKING GEAR OIL, SES LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON, ROTORS WARPED, DRIVESHAFT POPS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR CHANGING GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #712931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE, DIFFERNTIAL LEAKING GEAR OIL, SES LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON, ROTORS WARPED, DRIVESHAFT POPS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR CHANGING GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #712931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE, DIFFERNTIAL LEAKING GEAR OIL, SES LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON, ROTORS WARPED, DRIVESHAFT POPS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR CHANGING GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #712931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE, DIFFERNTIAL LEAKING GEAR OIL, SES LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON, ROTORS WARPED, DRIVESHAFT POPS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR CHANGING GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #712931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
REAR TRANSMISSION SEAL FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #606506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.