FaultScore

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport transmission problems

15 of the 307 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport are about the transmission — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 106,500 miles.

A

15

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 10 66.7%
Power Train 3 20.0%
Torque Converter 1 6.7%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 6.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Pontiac Trans Sport year

1994 17 27.0%
1995 14 22.2%
1997 15 23.8%
1998 17 27.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 90,000 miles Bloomington, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE OWNED BOTH A '92 AND A '97 TRANSPORT AND BOTH HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLS POP LOOSE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND THE WINDOWS FAIL TO OPERATE. THE REAR DOOR LOCK FAILS. THE BLINKER AND CRUISE CONTROL LEVER SNAPPED OFF THE STEERING COLUMN SO THE BLINKER DOESN'T WORK. THE WINDOW WIPER CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE TRANSAXLE HOSES SPRUNG A LEAK AT THE METAL CONNECTIONS CAUSING THE TRANSAXLE TO LOOSE FLUID AND THE VEHICLE TO BE STRANDED.

NHTSA complaint #10238776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Central Falls, RI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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 124,504 miles Lancaster, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO PARALLEL PARK NEXT TO THE CURB, THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE. WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IT BEGAN VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. AFTER LEAVING THE STORE AND FROM THAT POINT ON EVERY ATTEMPT I MADE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I NOTICED LEAKING COMING FROM UNDER MY VAN. I CALLED THE LOCATION PONTIAC DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE MY STEERING PROBLEM AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE VAN HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR A RECALL IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 FOR THE RACK AND PINION RECALL SOMETHING RELATED TO THE STEERING. SO I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR THE RECALL AND IT MENTIONED THE SAME EXACTLY PROBLEMS THAT I WAS HAVING NOW. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS ALREADY DONE ONCE. I TOLD THEM IT IS DOING THE SAME EXACTLY THING, AND WHEN I WENT TO CHECK THE STEERING ONE MORE TIME I NOTICED A HUGE PUDDLE UNDER MY VAN OF REDDISH BROWN FLUID. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS TRANSMISSION LEAKING AND WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE ON THE FLUID CAME POURING OUT LIKE A FAUCET. I CONTACTED A TRANSMISSION SHOP TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY VAN AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE AXLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION BY THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE HAS DONE QUITE A FEW OF THESE SAME EXACTLY KIND OF MINI-VAN WITH THE SAME EXACTLY PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT HE KNEW EXACTLY HOW THE FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE HE DOES IT QUITE OFTEN. THE REPAIR COSTED $1,800.00 DOLLARS AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME NOW I NEED TO TAKE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THAT RACK AND PINION AGAIN. NOW THIS HAS ME VERY UPSET, I'M SO MAD ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS DEFINITELY SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. I SENT THE VAN TO KARCO TRANMISSIONS IN LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA WHERE I LIVE AND THE PHONE NUMBER IS 661-723-1164. THIS DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME, SO THIS IS WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10130353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hampton, VA

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. *NM THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED ON FOUR SEPARATED OCCASIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10109730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,000 miles Columbia, SC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE COMING TO A STOP TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10099484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. FIRSTLY, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, AND IT WAS REPAIRED. SECONDLY, POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING, AND CONSUMER KEPT REPLACING IT. THIRDLY, THERE WAS A GASOLINE LEAK, WHICH WAS REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10084041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,830 miles Macomb, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW. VEHICLE IS ALSO SLOW TO ENGAGE GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. ENGINE RPM WILL BE VERY HIGH UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION DOES ENGAGE THE NEXT GEAR. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE FIRST TIME (25,000 MILES) THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BY MANUFACTURE. THE SECOND TIME (63,000 MILES) THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10083007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Drexel Hill, PA

POWER TRAIN

OUR 97 PONTIAC TRANSPORT WAS FINE UNTIL LAST YEAR. NEW TRANSMISSION (70,000 MILES, O.K.) THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN OVERHEATING--NEW THERMOSTAT, WHICH WORKED FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN NEW RADIATOR, WHICH WORKED FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN, WHEN THE MECHANIC SAID IT PROBABLY NEEDED A HEAD GASKET ($2000 OR MORE) WE DECIDED TO GET RID OF IT. BUT WE WERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO USE IT AS A TRADE IN, BECAUSE IT OVERHEATED SO BADLY. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD ALWAYS BEEN QUIRKY, BUT LIVABLE (I.E. THE GAS GAUGE HAD NEVER WORKED, THE WINDOWS WERE VERY SLOW AND THE CELL PHONE PLUGS NEVER WORKED) I CALLED THE DEALER (PERUZZI, IN LANGHORNE, PA) BUT, OF COURSE, IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT GM WAS USING A NEW COOLANT IN THEIR 97'S WHICH BECAME PROBLEMATIC AS IT AGED--HE THOUGHT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GM HAS NOT ADMITTED TO ANY ERROR. WE WERE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE CAR PROPERLY, FROM DAY ONE. THE MECHANIC IS A PERSONAL FRIEND, AND HAS AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION. THE CAR WAS SOLD FOR JUNK. IT'S VALUE, ACCORDING TO EDMUNDS.COM, WAS ABOUT $6000/7000 .

NHTSA complaint #10070158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 143,987 miles Pendergrass, GA

POWER TRAIN

THIS VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED OILCHANGE EVERY 3K MILES, TRANSMISSION SERVICED EVERY 30,000 MILES. THE RACK&PINION WENT OUT IN OCTOBER 2003. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR AND NOW THE ENGINE. VAN WAS RUNNING HOT, WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OXYGEN SENSOR, MAIN RADIATOR HOSE AND FLUSHED RADIATOR, AND PURCHASED A NEW RADIATOR CAP. IT IS STILL RUNNING HOT. IT HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, AND A WARPED HEAD, NO TELLING WHAT THIS WILL COST.

NHTSA complaint #10070607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Merrillan, WI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1997 PONTIAC TRANSPORT TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER 70,000 MILES $2,500.00 REPAIR FAULTY INTAKE VALVE GASKET UNDER 70,000 $650.00 REPAIR. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10014389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PUMP WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY. ENGINE STARTED RACING, NO PULL. NEW PUMP ASSEMBLY, TORQUE CONVERTER, PUMP SHAFT & VARIOUS OTHERS PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #754993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TRANSMISSION PUMP WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY. ENGINE STARTED RACING, NO PULL. NEW PUMP ASSEMBLY, TORQUE CONVERTER, PUMP SHAFT & VARIOUS OTHERS PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #754993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buford, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHILE PULLING OUT INTO INTERSECTION TRANSMISSION TAKES LONGER TO ENGAGE GEAR. MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED TSB, BUT IS NOT COVERING COST.*AK THE MANUFACTURER PAID HALF OF THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR COST BUT THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #885955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Quartz Hill, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

"SKIP SHIFT" FEATURE EXTREAMLY DANGEROUS. NUMEROUS REAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS FEATURE.

NHTSA complaint #701772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Suffern, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK CABLE MISPOSITIONED RESULTING IN MOVEMENT OF GEAR SELECTOR WHILE IN THE LOCKED POSITION. (QCAW)

NHTSA complaint #539483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport problems

← Full 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport report