FaultScore report
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Trans AM with NHTSA between 1999 and 2015. The largest single group is the body & structure. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 7 worst.
FaultScore 56/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Pontiac Trans AM.
How this is worked out23
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
65,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
20%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
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.
Median failure at 107,990 miles
Median failure at 65,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 65,000 mi
Median failure at 16,480 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
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:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE TIE ROD SNAPPED AND CAUSED CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO TURN TO THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER AT45 MPH ,AND DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SEATBACKS RECLINED. CONSUMER FELT THAT SEATS SHOULD NOT RECLINE.*AK CONSUMER, DAUGHTER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #885418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STEERING
BOTH OF MY SUN VISORS HAVE FALLEN OUT WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PUT BACK IN PLACE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE NEEDED THESE VISORS TO DRIVE SAFELY WHEN THE SUN IS COMING UP OR GOING DOWN. I FEEL THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10692368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
BOTH OF MY SUN VISORS HAVE FALLEN OUT WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PUT BACK IN PLACE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE NEEDED THESE VISORS TO DRIVE SAFELY WHEN THE SUN IS COMING UP OR GOING DOWN. I FEEL THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10692368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER VEHICLE IS WARMED TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER UNEXPECTEDLY. MOTOR REVS DURING EVENT, ALMOST AS IF CAR IS BEEN SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. NO ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON, VEHICLE SIMPLY LOSES FORWARD MOMENTUM. TRANSMISSION GUY SAYS EVERYTHING IS FINE, FOUND NOTHING WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #10253085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE OIL CHANGE. WAS TOLD THAT THEY FOUND NEEDLE BEARINGS IN OIL PAN. CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE NEEDLES MAY ENTER THE ENGINE AND CAUSE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP OR COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE 16 ROCKER ARMS, DRAIN MAGNET,R AND R OIL PAN TO CLEAN,CHANGE OIL AND FILTER. I BELIEVE THESE ROCKER ARMS FAILURE IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AS MY CAR ONLY HAS 16480 MILES AND IS STORED FROM OCT. THROUGH MAY. CAR IS ONE OWNER,ME AND HAS BEEN TAKEN FOR OIL CHANGES BEFORE DRIVING IN SUMMER AND AGAIN BEFORE STORING FOR WINTER. THIS IS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY NUMBERED EDITION CAR AND MEANS A LOT TO ME SO I TAKE EXTREME CARE OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10166805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I BOUGHT MY 1999 PONTIAC TRANS AM BRAND NEW, 8/23/99. IT NOW HAS 31,310 MILES AND BOTH MY DOOR PANELS HAVE CRACKS, ABOUT 1/4 WAY BACK. ALSO, I HAD A GROWLING NOISE IN MY REAR BEARINGS AND I HAD TO HAVE A NEW PINION BEARINGS, CARRIER BEARINGS, RING AND PINION GEAR SET INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN WHERE I TOOK IT TO BE FIXED IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN HARD. MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN APPROX. 10 MILES A DAY EVERYDAY SINCE I GOT IT AND HAS BEEN ONLY ONCE, TO LOUISVILLE, ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE EVERY NIGHT SINCE I'VE HAD IT.
NHTSA complaint #10146123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I BOUGHT MY 1999 PONTIAC TRANS AM BRAND NEW, 8/23/99. IT NOW HAS 31,310 MILES AND BOTH MY DOOR PANELS HAVE CRACKS, ABOUT 1/4 WAY BACK. ALSO, I HAD A GROWLING NOISE IN MY REAR BEARINGS AND I HAD TO HAVE A NEW PINION BEARINGS, CARRIER BEARINGS, RING AND PINION GEAR SET INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN WHERE I TOOK IT TO BE FIXED IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN HARD. MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN APPROX. 10 MILES A DAY EVERYDAY SINCE I GOT IT AND HAS BEEN ONLY ONCE, TO LOUISVILLE, ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE EVERY NIGHT SINCE I'VE HAD IT.
NHTSA complaint #10146123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THERE ARE CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE DOOR PANELS OF MY 1999 TRANS AM. THE CRACKS ARE IN THE SAME LOCATION ON EACH DOOR PANEL. (TOP OF PANEL AT EDGE, BACK 1/3 OF PANEL.) THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY COMMON AMONG TRANS AM OWNERS WITH 1998-2002 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10116071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINING UNBEARABLY LOUD. TOOK TO LOCAL GM DEALER TO DIAGNOSE, THEY SAY IT NEEDS REPLACED. WARRANTY I BOUGHT IS INSPECTING TO SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT. THIS AFFECT'S THE COMFORT, RELIABLITY, AND SAFETY OF THIS CAR. I WILL UPDATE WHEN MORE INFO IS RECIEVED FROM THE GM DEALER. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ONLINE, THIS IS HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF OTHER LS1 POWERED F-BODY OWNERS WITH THIS GM REAR DIFFERENTIAL.
NHTSA complaint #10088172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
HEADLIGHTS FLIP UP AND DOWN AND MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. SAME OCCURS WHEN FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM IS ACTIVATED. DEALER REPORTS ACTUATOR BAD. SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES SINCE 2000. ALONG WITH THAT, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS BURNED OUT TWICE ALONG WITH THE ACTUATOR. REAR END OF VEHICLE RATTLES NEAR SPEAKERS. DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10018365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEADLIGHTS FLIP UP AND DOWN AND MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. SAME OCCURS WHEN FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM IS ACTIVATED. DEALER REPORTS ACTUATOR BAD. SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES SINCE 2000. ALONG WITH THAT, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS BURNED OUT TWICE ALONG WITH THE ACTUATOR. REAR END OF VEHICLE RATTLES NEAR SPEAKERS. DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10018365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
HEADLIGHTS FLIP UP AND DOWN AND MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. SAME OCCURS WHEN FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM IS ACTIVATED. DEALER REPORTS ACTUATOR BAD. SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES SINCE 2000. ALONG WITH THAT, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS BURNED OUT TWICE ALONG WITH THE ACTUATOR. REAR END OF VEHICLE RATTLES NEAR SPEAKERS. DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10018365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE TIE ROD SNAPPED AND CAUSED CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO TURN TO THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DOOR PANELS CRACKED. *JB THE DOOR PANELS CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #10014691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE AT A STOP, CONSUMER STATES' VEHICLES ENGINE REV'S VERY HIGH. FEELS LIKE VEHICLE IS GOING TO TAKE OFF. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS ON BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM MOVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STOP CONSUMER HAS TO PHYSICALLY PUT BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL TO HOLD VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS TO RESTART VEHICLE TO GET ENGINE TO STOP RACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER AT45 MPH ,AND DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SEATBACKS RECLINED. CONSUMER FELT THAT SEATS SHOULD NOT RECLINE.*AK CONSUMER, DAUGHTER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #885418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLE IN REAR END OF VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING WHICH CAUSED POOR VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER NOTED THAT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RELEASE/ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH, AND VEHICLE LEAKED WATER INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHENEVER IT RAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #872602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLE IN REAR END OF VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING WHICH CAUSED POOR VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER NOTED THAT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RELEASE/ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH, AND VEHICLE LEAKED WATER INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHENEVER IT RAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #872602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLE IN REAR END OF VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING WHICH CAUSED POOR VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER NOTED THAT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RELEASE/ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH, AND VEHICLE LEAKED WATER INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHENEVER IT RAINED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #872602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BRAKES SHUDDER. AT LOW SPEEDS IT FEELS AS THOUGH A ROUGH SPOT IN THE BRAKES CAUSES THE CAR TO STOP HARD THEN SOFT REPEATEDLY. AT HIGH SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAR SHAKE. ROTORS SEEM TO BE WARPED. PARTS WERE REPLACED AND SAME PROBLEM CAME UP ON NEW PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #722436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE BRAKES SHUDDER. AT LOW SPEEDS IT FEELS AS THOUGH A ROUGH SPOT IN THE BRAKES CAUSES THE CAR TO STOP HARD THEN SOFT REPEATEDLY. AT HIGH SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAR SHAKE. ROTORS SEEM TO BE WARPED. PARTS WERE REPLACED AND SAME PROBLEM CAME UP ON NEW PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #722436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #715942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #715940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.