42 of the
307 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport are about the
lighting — 14% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
89,423 miles.
B
42
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Headlights
2866.7%
Turn Signal
614.3%
Concealment Devices
511.9%
Exterior Lighting
24.8%
FOG Lights
12.4%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 92,846 milesAbingdon, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
MY WIFE'S 1997 PONTIAC TRANSPORT MINI-VAN HAS THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES, THAT ARE NOW YELLOW AND CLOUDY, AND NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY IS SO POOR THAT SHE DOESN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT UNLESS SHE HAS TO. ALSO MY 2000 NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK IS SUCCUMBING TO THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT AS SEVERE YET. I HAVE TRIED HIGH-OUTPUT ZENON, BLUELIGHT, AND ULTRA WHITE BULBS BUT THE YELLOWING/CLOUDY PLASTIC LENSES GREATLY REDUCES THE PERFORMANCE QUALITIES OF THESE BULBS. I CANNOT SEE THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF HAVING PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES THAT WON'T SHATTER LIKE GLASS IN AN ACCIDENT IF YOU CANNOT SEE MORE THAN 20 FEET IN FRONT OF YOUR VEHICLE AT NIGHT. I STILL BELIEVE GLASS IS THE BEST MATERIAL FOR HEADLIGHTS, I SEE CARS AND TRUCKS FROM THE 70'S, 80'S, AND EARLY 90'S THAT STILL HAVE GREAT WORKING HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10218001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Central Falls, RI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND I AM ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT AGAIN, IT'S ONLY BEEN A YEAR SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. BOTH OF MY FRONT WINDOWS ARE POWER WINDOWS AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LITTLE MOTOR FOR THEM TO GO UP AND DOWN TWICE AND THE PASSENGER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. MY LEFT FRONT SIGNAL LIGHT NEVER WORKS, IT GETS REPLACED AND A DAY LATER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN RIGHT, THIS WAS ALREADY FIXED AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OR THERE WHERE ANY RECALLS RELATED TO MY PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10156528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Central Falls, RI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND I AM ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT AGAIN, IT'S ONLY BEEN A YEAR SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. BOTH OF MY FRONT WINDOWS ARE POWER WINDOWS AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LITTLE MOTOR FOR THEM TO GO UP AND DOWN TWICE AND THE PASSENGER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. MY LEFT FRONT SIGNAL LIGHT NEVER WORKS, IT GETS REPLACED AND A DAY LATER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN RIGHT, THIS WAS ALREADY FIXED AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OR THERE WHERE ANY RECALLS RELATED TO MY PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10156528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,624 milesSAN Bernardino, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE FOGGED UP AND DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LENSES NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10153233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Commerce City, CO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF AND SHATTERED ON THE STREET. A NEW ONE IS ALMOST $200!
NHTSA complaint #10132008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Murfreesboro, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT COVER POPPED OFF, CAUSING THE LIGHT BULB TO BLOW OUT. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED TWO TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE SEALANT.
NHTSA complaint #10103871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shawnee Mission, KS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT MISSING. THE HEADLIGHT WAS IN PLACE IN THE A.M. IN THE AFTERNOON, AFTER ARRIVING AT A FRIENDS HOME, I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHT WAS MISSING. *AK THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT AT MY EXPENSE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. IT'S NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK. I SEE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY A SEALED HEADLIGHT SHOULD FALL APART IN THIS MANNER. THE REPLACEMENT IS OVER 200 DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD REPLACE THIS UNIT AT THEIR EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10075205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesMenomonee Falls, WI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PLASTIC FALLS OFF EXPOSING BULB TO MOISTURE/RAIN WHICH CAUSES THE BULB TO BURN OUT. THEREFORE, LOSING THE ILLUMINATION OF ONE LAMP AND LIMITING VISABILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10062784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Muscatine, IA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
BOTH, NOT JUST ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS CASINGS POPPED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM. WHICH I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED.
NHTSA complaint #10052607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Esmont, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
FUSES BLOW WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING INSTALLED. REAR SIGNAL LIGHT DOES NOT FLASH. PH
NHTSA complaint #10022357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesShrewsbury, MA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
FRONT HEAD LIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD MOISTURE. AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR THEY HAVE CONTAINED 1-3 INCHES OF WATER. PONTIAC REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THE PAST MONTH BOTH LENS COVERS HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10018456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Peters, MO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10017534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grand Rapids, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
THE HEADLIGHT LENS POPPED OFF WITHOUT WARNING, THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE SEAL AROUND THE LENS WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED.*JB
NHTSA complaint #10011370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wixom, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, THE HEAD LIGHT LEN COVERS FELL OFF DUE TO INFERIOR ADHESIVE CAUSING THE BULBS TO BURN OUT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #567376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cecil, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE LENS CAP FELL OFF OF THE FRONT LIGHT HEADLIGHT. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. IT IS A DEFINITE DEFECT. I HAVE TO PAY $200 FOR A WHOLE NEW LIGHT. THEY SHOULD MAKE A LENS COVER. PONTIAC CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT WHEN I CALLED ONE SALVAGE YARD HE TOLD ME THAT HE ALONE GETS 10 CALLS A WEEK ON THIS PART!!!
