1987 Pontiac Trans Am Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 Pontiac Trans Am, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes133.3%
- Fuel system133.3%
- Powertrain (other)133.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELL TO THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE THE CAR FOR A RED LIGHT AT 40 MPH WITH OTHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKE LINE TRAVELING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE FUEL LINES WHICH CARRY FUEL AT HIGH PRESSURE AT APPROX. 48PSI ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODED AND LIKELY TO FAIL WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS (E.G., FIRE, EXPLOSION, ETC.). THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE SAFETY DEFECTS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT GENERAL MOTORS USED INFERIOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINE PARTS (E.G., ORDINARY RUST PRONE STEEL) INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY COSTLIER STAINLESS STEEL PIPING FOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODING DUE TO GM USING ORDINARY STEEL INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL FOR THESE LINES. NOW, I HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES REPLACE DUE TO GM USING INFERIOR RUST-PRONE STEEL PARTS INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY MORE COSTLY CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE AND FUEL PIPE LINES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE CORROSION OF BRAKE, FUEL, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PIPE LINES COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELL TO THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE THE CAR FOR A RED LIGHT AT 40 MPH WITH OTHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKE LINE TRAVELING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE FUEL LINES WHICH CARRY FUEL AT HIGH PRESSURE AT APPROX. 48PSI ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODED AND LIKELY TO FAIL WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS (E.G., FIRE, EXPLOSION, ETC.). THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE SAFETY DEFECTS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT GENERAL MOTORS USED INFERIOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINE PARTS (E.G., ORDINARY RUST PRONE STEEL) INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY COSTLIER STAINLESS STEEL PIPING FOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODING DUE TO GM USING ORDINARY STEEL INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL FOR THESE LINES. NOW, I HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES REPLACE DUE TO GM USING INFERIOR RUST-PRONE STEEL PARTS INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY MORE COSTLY CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE AND FUEL PIPE LINES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE CORROSION OF BRAKE, FUEL, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PIPE LINES COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELL TO THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE THE CAR FOR A RED LIGHT AT 40 MPH WITH OTHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKE LINE TRAVELING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE FUEL LINES WHICH CARRY FUEL AT HIGH PRESSURE AT APPROX. 48PSI ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODED AND LIKELY TO FAIL WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS (E.G., FIRE, EXPLOSION, ETC.). THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE SAFETY DEFECTS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT GENERAL MOTORS USED INFERIOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINE PARTS (E.G., ORDINARY RUST PRONE STEEL) INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY COSTLIER STAINLESS STEEL PIPING FOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODING DUE TO GM USING ORDINARY STEEL INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL FOR THESE LINES. NOW, I HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES REPLACE DUE TO GM USING INFERIOR RUST-PRONE STEEL PARTS INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY MORE COSTLY CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE AND FUEL PIPE LINES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE CORROSION OF BRAKE, FUEL, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PIPE LINES COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .