RoadVitals

1997 Pontiac Trans Am

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Oct 25, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Trans Am, most frequently naming the electrical, exterior lighting and airbags categories. 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical321.4%
  • Exterior lighting214.3%
  • Airbags214.3%
  • Engine17.1%
  • Fuel system17.1%
  • Suspension17.1%
  • Transmission17.1%
  • Visibility17.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 12
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2002

THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID
8021618
Incident
Oct 24, 2002
Electrical
Filed Feb 8, 2002

THE LEAD CONTACT POINTS FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE MELTING AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS OF USE. THE ACTUAL FILMENTS ARE STILL INTACT AND THE FUSE DOES NOT BLOW. THE TAIL FIN BRAKE LIGHT STILL WORKS BUT THE ACTUAL BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AFTER THE LEAD CONTACT POINTS MELT.*AK

NHTSA ID
757967
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 7, 2001
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING, TOTALLED VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, HE PULLED OVER OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.*SLC

NHTSA ID
898856
Incident
Oct 17, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 29, 2001

WHEN THE CAR GET WET IT WILL MISFIRE AND GO DEAD, BEEN IN SHOP 69 TIMES SAME PROBLEM, THE CAR WILL LOOSE ALL POWER, SUNRISE PONTIAC WOLFCHASE SAYS THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE THEY DONT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENING, THE CAR IS PRESENTLY AT SUNRISE COVINGTON PIKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
751324
Incident
Jun 16, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 6, 2000

HIGH BEAMS SHINE LIKE LOW BEAMS SHOULD. LOW BEAMS ARE TO DIM THAT THEY DONT ILLUMINATE THE ROAS ENOUGH. FORCING ME TO ALWAYS USE MY HIGH BEAMS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN.*AK

NHTSA ID
735843
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 5, 2000

THE SEALED-BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUPPLIED BY THE PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM MODEL DOES NOT LIGHT THE ROADWAY SUFFICIENTLY. THIS HAS ENDANGERED MYSELF AND OTHERS IN MY CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND REQUIRES EYE STRAIN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, NOR HAS GMC RETURNED LETTERS OR E-MAIL SENT IN CONCERNS TO THIS PROBLEM. USING THE HIGH-BEAMS ON THE HIGHWAY (WHEN CLEAR ENOUGH TO DO SO), BARELY SUPPLIES LIGHTING EXPECTED BY THE LOW-BEAMS. LOW-BEAMS ARE VIRTUALLY USELESS TO THE DRIVER AND SERVE ONLY TO SHOW APPROACHING CARS I AM ON THE ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ID
735754
Incident
May 4, 2000
Transmission
Filed Sep 15, 2000
2 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH , I WENT TO PASS A CAR TRANSMISSION DROPPED DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR ,AS THAT HAPPENED MY BODY WEIGHT PUSHED BACK IN THE SEAT , THE HEAD REST THEN SUDDENLY RELEASED WHICH ALLOWED MY HEAD TO FLING BACK.THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE PAIN IN MY NECK THEREAFTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
731593
Incident
Jun 5, 1998
Visibility
Filed Jul 12, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, A ROCK HIT PASSENGER SIDE "T" TOP TEMPERED GLASS SHATTERING IT TO PIECES WHICH SPREAD THROUGOUT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. YH

NHTSA ID
552995
Incident
Jun 6, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

Recalls

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Vehicle Recalls

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

010851004A

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

PREMATURE ALUMINUM HOOD CORROSION / BLISTERING. *TT

876527

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE ENGINE MISS/ POOR DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS. *YC

876002A

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Pontiac Trans Am by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002320038.8
2001100038.9
2000110033.8
1999160037.1
1998110033.9
1997Viewing120038.0
1996400—
1995500—
1994910—
1993100—
1992300—
1991200—
1989100—
1988100—
1987100—
1986100042.0
1984500—
1982200—
1980100—
1979100—
1977200—
1969100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.