FaultScore

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport airbag problems

21 of the 287 complaints about the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport are about the airbag system — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 121,842 miles.

F

21

Complaints

9

Crashes

1

Fires

9

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 11 52.4%
Frontal 8 38.1%
Sensor/Control Module 2 9.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 117,000 miles Garfield Heights, OH 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES AND SWELLING TO THE RIGHT ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #10514028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 235,000 miles Manchester, MO

AIR BAGS

ABS-ANTI LOCKING BRAKES ARE FAULTY AND LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10443983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 183,000 miles Stockton, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT WITH 183,000 FAILURE MILEAGE)AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE HIT A CULVERT ON THE LEFT PASSENGER SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER, BUT HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10186264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,210 miles Conflluence, PA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

(1) WE PURCHASED A USED 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT AND DISCOVERED THE NEXT DAY THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME. (2) WE ARE CONCERNED AS TO WHY THIS LIGHT FLASHES WHEN WE TURN THE IGNITION ON WHILE THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST PROCEEDS AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS GO OUT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH WHICH MUST INDICATE SOMETHING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES UNTIL WE START THE VAN AND THEN JUST STAYS ON BUT DOES NOT FLASH TILL THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. WE ARE MOST CONCERNED WHAT THIS LIGHT MEANS TO THE SAFETY OF DRIVING AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING CORRECTLY. KENNY ROSS PERFORMS AN ADVERTISED 130 POINT SAFETY CHECK WHICH THEY SHOW THE CUSTOMER THAT INDICATES WHAT WAS FOUND AND THE REPAIRS THEY PERFORMED. WE WOULD ASSUME THAT AIR BAG PROBLEMS WOULD BE POINTED OUT IF THE DEALER CHECKED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE AUTOS THAT THEY SELL. THIS DEALERSHIP HAS A VERY GOOD REPUTATION AND IS WHY WE FELT SAFE DEALING WITH THEM. (3) THE VAN WAS PURCHASED "AS IS" AND THE SALESMAN DENNIS MILLER HAS YET TO RESPOND TO OUR EMAILS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10106391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,262 miles Kokomo, IN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHERE DO I START? SAME COMPLAINTS AS ALL OTHER PONTIAC MINIVAN OWNERS. SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE IN 1998, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FAULTY, ABS WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTION, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTION, AND MALFUNCTIONING (STILL) PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR. RECENTLY HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK, AS WELL AS FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB. THIS IS THE WORST (AND MOST COSTLY) VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED WITH RESPECT TO MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10100050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centerville, IN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

I HAVE A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. THIS REALLY SCARES ME, CAN YOU HELP?

NHTSA complaint #10080736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middleburgh, NY Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE CROSSED OVER THE CENTER LINE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 50 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *MR *SC

NHTSA complaint #10055878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 126,684 miles Brownsville, TX

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. I'M AFRAID THE AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I WAS READING OTHER COMPLAINS OF OTHER OWNER OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS MY TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10047474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, NC

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATED SEAT BELTS BEHIND PASSENGER AND MIDDLE BACK SEATS LOCKED UP. THEY DID NOT WORK. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STILL CAME ON.

NHTSA complaint #10040100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Crystal Falls, MI Crash Fire

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 57MPH AND INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10004691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conrad, MT Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH HIT A COW AND AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS FRONTAL DAMAGE. ALSO, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. DEALER CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #8004357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lafayette, IN

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE SEPTEMBER 1998. STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A NOISE, BUT DEALER COULD NEVER DUPLICATE PROBLEM. DEALER PUT IN A STEERING GEAR, AND STEERING PUMP A COUPLE OF TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #896576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED INTERMITTENT PROBLEM 7 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. MECHANIC STATED THAT DESIGN OF CABLES UNDER T DRIVER'S SEAT WERE BEING DRAGGED, CAUSING THEM TO LOOSEN UP.

NHTSA complaint #895502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNK, UN

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRD TWICE AND TO DATE THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. NLM

NHTSA complaint #561253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lafayette, IN

AIR BAGS

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT NOTICE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD STAY ON THROUGHOUT TRAVELING, INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, HOWEVER CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL THAT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #891227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE TRAVELING 40-45MPH & HAD "T"-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND TAKEN TO ER. WERE TREATED AND RELEASED.

NHTSA complaint #890315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leesburg, VA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH AND HIT ANOTHER CAR, AND NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK THERE WERE 2 INJURIES DUE TO ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #886599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ROY, UT Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE MAKING A TURN A ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN INTO CONSUMER VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #865090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flint, MI Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER PASSED OUT ANDHAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT INTO A BRICK BUILDING, IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER IN THIS CRASH. THE FRONT END WAS TOTALED. PASSENGER COLLAPSED AND WAS HOSPITALIZED . DRIVER SUSTAINED FRACTURED THUMB AND BRUISED CHEEK, HOSPITALIZED THREE WEEKS.

NHTSA complaint #852009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Prairie, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISON AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. UPON IMPACT,BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO SUSTAIN A HEAD INJURY FROM HITTING FRONT WINDSHIELD. DEALER /MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #846109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hermiston, OR 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED.(FALSE DEPLOYMENT).

NHTSA complaint #542432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport problems

← Full 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport report