FaultScore

Pontiac Trans Sport brake problems

100 of the 1,262 complaints filed about the Pontiac Trans Sport are about the braking system — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1992.

100

Complaints

8%

Share of all complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

Brakes complaints by model year

1992 Trans Sport 24 24.0%

Median failure at 120,000 miles

1995 Trans Sport 13 13.0%

Median failure at 95,028 miles

1997 Trans Sport 18 18.0%

Median failure at 51,000 miles

1998 Trans Sport 20 20.0%

Median failure at 167,500 miles

What owners said

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport at 235,000 miles Manchester, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport at 107,300 miles Troy, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, ON CONGESTED FREEWAY, AT 55 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS SLOWING DOWN AND I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DROPPED IT IN FIRST GEAR, APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND MADE AN EVASIVE LANE CHANGE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND LET IT SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF. PULLED OFF ON THE FREEWAY SHOULDER GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND I NOTICED THE BRAKE LINE RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE LEAKING AT A HIGH RATE AND BRAKE FLUID PUDDLING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ONLY GOD'S GRACE THAT I DIDN'T REAR END ANYBODY OR GOTTEN INTO A CAR CRASH. DISAPPOINTED IS NOT A STRONG ENOUGH WORD TO USE FOR WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BRAKE LINE BURST IN A VEHICLE. DOING SOME ONLINE SEARCHES ON GM BRAKE LINE FAILURES I FOUND A LOT OF REPORTED CASES OF GM VEHICLES HAVING SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINES THAT HAD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. HOPE THAT YOU'LL OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THESE CONCERNS IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS.

NHTSA complaint #10397911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Pontiac Trans Sport at 120,000 miles Buchanan, MI

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

I AM ASE CERTIFIED IN BRAKES STEERING AND SUSPENSION. MY 1992 PONTIAC TRANSPORT HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. ONE ( BRAKES WILL FAIL TO ENGAGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL. DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME ONLY FREQUENTLY. AND TWO. IT ALSO WILL VIOLENTLY START SHUTTERING AT SPEEDS OF 40 TO 60 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS, BOTH TIE RODS(INNER AND OUTER), BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS, ALL 4 STRUTS AND MOUNTS, BOTH ROTORS, TRANS VACUUM SHIFT MODULE, TRANS COOLER LINES, ENTIRE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM, ALL LINES (STEEL AND RUBBER) RADIATOR AND BOTH CV SHAFTS. I AM TIRE OF PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS PIT AND IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT STARTED AND I HAVE INVESTED OVER $3,000.00 IN REPAIRS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS WHEN THIS VERY SAME REPORT HAS BEEN MADE IN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND PONTIAC WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THAT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL OF WHAT EVER IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10221360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport at 100,000 miles Charleston, SC

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THERE WAS ALSO A DELAY IN THE ACTIVATION OF THE ABS WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED IN A NORMAL BRAKING SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS TO THE ABS SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT GEARS AT THE CORRECT RPM LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SEPARATE PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED, AND THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT COMPLETELY FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10162985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Pontiac Trans Sport Sault Sainte Marie, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

