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FaultScore report

1999 Pontiac Trans Sport problems

Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport with NHTSA between 1999 and 2006. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 7 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Pontiac Trans Sport All 1999 cars
B

FaultScore 40/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Pontiac Trans Sport.

How this is worked out

The numbers

18

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

44,402 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

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 6 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 34 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 6
Against the median year of the Pontiac Trans Sport. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
22.2% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 34
20% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1999 compares with every other Pontiac Trans Sport

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 5 27.8%

Median failure at 44,000 miles

Seat Belts 3 16.7%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 57,000 mi

Body & Structure 2 11.1%
Child Seats 1 5.6%
Doors, Latches & Locks 1 5.6%
Seats 1 5.6%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 5.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 5.6%
Lights 1 5.6%
Brakes 1 5.6%
Electrical System 1 5.6%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 1 20.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 2 40.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 40.0%

When owners complained

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.

Jul 1999 peak 7 Apr 2006

NHTSA investigations into the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE04064 Opened 17 Sep 2004 Closed 22 Dec 2004 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

POWER-SLIDING DOOR

SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE WITH AN OPTIONAL POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE INTERIOR HANDLE IS ORIENTED IN THE VERTICAL POSITION IN THE DOOR PANEL AND LINES UP AT THE ELBOW LEVEL WHEN THE OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE 2ND-ROW OUTBOARD POSITION.IF THE OCCUPANT HOLDS THE INTERIOR HANDLE IN THE THUMB UP POSITION DURING POWER-ASSISTED OPENING, THE ARM/WRIST CAN BE PUSH BACK WITH FORCE AGAINST THE 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEAT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BACK CREATING A RISK OF INJURY (OTHER SEATING CONFIGURATIONS HAVE AMPLE SEAT TO DOOR CLEARANCE TO AVOID ENTRAPMENT OF THE LOWER ARM).AMONG THE 103 TOTAL REPORTS, THERE W...

EA03005 Opened 23 Apr 2003 Closed 12 Jan 2004 SUSPENSION

REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURE

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED A...

PE00045 Opened 3 Nov 2000 Closed 11 Jan 2001 AIR BAGS

AIR BAG TEAR DURING DEPLOYMENT

SQ00014 Opened 25 Jul 2000 Closed 22 Oct 2001 STRUCTURE

UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOOR

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 57,000 miles DE Pere, WI Crash 2 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT LOCK. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING MINOR CHEST INJURIES, THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE MIDDLE ROW DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT CAME UNLOCKED. THIS CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS LEG TO BE CRUSHED, RESULTING IN SURGERY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10154440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles DE Pere, WI Crash 2 injured

SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT LOCK. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING MINOR CHEST INJURIES, THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE MIDDLE ROW DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT CAME UNLOCKED. THIS CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS LEG TO BE CRUSHED, RESULTING IN SURGERY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10154440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 57,000 miles DE Pere, WI Crash 2 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT LOCK. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING MINOR CHEST INJURIES, THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE MIDDLE ROW DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT CAME UNLOCKED. THIS CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS LEG TO BE CRUSHED, RESULTING IN SURGERY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10154440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles DE Pere, WI Crash 2 injured

SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT LOCK. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING MINOR CHEST INJURIES, THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE MIDDLE ROW DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT CAME UNLOCKED. THIS CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS LEG TO BE CRUSHED, RESULTING IN SURGERY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10154440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 900 miles Baltimore, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS (UPPER & LOWER) NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT. ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. COST $900.

NHTSA complaint #10069942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wendell, ID

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10065330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wendell, ID

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10065330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wendell, ID

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10065330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wendell, ID

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10065330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wendell, ID

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10065330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wendell, ID

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES

PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10065330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,000 miles ST. Regis Falls, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WITH RESPECT TO MY 1999 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN, OCTOBER OF 2003 THE ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING AND WE DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW. WE ADDED COOLANT AND SOME TYPE OF SEAL INTO THE COOLANT BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD BY SEVERAL GM MECHANICS THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE HEAD GASKET AND THIS SEAL WOULD HELP TO GET US BY UNTIL WE COULD HAVE IT FIXED. I CALLED THE COMPANY WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN (2ND HAND) AND THE VAN WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY (OVER BY 4,000 MILES AT THE TIME). I DID PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE PRICED AROUND FOR THE COST TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPAIRED/REPLACED AND FOUND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND BETWEEN $800 AND $1,000 TO GET IT FIXED. OUR VAN IS NOW SITTING IN A GARAGE BEING TORN APART AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM. PRIOR TO OCTOBER 2003 WE HAD THE COILS CHANGED AND THE #5 PLUG WAS SHOWING A MALFUNCTIONING PROBLEM WHICH WAS SHOWING UP ON THE COMPUTER. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE GARAGE THEY REPLACED THE PLUGS. WE WERE TOLD BY THE MECHANIC WHO IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE GASKET THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT ON THE #5 GASKET AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY WHICH WAS NOT PICKED UP ON BY THE PAST MECHANIC. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR US SINCE ABOUT JUNE OF 2003.

