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1997 Pontiac Trans SportProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 236 owner complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport, most often about the steering. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

24
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.1× the Trans Sport median · #2 of 10 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints23617 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage87kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 15, 2021. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport has problems

236 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering544
Engine and engine cooling421
Structure374
Exterior lighting360
Visibility252
Service brakes, hydraulic171
Latches/locks/linkages170
Power train140
Fuel system, gasoline111
11 other systems383

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 04V-597 · Dec 22, 2004 · 717,302 vehicles

Risk. IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: rack and pinion

Recall 02V-286 · Nov 4, 2002 · 1,159,156 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 01V-264 · Aug 21, 2001 · 248,737 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Windshield wiper/washer: linkages

Recall 98V-072 · Apr 7, 1998 · 55,154 vehicles

Risk. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.

Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

8 owners mentioned a cost

$685median

Middle half: $575 – $1,014

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Trans Sport year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Trans Sport median. How we score

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'03
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport safety ratings

1997 Pontiac Trans Sport. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
6 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport, and the recalls they led to.

  1. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA02003 · closed Dec 10, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-286
  2. SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILUREEA02032 · closed Nov 21, 2003
    No recall
  3. REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILUREEA03005 · closed Jan 12, 2004
    No recall
  4. STEERING RACK AND PINIONPE01038 · closed Apr 4, 2002
    No recall
  5. SHOULDER HARNESS CLIPPE02017 · closed Aug 2, 2002
    No recall
  6. UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOORSQ00014 · closed Oct 22, 2001
    Led to recall 01V-067
In owners' words

What Trans Sport owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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. *AK
Complaint 10143954 · Nov 29, 2005
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…
Complaint 10130353 · Jul 27, 2005 · 124,504 miles
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…
Complaint 10129882 · Jul 25, 2005

Own a 1997 Trans Sport?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.