STALLS WHEN GETS WARM. ABS BRAKING LIGHT COMES ON EVERY NOW AND THEN. I WAS ROLLING UP WINDOW IT HAS ELECTRIC AND WINDOW SHATTERED IN SIDE DOOR. I HAVE PUT A NEW MODULE IN AND A NEWROTOR CAP AND THE NEW COIL. THE OLD COIL CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN THE VAN STALLED ON ME. NOW IT HAS NO SPARK. I HAD IT IN SADLERS MOTORS AND THEY TOLD ME THE MODULE WAS BAD. I PUT IT IN. IT STUDDERS GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT GETS WARM GAS QUIT COMING OUT OF INJECTORS THEN WHEN I PUT MODULE ON INJECTORS WORK NOW I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS RECALLS ON ANY OF THAT STUFF I BAUGHT THE VAN USED. WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER ANY OF THIS. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WAS IN WITH THE PRICE OF THE VAN BUT TO FIND OUT THEY CHARGED US FOR THE WARRANTY. SOMTIMES WHEN WE HIT A BUMP IT HAS A RATTLING NOISE FROM REAR; IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM FRONT SOMTIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10070293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Pontiac Trans Sport Labadie, MO Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, GM NEVER LETS ME KNOW OF ANY RECALLS. I UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY THEY HAVE RECALLED THEM AGAIN FOR A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING BUT I CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION. VERY UPSET THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS THING FIXED! REALLY NEED A NEW CAR NOW. THE GAS GAUGE OR TANK IS EMPTY WHEN THE GAUGE SHOWS 1/2 TANK. SIDE DOOR WE UNPLUGGED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THE LIGHT STILL SHOWS ON MY DASH AS OPEN. MANY TIMES IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT OPEN. IN A CRASH WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN ANY DOORS IF THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING BADLY. WE REPLACED IT ONCE ONLY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. WE USE A LOT OF FLUID AND OIL. THE ENGINE IS RUNNING VERY POORLY, WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS. INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. VAN LOOKS NEW ON OUTSIDE EXCEPT THE HOOD WHICH HAD NO PRIMER ED AND NOW HAS CHIPS ON IT. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR NOR FIX THIS ONE.

NHTSA complaint #10069629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport at 39,000 miles Louisville, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

AT 51000 MILES THE 3.4L ENGINE HAD LOWER INTAKE GASKET FAILURE IN WHICH THE DEX-COOL ANTI FREEZE DUMPED INTO THE CRANKCASE MIXING WITH THE OIL. THIS ONLY HAD ONE WARNING A COUPLE MONTHS EARLIER AS THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND I ADDED 1/2 GALLON DEX-COOL WITH NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN MY WIFE WAS TAKING DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND TEMP. LIGHT CAME ON. VAN WAS NOT DRIVEN OVER 2 MILES TO DEALER, AS LIGHT WENT OUT. DEALER SAID EXTREME MIXTURE IN BOTH CRANKCASE AND RADIATOR. RECOMMENDED REPLACE RADIATOR, WATERPUMP, INTAKE GASKETS, FLUSH BOTH SYSTEMS AT A COST OF 1500 NOT TO BE APPLIED TOWARD ENGINE REPLACEMENT IF FAILURE ON START UP. DEALER HAD JUST HAD VAN IN WEEK BEFORE FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STEERING RECALL AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG !!!! WE TRADED IT IN AT A LOSS AS I CHECKED INTO THE PROBLEM AND LEARNED ABOUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEMS WITH TOTAL ENGINE FAILURES AFTER REPAIRS MADE. WE LOST OVER $3000 EQUITY BETWEEN WHAT TRADE VALUE WOULD HAVE BEEN IF NO PROBLEM WITH ENGINE AND LETTING DEALER FIX PROBLEM AFTER TRADE. VAN HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW BUT WE ALWAYS HAD THEM FIXED AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. LOOKED NEW WHEN WE TRADED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES. PAINT ON HOOD BLISTERED TWICE, STEERING / BRAKES WOBBLED SINCE NEW AT VARYNG SPEEDS, ALWAYS HAD TICKING SOUND IN ENGINE DEALER SAID WAS "NORMAL", REAR SEATS WOULD JAMB UP IF YOU TRIED TO REMOVE, WIPER ARMS FAILED TWICE, SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE OFF ON ENGINE START UP IN DEC. 2002. COST $375 WITH TOWING, POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED IN DOWN POSITION AT REPLACEMENT COST OF ABOUT $175. ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY WHEN IT HAD A SEVERE GAS SMELL THAT NEARLY CAUSED A FIRE IN ABOUT 1999. THEY KEPT IT A WEEK AND NEVER SAID WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY HAD JUST WORKED ON IT FOR TICKING SOUND. (PROBABLY INTAKE GASKETS THEN ALSO). GM WAS NO HELP AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP.

NHTSA complaint #10070686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Winnipeg, UN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE AIR CONDITIONING MAY HAVE NEVER WORKED, WE HADN'T TRIED IT UNTIL 10 MTHS AFTER BUYING THE VAN. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND WE BROUGHT THE VAN TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE REPAIR WOULD COST 800.00. HE ADDED STOP LEAK, WHICH WORKED TEMPORARILY. THE PROBLEM HAS JUST REOCCURED AND WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VAN SINCE. THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON IN AUGUST, WE HAVE FULL USE OF THE BRAKES, JUST OUR ABS IS NOT WORKING. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS. IN NOVEMBER OF 2001, OUR FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS CROSSING A BUSY HWY. HERE IN WINNIPEG, AND THE VAN JUST DIED AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. I PHONED A DEALER IN WINNIPEG (VICKOR CHEV OLDS) AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS HAPPENS, SOMETIMES THE FUEL PUMP WILL WORK FOR A WHILE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL MALFUNCTION FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE PHONED THE USED CAR DEALER AUTO TOWN IN WINNIPEG THAT WE BOUGHT THE VAN FROM AND THEY FELT AWFUL, AND OFFERED TO COVER THE LABOR IF WE PAID FOR THE PART. THE PART ALONE WAS 400.00

NHTSA complaint #10071320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport at 51,000 miles East Meadow, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE BRAKE LOCKED UP AND THE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10054118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Pontiac Trans Sport at 95,028 miles Greenville, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE RACK AND PINION, HOWEVER PRIOR TO THE RECALL THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE STEERING PROBLEMS, ALSO THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *TS

NHTSA complaint #10011649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport Garland, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

CONSUMER STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS LINKING FLUID CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Pontiac Trans Sport Santa ANA, CA

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

ABS BRAKING LIGHTS AND AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE ABS LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON.

NHTSA complaint #8016567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Norwich, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED FOR THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PER-PONTIAC RECALL, THEY SIMPLY INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. WHICH IS ONLY A ONE TIME PERFORMANCE. NHTSA#01V067000 THE CONSUMERS CONCERNS OTHER CONCERN WERE WITH THE VOLUME BUTTON ON THE RADIO, THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW/, AND THE BRAKES. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8015338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Hemlock, MI

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

ABS BRAKES FAIL TO ACTIVATE WHEN APPLIED DUE A MALFUNCTION WITHIN MOTOR WHICH CAUSES SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY MOTOR PACK,*SLC

NHTSA complaint #8001986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Beauford, GA

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

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE, ALSO, BRAKE LIGHTS BECOME INOPERATIVE WHEN ABS BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, WHEN ABS LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED BRAKES LIGHTS BECOME FUNCTIONAL.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEMDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #896973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Beauford, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE, ALSO, BRAKE LIGHTS BECOME INOPERATIVE WHEN ABS BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, WHEN ABS LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED BRAKES LIGHTS BECOME FUNCTIONAL.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEMDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #896973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport Earlville, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM IS WEARING THROUGH BRAKE LINE, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKES. DEALER INSTALLED A RETAINER TO PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN BRAKE LINE AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM, BUT DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED TWICE EVEN AFTER RETAINER WAS INSTALLED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #892273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Pontiac Trans Sport FT Riley, KS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #744867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport Decatur, GA

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

WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AT NIGHT TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION. IN DAYTIME WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT IN USE, TAIL LIGHTS WILL FUNCTION. THIS IS DUE TO RAIN GETTING IN TAIL LIGHTS AND CAUSING A WIRING SHORTAGE.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON, THE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE HUTCH WORK, BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS,BRAKE LIGHTS, FLASHERS AND REVERSE LIGHTS DON'T WORK, THE RADIO FLASHES AND THE LEFT AND RIGHT FLASH LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD STAY ON, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE HARNESS SYSTEM WAS BURNED OUT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, CONSUMER ALSO STATED FUEL GUAGE NOT READING CORRECTLY, ALSO ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #885879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Akron, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN MAKING A STOP. ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE, AFTER A MONTH OF USE, DID NOT PROPERLY REMOVE RAIN WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED AT LEAST 8 TIMES, AND DELEAR COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #877088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Pontiac Trans Sport problems