Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 32 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Trans Am, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and exterior lighting categories. 52 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 2002 | 1 | 2 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 3 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul 2003 | 2 | 7 |
| Aug 2003 | 2 | 9 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 10 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 11 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 12 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 13 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 14 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 15 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 16 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 17 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 18 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 19 |
| Mar 2006 | 2 | 21 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 22 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 23 |
| Nov 2007 | 2 | 25 |
| Dec 2007 | 1 | 26 |
| Jul 2008 | 1 | 27 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 28 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 29 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 30 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 31 |
| Aug 2017 | 1 | 32 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CAR BEING PAINTED BY CHANLLORS COLLISION WARNER ROBINS GA. WHENEVER THE TOP (HALO) IS PAINTED, GLUE OR OIL CAUSE PAINT TO BUBBLE THROUGH. UNABLE TO PAINT TOP OF CAR. AFTER CHECKING THERE IS A RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 95 MPH IN FOURTH GEAR, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND DROVE DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THERE IS BUBBLES COMING THROUGH THE PAINT ON THE ROOF PANEL. IT IS KNOWN BY GM THAT ITS THE GLUE BLEEDING THROUGH THE FIBERGLASS PANEL AND PAINT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM. WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SHE NOTICED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD A GASOLINE LEAK. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSIS LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE GASOLINE TANK LINER WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE DOOR WILL FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER SENT HIM TO THE GMC COLLISION CENTER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,000.
TIRE SEPARATION -- OF 4 TIRES WITH THE SAME DOT 3 EITHER SHOW SIGNS OF SEPARATION OR SEPARATED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*TR
SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE COMPLAINT. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE FOUND OUT THAT GM WAS PUTTING EVENT DATA RECORDERS ON THEIR VEHICLES. HE STATES THESE RECORDERS WILL NOT BE ACCURATE IF THE CONSUMER CHANGES THINGS SUCH AS TIRE SIZE. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN 2 PEOPLE IN THE SECOND VEHICLE BEING KILLED. THE EDR/SDM THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE RECORDED HIS SPEED OVER 100 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED HE MADE MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE THAT COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE DATA. *JB
I OWN A 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM. THE SAIL PANEL BETWEEN THE T-TOPS AND THE REAR WINDOW IS DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE BUBBLES THAT LOOK LIKE RUST SPOTS IN THE PAINT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ACROSS THE SAIL PANEL. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO IT'S DEALERS ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND OWNERS ARE FACED WITH PAYING OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. IF GM KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, IE. THE EPOXY USED IS CAUSING AIR BUBBLES THROUGH THE PAINT, THEN THEY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES TO HAVE THEM FIXED. ALSO, THE RECALL ON THE 2002 FIREBIRDS RELATING TO THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL. *TR
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.
This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This bulletin provides information for electrical ground repairs using new General Motors replacement fasteners with conductive finish.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.