NHTSA complaint #10061990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,402 miles Broadway, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED BY ANTIFREEZE IN TRANSMISSION. CORROSION OF RADIATOR CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. NOW IS OVERHEATING CAUSED BY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE TO GET INTO CRANKCASE. POTENTIALLY FATAL FOR ENGINE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10014253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Adrian, MI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

RETRACTOR MOUNT NOT SECURED TO UPPER PANEL, TOP THREADS INTO PILLAR NOT DONE, INSTALLED MISSING BOLT IN SEAT BELT MOUNT.

NHTSA complaint #9005150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarnia, Ontario, CD

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE REAR SLIDING DOOR OPENED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT A BENT BRACKET IN THE DOOR MOUNTING WAS THE APPARENT CAUSE OF THE DOOR FAILING TO LATCH PROPERLY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #562656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarnia, Ontario, CD

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE REAR SLIDING DOOR OPENED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT A BENT BRACKET IN THE DOOR MOUNTING WAS THE APPARENT CAUSE OF THE DOOR FAILING TO LATCH PROPERLY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #562656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Pasadena, CA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

WHILE IN DRIVEWAY WAS ADJUSTING FRONT SEAT AND VEHICLE STARTED SMELLING LIKE SMOKE. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER SEAT, AND ONE OF THE WIRES WAS COMPLETELY BARE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER DID REPAIRS. BUT, WIRES WERE STILL HANGING FROM UNDER SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #894050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Andover, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A CLICKING SOUND OR DRUMMING SOUND FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW. I HAVE TAKEN THE VAN INTO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASSIONS. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MY VAN IS NOT THE ONLY VAN TO MAKE THIS NOISE, AND THAT SOME VANS HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED BECAUSE OF IT. SOMETHING ABOUT THE PISTONS AND WALL CHAMBER. THE VAN HAS ALSO QUITE RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING W/CHILDREN, AND WHEN BRAKING, AN AWFUL LOUD NOISE COMES, SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR IS FALLING APART. I REFUSE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK, AND AM HAVING LOADS OF PROBLEMS DEALING WITH THIS.

NHTSA complaint #719406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Andover, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A CLICKING SOUND OR DRUMMING SOUND FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW. I HAVE TAKEN THE VAN INTO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASSIONS. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MY VAN IS NOT THE ONLY VAN TO MAKE THIS NOISE, AND THAT SOME VANS HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED BECAUSE OF IT. SOMETHING ABOUT THE PISTONS AND WALL CHAMBER. THE VAN HAS ALSO QUITE RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING W/CHILDREN, AND WHEN BRAKING, AN AWFUL LOUD NOISE COMES, SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR IS FALLING APART. I REFUSE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK, AND AM HAVING LOADS OF PROBLEMS DEALING WITH THIS.

NHTSA complaint #719406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sartell, MN

CHILD SEAT

8 PASSENGER VAN, TRIED TO GET 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAR SEATS TO WORK IN THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS, BUT SEEM UNABLE TO DO SO. THE BUCKLE PART OF THE SEAT BELT SEEMS TO COME OUT TO FAR FROM THE SEAT ALLOWING A LARGE GAP SO THE CHILD SEAT CAN NOT FIT TIGHTLY INTO ANY OF THE 3 SEATS IN THE SECOND ROW. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING A CARSEAT SHOULD NOT MOVE ANYMORE THEN AN INCH AFTER IT IS BUCKLED IN. AND WHEN THE CARSEATS ARE IN. THE BOTTOM CORNER WHERE IT BUCKLES IN, MOVES AROUND QUITE VIGOROUSLY. ALLOWING WAY MORE THE AN INCH OF SLACK.

NHTSA complaint #708449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.