107 of the
1,262 complaints filed about the Pontiac Trans Sport
are about the steering —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
OWNER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STOP VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION OWNER NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT OF STRUCTURE HANGING DOWN UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT IS APPARENT THE BOLT PULLED OUT OF FRAME STRUCTURE CAUSING STEERING LOSS AND MOTOR TO HANG DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10500779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT MONTANA, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T TURN TO THE LEFT, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10159743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS "STICKING", STEERING MAKING LOUD "POP" NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEEL, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING VERY HARD FROM PARK TO REVERSE ON A ANGLE. NOW MY ENGINE LOCKED UP, WAS HESITATING WHEN ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #10144488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS OF THE POWER STEERING RACK THE WELDS WHERE THE POWER STEERING RACK BOLTED TO THE FRAME CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT THE CONTACTED EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10143954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLAINT #1- WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK IN THE RAIN. DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT # 2- TILT STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. THE WHOLE COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT #3- BLACK PAINT OVER THE CAB FLAKED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10143026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONTACT WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE ENGINE CRADLE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO RUST. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEARLY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE STEERING LINKAGE DISCONNECTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING AROUND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE CONTACTED GM, AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10141270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT AND LEFT STEERING KNUCKLES WERE CRACKED, RIGHT WHERE THE TIE ROD KNUCKLE CONNECTS. THE CONSUMER WAS DOING AN OIL CHANGE WHEN HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS. THE CONSUMER THINKS BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM, IT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF OLD AGE.
NHTSA complaint #10129882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WIFE MAKING LEFT TURN ONTO BUSY ROAD, VAN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO TO TURNING THE WHEEL. SIDE IMPACT AT 40 MILE + FROM SEMI. INJURIES SUSTAINED BY WIFE, BROKEN HIP CRUSHED LEFT ARM , FRACTURED TAIL BONE AND FRACTURED BASE OF SKULL. DAUGHTER AND FRIEND ALSO INJURED BUT RELEASED WITH MINOR INJURIES. WE DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THAT IS WHEN I RECIEVED THE RECALL NOTICE. NOTHING COULD BE DONE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THE VAN HAD BEEN CRUSHED INTO A CUBE OF SCRAP METAL. I WAITED THIS LONG TO FILE A COMPLANT DUE TO LEGAL ADVICE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THE BIG GUY ALMOST ALWAYS WINS. WE RECIEVED NO COMPENSATION FROM GM.
NHTSA complaint #10127406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE STEERING RACK FAILED ON MY 1997 PONTIAC TRANSPORT APPROX 14 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS RECALLED AND A PINON BEARING CHANGED IN THE RACK. THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE BEARING FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT LOCKING OF THE STEERING RACK ON LEFT HAND TURNS. THE RECALL FAILED BECAUSE THE BEARING FAILED ( 14 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS CHANGED OUT). THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT IF CONDITIONS WERE RIGHT. FORTUNATLY NO PERSONS WERE INJURED WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP
NHTSA complaint #10125938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TODAYS DATE- DEC 15TH, 2004.HAVE HAD 1997 PONTIAC TRANSPORT FOR ALMOST 1 YR. I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THE RACK AND PINION ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP.*AK REGARDING OPERATION OF THE RACK & PINION, THE TROUBLE STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I FIRST NOTICED PROBLEMS W/THE STEERING WHILE BACKING OUT. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN POWER STEERING, CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS FULL. NOT TERRIBLE PROBLEMS, BUT LITTLE ENOUGH TO NOTICE SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN A LITTLE WORSE, SO I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THE TERRIBLE NEWS JUST THIS VERY DAY.
NHTSA complaint #10103001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
RE: COMPLAINT OF UNSATISFACTORY TRANSACTION. *BF THE STEERING LOCKED WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 200 VEHICLE OUT OF THE RANGE RECALL.(RECALL#02V286000).
NHTSA complaint #10097684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING SHARP LEFT TURNS, STEERING HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE AND A LOUD THUD SOUND IS HEARD, ALONG WITH VIBRATION. SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REFERRED US TO RECALL #02V286000. LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER SAID OUR VIN# IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH ADMITTING IT IS LIKELY THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10096371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. NOW THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER HAVING IT WORKED ON FOR THE ORIGINAL RECALL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT THE DEFECT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING EXPERIENCED IS NO FAULT OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE CURRENT PROBLEM UNLESS THE OWNER PAYS OUT OF POCKET. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #10092272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT...... STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN TURN LEFT. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. WE WERE IN NON BUSY AREA. FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL CONCERNING THIS, HOWEVER, MY VAN WAS NOT COVERED. MAKES NO SENSE. VAN IS IN SHOP NOW GETTING RACK AND OINION REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10088392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
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.
THIS VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY RECALL 02V286000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10079476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THE DAY BEFORE I TOOK THE VAN IN FOR REPAIRS IT STOPPED ON ME AND I COASTED HOME WITH HARDLY NO BRAKES AND BAD STEERING.THE REPAIRS THAT I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE DONE WAS FOR A LEAKING INTAKE GASKET.I DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.SOME PEOPLE CALL IT VAPOR LOCK. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN PEOPLE OR OTHER CARS IN MY WAY THIS COULD HAVE TURNED VERY BAD. ALL THE GM DEALERS SAY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN I CALL GM THEY SAY THEY NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU , SCOTT EGGEBRECHT
NHTSA complaint #10069739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.