NHTSA complaint #766675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warsaw, IN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
REPLACED RIGHT HAND LENS AND IT FAILED ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #766489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Esmont, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE DISCOVERD THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, THE FUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OVER A HUNDRED TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #566926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES KEEP FALLING OFF WITHOUT WARNING,RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #8016741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FLEW OFF. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED FROM SUDDEN EXPLOSURE TO COLD AIR AND RAIN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, CONSUMER FOUND HEADLIGHT COVER IN DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS ALSO CONDENSATION DISCOVERED IN THE OTHER FRONT LIGHT ASSIMBLIES (SIDE MARKER, TURN SIGNAL, ETC.).
NHTSA complaint #561242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sioux City, IA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY. DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. BUZZER WOULD SOUND AND DOOR WOULD COME OPEN, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TWICE UNDER RECALLS. ONCE UNDER RECALL 01 V 224 000 FOR SLIDING DOOR AND SECOND TIME UNDER RECALL 01 V 067 000. NEITHER RECALL CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL BULB, ALSO THERE WAS A RATTLE NOISE WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE, DEALER REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER.
NHTSA complaint #8007704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hazelton, PA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER HIT A BUMP AND BOTH LENSES FELL OUT OF HEADLIGHTS. ADHESIVE THAT HOLDS LENSES DRIED UP. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8005659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Farmington Hill, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS COVERS HAD FALLEN ONE AFTER ANOTHER WITHIN A WEEK APART. CONSUMER TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD CAUSED THIS SITUATION, COVERS COULD NOT BE PUT BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8000758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
White Lake, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
COVER FOR FRONT-LEFT HEADLIGHT FELL OFF DUE TO MOISTURE BUILD UP IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, COMPONENT WAS REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE, FRONT/RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS STARTING TO SHOW MOISTURE BUILDUP, BUT HAS NOT DISCONNECTED TO THIS DATE. *AK CONSUMER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP AT THE SAME TIME AS THE LEFT, AS IT HAS ALREADY LOST A GOOD AMOUNT OF THE GLUE, IT WAS LOOSE AND HAD A SERIOUS MISTURE BUILDUP CAUSING CORROSION INSIDE THE LIGHT.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #899700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN BAD WEATHER, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FLEW OFF, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED FROM SUDDEN EXPOSURE TO COLD AIR AND RAIN, SOMETIME THAT NIGHT THE OTHER COVER FELL OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER ALSO DISCOVERED CONDENSATION IN OTHER FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLIES SUCH AS THE SIDE MARKER, AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SELL HEADLIGHT COVERS AS A SEPARATE PART, BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT DESIGNED TO COME APART, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #561242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN BAD WEATHER, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FLEW OFF, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED FROM SUDDEN EXPOSURE TO COLD AIR AND RAIN, SOMETIME THAT NIGHT THE OTHER COVER FELL OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER ALSO DISCOVERED CONDENSATION IN OTHER FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLIES SUCH AS THE SIDE MARKER, AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SELL HEADLIGHT COVERS AS A SEPARATE PART, BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT DESIGNED TO COME APART, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #561242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN BAD WEATHER, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FLEW OFF, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED FROM SUDDEN EXPOSURE TO COLD AIR AND RAIN, SOMETIME THAT NIGHT THE OTHER COVER FELL OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER ALSO DISCOVERED CONDENSATION IN OTHER FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLIES SUCH AS THE SIDE MARKER, AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SELL HEADLIGHT COVERS AS A SEPARATE PART, BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT DESIGNED TO COME APART, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #561242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Abington, MA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER BLEW OFF, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, SMASHING AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. ALSO, LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS BLEW OFF TOO. CONSUMER COULD SEE THAT THE SEALER DRIES UP AND CRUMBLES OFF.*AK
NHTSA complaint #886531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Massapequa Park, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PLASTIC LENS COVERS ON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE FALLEN OFF, EXPOSING BULBS, AND CAUSING THEM TO PREMATURELY BLOWOUT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #885749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT COVERS FELL OFF, MOISTURE CAUSED BULBS TO EXPLODE. BOTH COVERS FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, SIGNAL LIGHT COVERS AND OTHER LIGHT COVERS ARE FULL OF MOISTURE.
NHTSA complaint #885567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Syracuse, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FRONT HEADLIGHT LENSES FELL OFF IN STREET WHILE CLEANING SNOW OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT LENSES WERE MISSING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH OF THE RIGH AND LEFT HAND LAMP LENSE COVERS FELL OFF DUE TO FAULTY SEAL, DEALER SPLIT THE COST WITH THE CONSUMER. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #883824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.